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VVA MIKE NASH SCHOLARSHIP FUND APPLICATION
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) was founded in 1978. In 1986 the
organization received it’s congressional charter and it remains the only
congressionally chartered veterans service organization devoted exclusively to
improving the lives of those who served in uniform during this nation’s
longest and most divisive war.
As the leading advocate for Vietnam veterans, VVA provides support and
assistance in securing earned benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs;
plays an active role in government relations advocacy at the national and state
levels to improve benefits and services available to our nation’s veterans;
and extends a helping hand to members, dependents and orphans and widows of
deceased Vietnam veterans.
In 1991, VVA established a scholarship program to
provide financial assistance to: Vietnam era veterans, dependent children,
grandchildren, and orphans and widows of deceased Vietnam veterans, for costs
associated with undergraduate studies at accredited educational/technical
institutions. These scholarships were initially intended to be given out one
each to each VVA Region and subsequently were expanded to include a special
scholarship for those with learning disabilities or special needs.
In 1996, the VVA Board of Directors named the Region 2 scholarship in honor
of Barry Heimbender, a deceased VVA board member.
In 1997, the VVA national board of directors renamed the VVA national
scholarship program, the Mike Nash Scholarship Fund in honor of Mike Nash, a
sitting VVA board of director who had recently passed away.
WHO WAS MIKE NASH?
On May 24, 1997, Mike Nash died unexpectedly
at his home computer while putting some final touches on his preparations for an
upcoming Veterans Initiative Task Force trip to Vietnam. Both within and out of
VVA, he was often referred to as “The Gentle Lion”, a big round man with a ready
room-lighting smile and a hearty laugh, a leprechaun’s twinkle in his eyes, and
a full bushy gray beard that made you think of Santa Claus or Bert Lahr playing
the lion in the Wizard of Oz.
He was especially committed to
addressing the POW/MIA issue to help obtain a proper resolution of this very
complex issue. But Mike was not a single-issue kind of guy. He held a vast
array of officer and committee positions at all levels of VVA since joining VVA
Chapter 154 (Mt. Clemens, MI) in 1988 and becoming a VVA Life Member in 1990.
At the time of his death he was completing his first term as an At-Large member
of the VVA National Board of Directors. He chaired both the POW/MIA Committee
and the National Scholarship Program. He came from the heartland of America and
prided himself on simply being part of, and a fervent representative of, VVA’s
grass roots.
MULTI-YEAR (or CONTINUING) SCHOLARSHIPS
For those who receive multi-year scholarships, they are asked at the end of
each school year to prove that they have completed the previous year and that
they have been accepted for the coming year by submitting a transcript of their
grades as well as a letter from the institution indicating that the student will
be continuing their education.
SCHOLARSHIP YEAR
The Scholarship year is considered the school year, fall
through spring (generally September through May). The years coincide with the
scholastic years Freshman through Senior.
EVALUATION of APPLICATIONS
Applications are reviewed in early July. Results are announced at the
biennial VVA National Convention and the Leadership Conference. Shortly
thereafter, letters will be sent to all applicants notifying them of the results
with checks also being sent to the winners.
Applicants are evaluated based upon completeness of their application,
demonstrated need and finally their grade point average. They, obviously, must
demonstrate the potential ability for completing post high school education.
DISTRIBUTION of SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Scholarship funds are disbursed at the decision of the applicant - either to
the applicant himself/herself or to the educational institution. It should be
noted that if funds are disbursed directly to the student, VVA is required by
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations, to complete an IRS form 1099
indicating that the student has received a specific amount of money, send one
copy to the student, and one copy to the IRS.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicant must:
-
Be a Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) member; a
spouse, child, stepchild or grandchild of a VVA member; or a
spouse, child, stepchild or grandchild of an MIA, KIA or deceased
Vietnam veteran.
-
Be registered to attend a minimum of half time
(as determined by the institution), an accredited
educational/technical college or university or post-secondary
institution.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must submit the following by June 30th (of each year):
- A completed
application form (Printable
PDF file).
- High school or college transcripts.
- Photocopy of SAT, ACT, or other acknowledged testing source
results.
- Letter of acceptance from a college, university or
post-secondary training institution.
- Letter of recommendation from a VVA State Council or VVA
Chapter (on letterhead).
- Copy of form DD-214 and death certificate from the related
Vietnam era veteran, if the veteran is deceased.
- Academic standing for the year prior to application for the
scholarship.
- Statement describing financial need to include copy of parent
and applicant’s most current year personal Income Tax form (IRS
Form 1040, 1040A, 1040ES, etc.). This statement of need should
include a budget reflecting all costs such as tuition, books,
fees, room and board (if away from home), etc. Then indicate how
these costs will be met such as scholarships, grants, savings,
parents, etc.
- Two letters of reference from current or former teachers,
academic advisors, employers, ministers, etc., attesting to
applicants character.
- A letter in the applicant’s own words,
expressing current educational goals and objectives, individual
accomplishments and any other personal information that may assist
in the selection process.
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