Legacy Scholarship awards a record $1.4 million to military children

For nearly 20 years, The American Legion Legacy Scholarship has provided more than 500 military children of fallen and disabled post-9/11 veterans over $3.5 million in aid for higher learning. The 2023 scholarship application opened in January and closed April 1 with 321 eligible applicants receiving $1,479,113 in aid – the highest amount awarded since the first grants in 2004.

The awardees were determined by the Americanism Commission during The American Legion’s annual Spring Meetings, May 10-11, in Indianapolis.

“The majority of my life my father often has talked about all the military programs and groups, such as The American Legion and what they have done to support and help him,” said Alexis Clement, a 2022 and 2023 American Legion Legacy Scholarship recipient. “Now, being the daughter of a veteran, those same groups are now helping me. I am so thankful for such kindness!

“Receiving the American Legion Legacy Scholarship has been an absolute blessing. I will be forever grateful for the money I have received going through college. As an aspiring orthodontist, I have about 8-10 years of schooling ahead of me. With that schooling comes a lot of student debt. The American Legion Legacy Scholarship has given me the hope that my future career can be possible. It has opened a new door to the future.” 

Children of veterans who died on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, or children of post-9/11 veterans who have a combined Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating of 50 percent or higher, are eligible for the Legacy Scholarship. The needs-based scholarship supports the expense of graduate or post-graduate tuition, books, room and board, meal plans and other supplies. The grant amount each scholarship recipient receives is based on his or her financial need after all federal and state aid is exhausted.

The number of scholarships awarded and the amount of financial aid granted to each awardee (this includes returning applicants) is determined on donations to the scholarship fund and one's financial needs. Legacy Scholarship recipients have a year to use the grant and those eligible can reapply up to six times.

For more information about the Legacy Scholarship visit legion.org/scholarships/legacy.