The American Legion Samsung Scholarship Program

Worldwide electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by the American Legion in 1996. As of 2019, Samsung Scholarships have awarded more than $6.5 million in college scholarships to 2,266 applicants. These scholarships are derived from interest and other income from the principal amount.

Award Amounts

Samsung scholarships may be used for undergraduate studies and applied toward tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Winners are selected according to academic record, involvement in school and community service.

  • Ten National Scholars receive $10,000 each (two from each region)
  • Ten National Runners-Up receive $5,000 each (two from each region)
  • Remaining Department Finalists receive $1,250 each guaranteed

Eligibility

Scholarship applications are restricted to high school juniors who attend the current session of either The American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program and are a direct descendant – i.e. child, grandchild, great grandchild, etc. – or a legally adopted child of a wartime U.S. military veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for American Legion membership.

Applicants who are direct descendants of Korean War Era Veterans will receive 3 bonus points.

Applicants with membership to the American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of the American Legion will receive a bonus point. Or, they can receive a bonus point by uploading a membership card of a parent. No more than one bonus point for an application.

SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION CRITERIA

Each Boys State and Girls State program makes its national finalist selection using the following criteria:

  • Academic record
  • Involvement in school activities
  • Involvement in community activities
  • Community Service
  • Financial need
  • Essay content
  • Additional bonus points will be awarded to descendants of U.S. veterans of the Korean Conflict.
  • Questions regarding the Samsung Scholarship are to be directed to scholarships@legion.org

Proof of Service Documentation

ACCEPTABLE

  • Form DD214 (Official discharge certificate)
  • Official “Honorable Discharge” certificate
  • Form DD1300 (Official military death certificate)
  • Official record of burial in a military cemetery issued by the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Current or former military ID card
  • Current or former LES (Leave and Earnings Statement)
  • Official logbook entries from a military unit
  • ANY OTHER DOCUMENT LISTED ON THE “Military Service Verification Documents List” (Linked below)

UNACCEPTABLE

  • Any otherwise “acceptable” document that is illegible
  • Obituaries
  • Pictures of military headstones
  • Pictures of servicemembers in uniform
  • Entries in non-military and/or non-official records or books
  • Membership cards from veterans organizations
  • VA Healthcare Cards

The following locations may be of assistance.

  • Many certificates of discharge prior to 1979 do not appear to be “official” documents as many were typed onto a sheet of paper. If you are unsure if it is an official document, please ask your American Legion service officer. Department Service Officers are listed by state at https://www.legion.org/serviceofficers or download The American Legion Claims Coach Mobile App through Google Play or ITunes App Store.
  • The National Archives and Records Administration: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html
  • The County Clerk and Recorders Office where the veteran resided.
  • The funeral home may have kept a copy if military honors were provided.
  • Monument company if VA headstone or marker was ordered.
  • If the veteran had utilized a VA Home Loan there may be a copy of the DD214 with the title documentation.
  • Veterans who have signed up for EBENEFITS through the Veterans Administration may be able to obtain a printable copy from https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal
  • The State Director of Veterans Affairs may have received a copy of the veterans DD214 at the time of discharge from military service. This will be specific to the state in which the veterans home of record.

Deadline

1. YOU MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE ONLINE APPLICATION with all required uploads prior to the first day of Arizona Girls State (June 4, 2023).

2. When prompted to do so on the website, PRINT a hard copy of the application with all uploads and attachments as you will be required to give the hard copy to the proper person during Girls State registration on Sunday, June 4, 2023. This is the only time the hard copy of the application will be accepted by Arizona Girls State. Hard copies of the application or any part of an application will not be accepted before or after this date. The Arizona Girls State finalists will be announced on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the awards assembly.

For more information

Girls State Contacts and Websites
FAQ – Samsung American Legion Application
Military Service Verification Documents List
2018 Samsung American Legion Scholarship Annual Report

To access the online Samsung Scholarship application:

Click Here