Scholarships

American Legion Baseball Player of the Year Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $1,500
Application, letters of recommendation and certification form must be received by Department Headquarters no later than July 15th of each year.
Application

Annually, The American Legion awards $30,000 in scholarships to deserving players. Each Department (State) Baseball Committee may select a player from their Department to receive this scholarship. The American Legion will award a scholarship varying from *$600 to $750 depending on the number of qualified applicants. Scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive their scholarships immediately upon graduation from an accredited high school. Scholarship winners must utilize the total award within eight (8) years of their graduation date, excluding active military duty.

The scholarship must be used to attend a school selected by the student providing it is state accredited and above the high school level. The National Treasurer of The American Legion will make disbursements from the scholarship fund jointly to the student and the school at the beginning of each semester.

American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $500
Nominations must be received by Department Headquarters no later than March 1st of each year.
Application

The American Legion, Department of Nebraska Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship is awarded to the Eagle Scout who best meets the qualifications outlined in the Nomination Application and will advance to national competition for the chance to receive a $10,000 scholarship. Three second-place scholarship awards will be given in the amount of $2,500 each. Scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive their scholarships immediately upon graduation from a state accredited high school (public, parochial, military, private, or home school) and must utilize the total award within four (4) years of their graduation date, excluding active military duty.

The scholarship may be used to attend a school selected by the student providing it is state accredited, above the high school level, and within the continental limits of the United States, except in the case where the student may be from a possession of the United States, in which case he can select a school in that possession or in the continental United States. Disbursement from the scholarship fund will be made jointly to the student and the school at the beginning of each semester or quarter. However, only on request will be honored per semester or quarter.

Edgar J. Boschult Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $500
Nominations must be received by Department Headquarters no later than March 1st of each year.
Application

The Edgar J. Boschult Memorial Scholarship was established by the Nebraska American Legion with the University of Nebraska in 1947, as a living memorial to Nebraska's honored dead of World Wars I and II. The scholarship was created in memory of Edgar J. Boschult, a World War I veteran and Past Commander of the Nebraska American Legion, and Lieutenant Colonel in the Armed Forces who was killed in action in Germany on November 8, 1944, while commanding the 76th Field Artillery Battalion of the First Army.

The fund was established by contributions from American Legion Commanders, Posts, and individual members. The income from this fund has been used to provide annual scholarships to full-time students in the University of Nebraska system who are enrolled in the Army, Air Force and Naval Science courses at the University. ROTC recipients must show qualities of leadership and aptitude for military or naval science, have a satisfactory scholastic record and be deemed worthy of financial assistance.

In 1972, provisions of the scholarship were amended to accept applications from honorably discharged veterans of the armed services. Veterans must be enrolled as full-time students in the University of Nebraska system and also have a satisfactory scholastic record and be deemed worthy of financial assistance. Re-application is allowed, including previous recipients and those enrolled in postgraduate study. Recipients of the scholarship are selected by the Executive Committee of the Nebraska American Legion.

Jim Hurlbert Memorial Baseball Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $500
Nominations must be received by Department Headquarters no later than June 15th of each year.
Application

The American Legion, Department of Nebraska will award up to four (4) scholarships not to exceed $500 each, as funds are available. At least one scholarship will be awarded from each of the four American Legion Department membership areas, as funds are available. Only one candidate will be allowed from each Senior American Legion Baseball team.

Scholarships are awarded for one year only and are nonrenewable. Eligibility is open to Nebraska American Legion Baseball players in their last year of Legion Baseball eligibility and/or graduating senior. Selection of recipients will be based on complete applications, financial need, academic achievement and school and community involvement.

Maynard Jensen American Legion Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $500
Nominations must be received by Department Headquarters no later than March 1st of each year.
Application

The American Legion, Department of Nebraska awards annual scholarships for students planning to enroll in a Nebraska educational facility of higher learning. Applicants must be a high school graduate or be earning sufficient credits to graduate from high school at the conclusion of the spring semester, or be enrolled full time in a post-secondary institution as of the application deadline date of March 1st. They must also be sons or daughters, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, adopted or stepchildren of members of The American Legion, Department of Nebraska, or POW, MIA, KIA, or any veteran that was a current American Legion member at the time of death.

Applicants must be enrolled or in the process of being enrolled full time in an accredited Nebraska institution of higher education to include university, college or technical school, public or private. Selection of recipients will be made on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, financial need, and the completion of all information requested in the application. Scholarship stipends will be sent to the institution of the recipient's attendance to be held for use in their name for tuition and fees, books, room and board only.

Nebraska High School Oratorical Scholarship Contest

Scholarship Amount - $1,000

The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program, "A Constitutional Speech Contest," is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.

Interested high school students first compete at the local American Legion Post level, with the winner advancing to the District contest. District contest winners then advance to Area competition and the four Area winners advance to the State Finals held each January in conjunction with The American Legion, Department of Nebraska Mid-year Conference. District competitors who advance to and participate in the Area contest will be awarded $100 each. The state champion receives $1,000 and then advances to the national finals held in Indianapolis, Indiana in April. The other Area finalists competing in the State Finals contest are awarded $600 (2nd Place), $400 (3rd Place) and $200 (4th Place).

National scholarship awards are presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National contest as follows: 1st Place - $25,000; 2nd Place - $22,500; 3rd Place - $20,000. Each Department (State) winner who is certified into and participates in the first round of the National Contest will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the Final Round, will receive an additional $2,000 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school. Visit the Oratorical Page for more information.

There is no application for this competition. Interested participants should contact their local high school Guidance Counselor, Speech Instructor or American Legion Post.

Samsung American Legion Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $20,000 or $1,250

Online Application
Frequently Asked Questions

Worldwide electronics leader Samsung endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by The American Legion in 1996. Meant to show appreciation for U.S. veterans who came to Korea's aid during its struggle against communist forces in the Korean War, the Samsung American Legion Scholarship Program established a series of scholarships derived from interest and other income from the principal amount. In 2010, 10 $20,000 scholarships and 88 $1,000 scholarships were awarded.

Scholarships are restricted to high school juniors who complete either a Boys State or Girls State program and are a direct descendant - i.e. child, grandchild, great grandchild, etc. - or a legally adopted child of a wartime veteran who served on active duty during at least one of the periods of war officially designated as eligibility dates for American Legion membership.

Samsung scholarships are for undergraduate study only and may be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board. Winners are selected according to academic record, involvement in school and community activities, community service and financial need. Applicants who are direct descendants of Korean War veterans will receive special consideration.

Note: The Samsung Scholarship Application must be filled out and submitted online. A paper copy of the completed online application must be brought with the student when they attend Boys State or Girls State.

Sons of the American Legion Scholarship

Scholarship Amount - $500
Nominations must be received by Department Headquarters no later than March 1st of each year.

Application

Adopted at the 2021 Detachment Convention, the Nebraska Sons of the American Legion has made a $500 scholarship available to a current member of a Sons of the American Legion Squadron in Nebraska or a son, grandson, great grandson, adopted son, stepson, step-grandson, or step-great grandson of any military veteran, alive or deceased (if not a current Legion member, please provide a copy of the veteran's DD-214 discharge papers or any other verifying documents).