Air Force Association Scholarships: Fueling the Future of Air and Space Power

The Air Force Association (AFA), established in 1946, stands as the largest organization dedicated to promoting air and space power. A significant part of AFA's mission involves supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their families, particularly in their pursuit of higher education. Through various scholarships, the AFA invests in the future leaders of the Air and Space Forces. Each year, the AFA contributes significantly to Airmen, Guardians, their spouses, and their children through unique scholarships designed to alleviate the financial burden of higher education. These scholarships cover a wide array of educational pursuits, from college tuition and flight school to dental school and even full rides to select universities.

AFA's Commitment to Education

For years, the Air & Space Forces Association has funded those efforts as part of its own mission to support and encourage the prosperity of our nation’s Air & Space Force community. Many of our nation’s Airmen, Guardians, and their spouses and families are on missions to complete higher education degrees.

In 2025, AFA contributed more than $110,000 to Airmen, Guardians, their spouses, and their children through 11 unique scholarships. The scholarships help fund college tuition, flight school, dental school, Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings, and even full rides to certain universities.

Applications are accepted December 1 to April 30 each year. Selections will be announced in July.

Specific AFA Scholarships

The AFA offers a variety of scholarships, each with its own specific criteria and focus. Here's a look at some of the key scholarships available:

Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship

Provides $1,000 annually to minor dependents of Active, Guard, Reserve, veteran, or retired members of any service branch pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university.

Captain Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship

Provides $3,000 to USAF/USSF Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve personnel pursuing a master’s degree in a non-technical field. Ling Yu, a 2025 recipient of the Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship, expressed her gratitude: “I am truly grateful to the Air & Space Forces Association and the Donley family for supporting military spouses in their educational goals. Air Force, receiving this award is a huge honor and a meaningful recognition of my personal and professional development. This scholarship will not only support my higher education, helping me build the skills, but also motivate me to lead by example and contribute to the mission at a higher level. It eased our financial stress and gave me the peace of mind to focus on my goals with gratitude. Thank you to the Air & Space Force Association for your generous support and unwavering commitment to developing today’s Airmen.”

Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship

Provides $5,000 to minor dependents of Air and Space Forces Active Duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree. This scholarship is made possible by a bequest from the estate of Lt Col Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti and was established for minor dependents of Air Force active duty, Reserve or Air National Guard enlisted airmen pursuing an undergraduate degree in the area of science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).

Mike & Gail Donley Spouse Scholarships

Provides $2,500 annually to encourage Air Force or Space Force spouses worldwide to pursue higher education.

Col. Loren J. and Mrs. Lawona R. Spencer Scholarship

Provides three $5,000 scholarships for Air Force personnel (Active Duty, civilian, or full-time National Guard or Reserve) to pursue graduate-level education in management and administration in preparation for senior-level leadership roles. Aimee Inman, the 2025 recipient of the Col. Loren J. and Mrs. Lawona R. Spencer Scholarship, shared her appreciation: “This award is helping me complete the final four courses of my Master’s in Organizational Leadership and will allow me to transition directly into a doctoral program without delay. It also gives me the resources to pursue additional leadership development opportunities that support my continued growth and advancement in service to the Air Force.”

Read also: Interning with the US Air Force

John C. and Blanche Lee Lindsay Memorial Scholarship

Provides one $2,500 scholarship to a child of members of the United States Air Force who is pursuing a college degree.

Delta Dental Grants

Provides five $2,000 scholarships and grants to military spouses, military dependents, and transitioning service members for the advancement of oral health and wellness.

The George and Vicki Muellner Foundation Scholarship

Created through a generous contribution by George and Vicki Muellner Foundation, offers two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each, awarded annually to eligible college students in Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings (AAS-SW).

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Beyond the AFA's direct scholarships, several other avenues exist for Airmen, Guardians, and their families to secure financial aid for education:

Air & Space Forces Aid Society (AFAS): The Air & Space Forces Aid Society provides Education Support for children and spouses of Airmen and Guardians and can help pay for college in many ways in addition to the AFAS Merit and Grit Scholarships. Actually receiving an Arnold Education Grant is not a pre-requisite to receive a Merit or Grit Scholarship. Students who have already been vetted through the Arnold Education Grant application process will be evaluated for the Merit Scholarship based on their cumulative GPA. Those students ultimately chosen to receive a Merit or Grit Scholarship are announced in July each year.
Michael Wilson Scholarship: This scholarship program was created by the Air Force Association, in partnership with Brian Wilson, to fund the Michael Wilson Scholarship. personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree. graduation ceremonies held each spring and fall.
Army ROTC Scholarships: Scholarships and other monetary support are available to help with costs when you join Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Focus on your education and graduate into a secure path as an Army Officer-and with less debt for the school years your scholarship covers.

External Scholarship Resources

While the AFA and related organizations offer specific scholarships for the Air and Space Forces community, numerous external resources can provide additional financial aid for education:

Read also: Modern Learning Platform

Scholarships360 “No Essay” Scholarship: The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education.
Niche: Niche can help with every step of the college search including paying for it.
Christian Connector: The Christian Connector offers various scholarship drawings for Christian/Faith Based colleges and universities. Since 1995, our mission has been to help connect students with the right schools for them.
CollegeXpress: Carnegie Dartlet, the organization that houses CollegeXpress, is an educational publisher and higher education marketing agency.
StudentScholarships.org: This scholarship is provided by StudentScholarships.org.
National Black Nurses Association: The National Black Nurses Association scholarships to students at all levels (LPN to Doctorate). Applications and supporting materials will ONLY be accepted electronically. Applications and supporting materials will ONLY be accepted via the Community Force platform.
"Be Bold" Scholarship: The "Be Bold" Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. It takes less than 2 minutes to apply. To us, boldest does not mean "best", or "most accomplished". The Scholarship is open to all residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, age 17 or older at the time of entry. Employees and contractors of LeverEdge Association are ineligible to participate in the Scholarship Program.

Application Process and Key Dates

For most AFA scholarships, applications are accepted between December 1 and April 30 each year. Selections are typically announced in July. It is crucial to check the specific requirements and deadlines for each scholarship, as they may vary.

tags: #air #force #association #scholarships #requirements