The United States Department of Veterans Affairs has opened a financial aid window for children and spouses of veterans who died or got injured on duty.
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is open to spouses and children of an active-duty service member who died on duty after September 10, 2001; you are eligible.
Fry scholarship provides eligible surviving spouses and children attending school full tuition coverage at state-operated colleges and universities, plus a monthly living stipend and book allowance under this program.
Surviving spouses of veterans can use the Fry Scholarship for 15 years from the anniversary of the service member’s death or until they remarry.
Eligible children can use the Fry Scholarship between 18 and 33. Children under age 18 can’t use this benefit even if they have completed high school. The child’s marital status doesn’t affect eligibility.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: FRY SCHOLARSHIP
The Fry Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry, who was killed on March 8, 2006, by an improvised explosive device in Anbar province, Iraq, leaving behind his widow and three small children.
The Fry Scholarship is a scholarship for children and dependents of Veterans. It pays education benefits to the surviving spouses and children of service members who die on duty after Sept. 10, 2001.
The Fry Scholarship gives a full payment of tuition and fees at the in-state rate (this money is paid directly to the school) for all public schools. Private school attendance is also possible, but the benefit has a limiting payment to a maximum per-academic year rate.
Dependent children who qualify become eligible as of their 18th birthday, but this benefit expires when the dependent reaches their 33rd birthday. Surviving spouses generally have 15 years from the service member’s death to use the Fry Scholarship, though benefits have been extended by federal law.
WHO RUNS THE SCHOLARSHIP?
The Fry Scholarship is sponsored by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government saddled with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country. Non-healthcare benefits include disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance.
The Veterans Affairs also provides burial and memorial services to eligible veterans and family members at 135 national cemeteries.
The Department of Veterans Affairs runs programs benefiting veterans and members of their families. It offers education opportunities and rehabilitation services and provides compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service, home loan guaranties, pensions, burials, and health care that includes the services of nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers.
FIELD OF STUDY
The Fry Scholarship is not a level or field-based scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP WORTH
The amount awarded for this scholarship varies. It provides full-tuition for eligible veterans’ families in public and private higher institutions.
HOST
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs hosted this scholarship.
HOST NATIONALITY
The Fry Scholarship is hosted and to be taken in the United States.
ELIGIBLE NATIONALITY
This scholarship is available for United States citizens.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FRY SCHOLARSHIP?
Surviving spouses and children of active-duty service members with the United States Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001, are eligible for this Scholarship.
The recently proposed Fry Scholarship Enhancement Act of 2021 would also include spouses and children of service members who died from a service-connected disability within 120 days of serving in the Armed Forces.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Eligible candidates must meet the following criteria:
For dependent Children
- A dependent child is eligible on their 18th birthday or earlier if they graduate from high school.
- Eligibility ends on the dependent child’s 33rd birthday
- A child’s marital status or age 23 or older does not affect eligibility
For surviving Spouses
- A surviving spouse can receive benefits for terms beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2015
- A surviving spouse’s eligibility generally ends 15 years after the service member’s death if they became eligible before Jan. 1, 2013; there is no time limit if the spouse became eligible on or after Jan. 1, 2013
- A spouse loses eligibility for the benefit with remarriage if this occurs during the 15 years.
WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR A FRY SCHOLARSHIP?
To apply for the Fry Scholarship, eligible applicants will need to provide the following:
- Social Security number (required)
- Sponsor’s Social Security number (required)
- Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend
- Bank account direct deposit information
- Education and Military history
HOW DO I APPLY FOR FRY SCHOLARSHIP?
To apply for the Fry Scholarship:
Complete the VA form online.
Complete the application process here
Note: Parents or guardians must sign the application if the child is under age 18.
APPLICATION DUE DATE
The deadline for the application is Sun, Jan 1st, 2023, 08:59 pm PST.
TIPS TO WIN THE FRY SCHOLARSHIP
These tips might be helpful to you when applying for a Fry Scholarship.
- Find out if you’re eligible for VA education benefits
- Read more on applying for VA education benefits as a Veteran, service member, or qualified family member.
- Gather the documents and information you’ll need to apply for education benefits.
- Learn about what benefits you’ll get at the school you want to attend.
- Fill out a Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-5490) and send it to the VA regional office where you want to go to school.
- Get VA Form 22-5490 to download
- Find a VA regional office
- If you aren’t legally an adult, your parents or guardians must sign the application.
- If you’ve already started your educational program, ask a certifying official from your school or your employer to fill out a VA Enrollment Certification (VA Form 22-1999). They can find this form online through VA Online Certification (VA-ONCE).
- Choose your program
- If you qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and DEA, you’ll need to choose which program you want to use. Once you choose, you can’t change your mind.
Note: If your parents died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011, you could use both the Fry Scholarship and DEA. You can get up to 81 months of full-time training, but you can use only one program at a time
BENEFITS OF FRY SCHOLARSHIP
Eligible candidates for the Fry scholarship will get:
- Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students.
- For eligible candidates attending private or foreign schools, tuition & fees are capped at $25,162.14 per academic year.
- A monthly housing allowance
- A books and supplies stipend
- Eligibility to attend any GI Bill-approved school in the country and have your tuition fully covered.
SUMMARY
Here is a summary of essential points to note about the Fry Scholarship.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
Register link: visit Here
Fry Scholarship login link: Visit Here
Formal winners of Fry Scholarship: N/A
Previous Finalist of Fry Scholarship: N/A
All the scholarships offered by Fry Scholarship: N/A
Twitter profile link: N/A
Contact Information: visit Here
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Sponsors: United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Department: N/A
Course Level: N/A
Award: N/A
Number of Awards: N/A
Access Mode: Online
Nationality: United States
Language Requirement: There is no language requirement for this scholarship.
Supporting Documents: To apply for the Fry Scholarship, eligible applicants must submit: their Social Security number, Sponsor’s Social Security number, Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend, Bank account direct deposit information, and education and Military history.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
How to Apply: Application for the Fry scholarships require an online process. Visit the scholarship portal to begin your application process.
Supporting Documents: To apply for the Fry Scholarship, eligible applicants must submit: their Social Security number, Sponsor’s Social Security number, Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend, Bank account direct deposit information, and education and Military history.
Admission Requirements: Fry scholarship is open to spouses and children of veterans who died or got injured in the line of duty. To apply for this scholarship, you need to meet the eligibility requirements.
Language Requirement: There is no language requirement for this scholarship.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does the Fry scholarship work?
The Fry Scholarship provides 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students; tuition and fees are capped at a maximum amount per academic year for those attending private or foreign schools, and a monthly housing allowance.
Is the Fry scholarship the same as post 911?
No. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001
Can I use the Fry scholarship and GI Bill?
You may qualify for up to 36 months of benefits under the Fry Scholarship Program and another 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for your service. You may also receive additional entitlement if another parent transfers entitlement to you.
CONCLUSION
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is a scholarship for children and spouses of Veterans who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, while serving in one of the Armed Forces or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability.
You may be eligible for Fry Scholarship benefits if you’re the child or surviving spouse of A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while not on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or A member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001.
As the child of a service member, you can be married or unmarried, and if you turned 18 or graduated from high school before January 1, 2013, you can get a Fry Scholarship until you’re 33 years old.
As the spouse of a service member, if you remarry, you’ll no longer be eligible for the Fry Scholarship. You can still get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments using the Fry Scholarship.
The Fry Scholarship will provide Money for tuition (total in-state tuition costs at public schools and up to $22,805.34 per year for training at private or out-of-state schools), Money for housing, and Money for books and supplies.
You’d get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), or award letter, in the mail if your application were approved. If your application weren’t approved, you’d get a denial letter.