Scholarship Program

Prepare Your Application

The application must be completed in one sitting. It cannot be saved and returned to later. Feel free to click apply now and peruse the requirements before filling it out.

What are the Requirements?

The FBSA Merit Scholarship is merit-based and does not consider financial need. Eligible applicants must show excellent educational performance, outstanding character and resilience, and exemplary service to their community through participation in extracurricular activities and community service.

Requirements are subject to change, but here is a foundational understanding of what we'll ask for:

Verification of eligibility
Transcripts
Volunteer hours and someone to certify them (minimum of 10 hours during the academic year)
Names/Contact info for 2 people willing to provide a reference on your behalf
A written essay (see the FAQs section for the questions and requirements)
Information about the student, their intended field of study, and college/school they'll be attending

We strongly recommend you download the checklist below to ensure you're ready to submit your application.

Download the Checklist

FAQ

Rules, Deadlines, & Procedures

Scholarships are awarded in each of five categories with a minimum award of $500.
1. High School Senior
2. College Student
3. Junior College Student
4. Graduate Student
5. Vocational/Trade School Student
GPA Requirements:
1. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
2. Homeschooled students must submit their transcripts with GPA; however, SAT, ACT, or GED scores can be submitted along with the applicant’s transcripts in lieu of GPA.
  - SAT score must be a minimum of 950 combined points
  - ACT composite score must be a minimum of 20
  - GED score must be a minimum of 501
As a merit-based scholarship, applicants are required to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours over the course of the current school year.
Applicants who receive a “full ride” scholarship (covering tuition, room and board, etc), ROTC scholarship, or who receive an appointment to attend a service academy must withdraw their application and forfeit any FBSA award.
No applicant may receive more than two FBSA scholarships from the FBSA Scholarship Fund in their lifetime.
An applicant may apply in only one scholarship category per application year.
Applications must be completed using the digital form provided on this page. Note that the scholarship application cannot be saved mid-completion; it MUST be completed in one sitting.

Timeline

The application must be completed in one sitting, and all materials must be submitted by 11:59pm on 17 March 2025 to be considered.
Recipients of merit scholarships will be notified by 14 April 2025 and will be invited to an awards ceremony (or alternative) to be presented their award in May 2025
Intended school of choice must be disclosed no later than 31 May 2025
Final disbursement of scholarship monies will be made directly to the educational institution for deposit in the student's tuition account in accordance with the educational institution's scholarship process. They will be disbursed by 01 August 2025 and must be used by 31 July 2026 or the money will be returned to the FBSA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Eligible?

All spouses and dependents of Active Duty or Retired Military, Gold Star Families, GS Civilian Employees of all ranks in and around the El Paso area who are planning to enroll in, or are enrolled in: a two-year college (resident or online), a four-year college or university (resident or online), a graduate program, or vocational school. Your sponsor must be assigned to the Ft. Bliss / El Paso area, and eligible child dependents must be younger than 23 up to the application deadline. High school seniors who remain at Fort Bliss/El Paso to complete high school while the sponsor has PCS’d may apply. The sponsor or high school applicant must reside in the local area until 17 March 2025.

Is it worth applying?

YES! The FBSA awarded over $38,000 in scholarships in 2023, and $40,000 in 2024!

What if I am already in college?

APPLY! There are several categories we award scholarships to, including: HS Senior, Continuing College Student, etc. The categories are listed in full under the Rules, Deadlines, and Procedures section above.

Where do I find the application?

Once the application period is open, you will be able to click the above APPLY NOW button to start the application form!

What are this year's essay questions?

Choose one of the three questions below to respond to. Your essay should be written offline and attached as a PDF document to your digital application. Your essay must be written in MLA format with a title, and be a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Talk about a personal accomplishment that is unrelated to academics, but that means a lot to you?
What is exemplary service, and why is community service important?
Talk about a person in your life who has helped you understand yourself better?

What qualifies as an eligibility verification letter?

Depending on your status, the verification requirements vary. See below for the requirements in each category:

Active Duty Family Member
- DEERS form that confirms the applicant is a legal dependent of the service member OR Verification letter from unit S-1 that confirms the sponsor’s assignment to Fort Bliss and states that the family member (applicant) is a legal dependent of the service member.
- If the applicant is a high school student who has remained in the Fort Bliss/El Paso area, the PCS’d sponsor must obtain a verification letter from the unit S-1.
Family Member of Retired Service Member
- DEERS form that confirms the applicant is a legal dependent of the retired service member and shows the service member’s retirement status.
Gold Star Family Member
- Verification of eligibility from the Survivor Outreach Services
Family Member of GS Civilian Employee
- Verification from the employee’s supervisor that confirms the family member is a legal dependent of the employee.

How many volunteer hours do I need?

Applicants must submit a verification from a volunteer supervisor confirming their participation in at least 10 hours of community service during the current academic year.

How do I get my transcripts to you?

All college transcripts must be official and may be sent directly from the school or by the applicant.
If the transcript is being physically mailed, it must be in a sealed envelope that is marked with the school’s seal/stamp to verify the envelope has not been opened. If the school is sending electronically (preferred), it must be sent directly from the school and sent to scholarships@thefbsa.org.
If the applicant has been out of school for 10 years or more and the school no longer has copies of transcripts, please submit a letter from the school on official letterhead stating this.

What do I need to request for my letters of recommendation?

To apply, you will need two letters of recommendation completed by persons unrelated to the applicant who will attest to the applicant’s motivation, character, and integrity. There is an opportunity on the digital form for you to send requests to those completing a recommendation for you.
If the letter is instead mailed and on official letterhead, a sealed envelope is not required. The letter may be in an e-mail (preferred) and must include the organization’s professional signature block.
At least one letter should be from a teacher, mentor, or academic advisor.
One letter may be from the volunteer supervisor who completes the volunteer verification.

What if I need to mail something to you?

The scholarship application has been digitized and is intended to leverage as little physical mail as possible. If needed (though discouraged), mail any supporting documents to:

Fort Bliss Spouses’ Association
ATTN: Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 6365
El Paso, TX 79906

For questions, concerns, or additional information please contact scholarships@thefbsa.org