Additional information and resources for those applying to the Samsung American Legion Scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a hard copy of the application available?
A: No. The application is completed online which is more efficient and secure.
Q: Can I bring documents to Boys State or Girls State to add to my application?
A: All applications are due on the online by 11:59 PM and must be submitted using the online system, and may not be modified after the due date or given a deadline extension under any circumstance. No other form of submission is acceptable.
Q: Does an application have to be completed in one sitting?
A: No. The applicant will create a user account and password on by following the link on the application page. The applicant will be able to return to the application as needed remembering to save the information each time. Every applicant is encouraged to be very dedicated in time and effort filling out the application as they are applying for a $10,000 scholarship.
Q: When will an applicant find out the status of their application after submission?
A: Each American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program will make their announcement of the winner before the program ends. All programs are required to submit their department finalists (state winner) to National Headquarters no later than August 1st. National Samsung American Legion Scholars and Finalists will be announced mid-October by email.
Q: How are applications judged? What is the process?
A: Initially, all applications are screened by judges at the program level. One young man from each Boys State program and one young woman from each Girls State program are chosen as department finalists. These comprise a pool of about 100 finalists from across the nation. A national panel of judges on the Committee of Youth Education decides the final winners using points for every part of their application based on a common, national rubric.
Q: Are letters of recommendation required?
A: Recommendation letters are not permitted in this scholarship application.
Q: Where does the scholarship money come from and how is it divided?
A: The Samsung American Legion Scholarship Endowment Fund is self-perpetuating. It is funded completely through interest earned on the principal. Due to market fluctuations and to be more precise yet expansive in scholarship distribution, the following award levels were adopted in the beginning of 2017:
- Ten national scholars receive $10,000 each (two from each region)
- Ten national runners-up receive $5,000 each (two from each region)
- Remaining department (state) finalists each receive $1,250
Q: What counts (and doesn’t) as an “official record” of military service? Who do I call to verify?
A: Please contact your Boys State or Girls State point of contact and/or the VA for verification of acceptable documents.
ACCEPTED DOCUMENTS:
- Form DD214 (Official discharge certificate)
- Official “Honorable Discharge” certificate
- Form DD1300 (Official military death certificate)
- Official record of burial in a military cemetery issued by the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Current or former military ID card
- Current or former LES (Leave and Earnings Statement)
- Official logbook entries from a military unit
- Any other document specifically listed on the Military Service Verification Documents List
UNACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTS:
- Any otherwise “acceptable” document that is illegible
- Obituaries
- Pictures of military headstones
- Pictures of service members in uniform
- Entries in non-military and/or non-official records or books
- Membership cards from veterans organizations
- VA Healthcare Cards
- Selective Service Registration Card
Q: Who is a “direct descendant”?
A: A direct descendant is the child, grandchild, great-grandchild, et cetera of a veteran. Stepchildren and legally adopted children ARE considered direct descendants. Any other relationship (e.g., siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles) do not count as direct descendants.
Q: Can I list more than one veteran on my application?
A: No. No credit is given for being the descendant of more than one veteran. However, if an applicant is the direct descendant of a Korean War veteran, it is advisable to use that person on your application. Whichever Ancestor you choose, ensure you provide acceptable documentation of their time in service.
Q: If I have a question about the acceptability of a document, who should I contact?
A: You should contact your Boys State or Girls State point of contact. The point of contact information is listed in the delegate packet or can be found at https://www.legion.org/boysnation/websites. They VA can also verify official military documents.
Q: My school uses an embossed stamp, and it does not seem to show up on a scan. What should I do?
A: You may try to darken your scan by adjusting the scan density settings or shade over the embossed seal with a pencil (preferably) or a dark highlighter to bring out the indentation. If you are taking a picture of the document instead of scanning, you may try illuminating the picture from a particular direction to bring out the embossment. You could also shade the seal and take the picture after doing so.
Q: What happens to applications which were begun but not submitted at the start of a program?
A: Such applications are deleted from the system.
Q: For applications submitted but not chosen as department finalists, how are they dealt with?
A: Applications will be available for viewing or downloading by the applicant or department before November 1st. On November 1st, the application system will be purged of all applications not selected.
Q: Can I access my application after my Boys State or Girls State program starts?
A: You can only access your application until the start of your program. You will not be able to request a copy of your application after your program starts. Be sure to save your essays from your application on a storage device.
Q: Can I receive more than one bonus point for Legion membership?
A: No. Only one bonus point is awarded for being a member of the Legion Family. For example, if your mother, father, and you are each members of the Legion Family such as the Sons of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary or The American Legion, you will not receive a point for each membership. You will receive a total of one point.
Resources for Locating Military Documents
- Many certificates of discharge prior to 1979 do not appear to be "official" documents as many were typed onto a sheet of paper. If you are unsure if it is an official document, please ask your American Legion service officer. Click Here to Find a Department Service Officer
- National Archives and Records Administration: Request Military Service Records
- The County Clerk and Recorders Office where the veteran resided.
- The funeral home may have kept a copy if military honors were provided.
- Monument company if VA headstone or marker was ordered.
- If the veteran had utilized a VA Home Loan there may be a copy of the DD214 with the title documentation.
- Veterans who have signed up for EBENEFITS through the Veterans Administration may be able to obtain a printable copy from https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal
- The State Director of Veterans Affairs may have received a copy of the veterans DD214 at the time of discharge from military service. This will be specific to the state in which the veterans home of record.
- The State Director of Veterans Affairs may have received a copy of the veterans DD214 at the time of discharge from military service. This will be specific to the state in which the veterans home of record.
- You should utilize your Boys State or Girls State point of contact. The point of contact information is listed in the delegate packet or can be found at https://www.legion.org/boysnation/websites. The VA are also qualified for verification of acceptable documents. Do not contact The American Legion National Headquarters in the Americanism Division as they are not qualified to verify legal documents.
Contact Us
For all other general questions not in the FAQ above and not military document/verification related, please Contact Scholarships.