Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My mother/father is now deceased but was an AFT member for many years. Am I eligible to apply?

A. Though we appreciate the support and dedication of our long-term members, an eligible applicant must be a dependent of a current or retired member in good standing.

Q. My aunt (uncle, grandparent) is a member. Why am I not eligible to apply?

A. If the aunt, uncle, grandparent or other relative is the legal guardian of the applicant, then the applicant is eligible to apply.

Q. What are the criteria? Is this scholarship/grant based on need, merit, or ethnicity?

A. The scholarship/grant is solely merit-based, centering on academic excellence. Volunteerism and activism at the school and community level are also highly regarded.

Q. Can GED students apply? What about students who went to college on "early entry" and never attended high school?

A. Only those GED or "early entry" students who are graduating in their senior year are eligible to apply.

Q. My son/daughter is a freshman in college. Can he/she apply?

A. No. Only high school seniors are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Q. Can the March 31 deadline be extended?

A. If March 31 falls on a Sunday, we will accept applications postmarked April 1. Otherwise, under no circumstances will we accept applications postmarked beyond March 31. Efforts are made to make information on the scholarship/grant available by mid-December on our Web site, in our publications and in some local newsletters so that prospective applicants will have sufficient time to submit a well-prepared application.

Q. Why are AFT staff at the local or national level prohibited from applying?

A. To ensure the integrity of the competition, AFT staff at any level are ineligible to apply.

Q. When will an applicant know the results?

A.  All applicants will be notified before June 30 of the results, so we would appreciate no calls before this date.