Scholarships for Military Children program accepting applications Published Jan. 5, 2023 By Mike Perron Defense Commissary Agency Public Affairs FORT LEE, Va. – Applications have opened in the Scholarships for Military Children program for the 2023-2024 academic year. The program, entering its 23rd year, recognizes military family contributions to fighting-force readiness and celebrates the commissary’s role in enhancing quality of life. Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping service members, veterans and their families, administers the program. It has awarded more than $22 million to 12,812 students, selected from a pool of nearly 113,000 applicants. “The Defense Commissary Agency is again honored, for the 23rd year in a row now, to team with Fisher House Foundation and industry to promote this extraordinary opportunity for the children of military families to pursue their dreams in higher education,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Michael Saucedo, senior enlisted adviser to the DECA director. For academic year 2023-2024, Fisher House Foundation will award 500 scholarship grants of $2,000 each. The selection process will begin immediately following the application deadline of 2:59 a.m. Feb. 16. Funding for the program comes from commissary business partners and other Fisher House Foundation contributions designated specifically for the scholarship programs. “We thank the Defense Commissary Agency for partnering with us to provide scholarships to our youngest members of the military community,” said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “We also appreciate the donors and supporters who value how important our military families are and support them through our scholarship program.” Selection qualifications are straightforward. Requirements include completing the application; submission of the student’s official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or college transcript showing a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in college; and a 500-word essay. The subject of this year’s essay is listed at militaryscholar.org under “Scholarships for Military Children.” Program eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in DEERS and have a current military dependent ID card. The applicant must also be planning to attend or already attending an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2023 or be enrolled in a study program designed to transfer directly into a four-year program. Applicants who are awarded a full scholarship to attend a college or university or receive an appointment to one of the service academies or affiliated preparatory schools are not eligible to receive funds from this program. A full scholarship is usually defined as one that provides for payment of tuition, books, lab fees and other expenses. All Scholarships for Military Children program rules and requirements, as well as FAQ links, are available at militaryscholar.org. Fisher House Foundation also has a free, easy-to-use custom scholarship search engine tailored to military families called “Scholarships for Service.” It’s available for both mobile devices and desktop computers at militaryscholar.org. Commissary sales flyer features extra savings The Defense Commissary Agency’s sales flyer, currently good through Jan. 15, starts the new year offering customers even greater ways to save on fresh produce, meat and more to help set the menus for their gatherings with family and friends. To stock up for football watch parties, go no further than the commissary for savings through the new and improved Your Everyday Savings program. YES! offers extra savings and value on the products customers buy the most. Look for the orange YES! label in the flyer or on store shelves. Patrons can also add savings beyond already low commissary prices by becoming a Savvy Shopper. For details, see the Sales Flyer and Featured Items | Commissaries. DECA’s “Thinking outside the box” recipe for the period is Spinach and Prosciutto Crepe Pockets | Commissaries. TOTB recipes are dietitian-approved, offering quick and economical solutions for home-cooked meals. Customers can save even more on the items listed in these recipes. Commissary shoppers can continue their journey to savings with Pathway to Savings “instant savings and buy one, get one free” deals and Commissary Rewards Card digital coupons. Customers can save over $45 through these deals. Many more digital coupons are available at https://shop.commissaries.com/digital-coupons. Customers are reminded they can now download a mobile app to access DECA’s website programs such as Commissary CLICK2GO online payment and curbside pickup, digital coupons, the sales flyer and dietitian-approved recipes. The app is free for download through the Google Play and IOS app stores. Other savings opportunities include the following promotions: “New Year, Fresh Start.” Customers can enter MyMilitarySavings.com/contests for a chance to win one of five commissary gift cards. Limit one entry per person. “Nature Made $1,000 Commissary Gift Card Giveaway.” Twenty winners will be selected to win a $50 commissary gift card. Visit https://familymedia.com/naturemade to enter. P&G We Stand Together. Win a $25 commissary gift card when you purchase $75 in participating P&G products from the commissary through Jan 29. Customers should submit their receipt online at PGWeStandTogether.com or by mail to: P&G We Stand Together Rebate Program, P.O. Box 125, Heyworth, Illinois 61745. Entries must be submitted or postmarked by Feb. 6. “Back to School/Box Tops for Education.” General Mills is offering an opportunity to save money throughout the year while supporting local schools through the “Box Tops for Education” promotion. See store displays and high-value coupons for participating General Mills brands. “Purina PCS with Pets.” “PCS with Pets” is a communication and information portal committed to educating and assisting active-duty military family pet owners. Sign up today and join this community forum at www.militarypetpcs.com/sign-in. Also, enter the monthly sweepstakes for a chance to win $500 toward pet-travel fees; in addition, 10 customers have the opportunity to win a travel pet bag at www.militarypetpcs.com/contests.