AFA Scholarships
Many of our nation’s Airmen, Guardians, and their spouses and families are on missions to complete higher education degrees. 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.
In 2024, 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.
“Thank you for helping make it more easy for me to continue to support our Air Force as a reservist while furthering my education at Harvard.”
—Julian Gluck, 2024 recipient of the Capt Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship
“Your commitment to supporting military families and spouses is deeply appreciated.”
—Isabella O’Brien, 2024 recipient of the Mike and Gail Donley Spouse Scholarship
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Sydell Perlmutter Gold Memorial Scholarship
Provides a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship (for a total possible award of $20,000) to the daughter of Active, Guard, or Reserve Air Force members pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Scholarship
Provides $1,000 to current and former members of the Air and Space Forces, Air National Guard, and Reserve, and their spouses or children to pursue a college degree or flight training.
Destin Flight Works Pilot Training Scholarship
Funded by Vertol Systems Company, Inc., this program provides one AFA member per year up to $10,000 toward pilot training courses, instructor fees, and aircraft rental, leading to a private pilot’s license at the Destin Flight Works school in Destin, Fla.
The George and Vicki Muellner Foundation Scholarship
Created through a generous contribution by the George and Vicki Muellner Foundation, two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded annually to eligible college students in Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings (AAS-SW). Applications are accepted September through November each academic year.
More information can be found at www.aas-sw.org under Academic Scholarships and questions may be directed to the AAS-SW Executive Management Center at mgmt.center@arnold-air.org.
Testimonials
“Thank you for this scholarship, AFA. It is amazing to know that I have an organization like AFA to support me as I go after my dream of becoming an Industrial Engineer, the first engineer in my family. This is the kind of support that allows me to focus on my studies in this demanding engineering environment and not worry about how my next expense will be covered. Thanks again so much.” – Aoife Flynn, 2024 recipient of the Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship
“This scholarship has alleviated some of the financial pressures of pursuing my education, allowing me to focus more on my studies in the physical therapy field. Your commitment to supporting military families and spouses is deeply appreciated, and I am proud to be a beneficiary of a program that recognizes the unique challenges we face. Thank you again for your generosity and for making a significant difference in the lives of students like me.” – Isabella O’Brien, 2024 recipient of the Mike and Gail Donley Spouse Scholarship
“I wanted to thank the AFA Scholarships & Grants team for my receiving the Captain Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship in 2024. I have just graduated from Harvard Business School with my MBA and am now at Maxwell Air Force Base for two weeks for the Air Command & Staff College Air Reserve Component Seminar. Thank you for helping make it more easy for me to continue to support our Air Force as a reservist while furthering my education at Harvard.” – Julian Gluck, 2024 recipient of the Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship