Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Marc Whitehead & Associates Law Firm

Introduction
Marc Whitehead & Associates is proud to offer the Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship as part of our commitment to support those who have served and their families. This national scholarship helps U.S. military veterans and the unmarried dependent children of veterans pursue undergraduate study at two- or four-year colleges and universities. Our goal is to assist returning service members in transitioning to successful civilian careers and to provide opportunities for veterans’ children to pursue their academic and professional ambitions. (See prior recipients here.)

Award Amount and Permitted Uses
- Award: $5,000 (one annual recipient)
- Funds may be used for qualifying undergraduate expenses such as tuition, textbooks, and other educational costs.

Who May Apply
Applicants must be either:
1) A United States veteran who:
- Served honorably in the U.S. armed forces, and
- Has been accepted to a two- or four-year undergraduate program or is currently enrolled in one.
2) An unmarried dependent child (under age 24) of a U.S. veteran who:
- Is the veteran’s dependent and under 24 years old, and
- Has been accepted to a two- or four-year undergraduate program or is currently enrolled in one.

Required Documentation
All application materials must be submitted by email only, following the online Submission Form on this page. Required attachments (PDF or Word .doc/.docx only):
- Proof of veteran service (veterans submit their own; children of veterans submit a copy of the parent’s proof of service)
- Proof of legal U.S. residency (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport, etc.)
- College acceptance letter or current college ID
- Most recent transcript (college or high school)
- Scholarship essay (see essay requirements below)

Note: If selected, the recipient will be asked to provide their upcoming fall class schedule demonstrating enrollment in 12 credit hours or more.

Essay Requirements
- Length: 700–1,500 words; original work (plagiarism or false information will disqualify).
- Submit only the materials listed above; do not include letters of recommendation, tax returns, resumes, bank statements, or other items not requested.

Veterans — address the following:
- Why you are an excellent candidate for this award
- How you have performed community service
- Examples of leadership you have shown both during and outside of military service
- Identify at least one meaningful achievement and explain how it connects to your field of study and future goals

Children of Veterans — address the following:
- Why you are an excellent candidate for this award
- How you have performed community service
- Examples of leadership you have shown both in and out of school
- How you intend to use your education to create a positive community impact
- At the top of your essay include: full name, email, mailing address, phone number, and a brief paragraph about yourself, the college you attend or will attend, and your plans/goals

Essay Guidance
- Treat the essay as the primary opportunity to differentiate yourself; thoughtful, sincere, and well-edited submissions are favored.
- Plan carefully, proofread thoroughly, and verify facts and details.
- The essay is the main criterion for selection, judged on originality, substance, and quality.

How to Apply (Online Process)
This scholarship uses an online submission form plus emailed attachments. There is no paper application.
1. Write the required essay (veteran or child of veteran version).
2. Gather the required documents listed above and save them as PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx).
3. Complete and submit the online Submission Form on this page.
4. You will receive a Confirmation Email from Marc Whitehead & Associates.
5. Reply to that Confirmation Email and attach all required documents (proof of service, proof of residency, acceptance letter or college ID, transcript, essay). Instructions also appear in the confirmation message.

Timeline and Deadlines
- Submissions open: November 1, 2025
- Submission deadline (for 2026 fall semester): April 30, 2026 (applications must be complete and submitted by this date)
- Essay judging complete: May 31, 2026
- Scholarship recipients contacted by: June 14, 2026

Selection Process
The selection is primarily essay-driven. Essays are evaluated for originality, merit, and substantive quality by Marc Whitehead and an external panel of veterans’ advocates (2–6 judges). Winners are chosen based on those evaluations.

Ownership, Use of Name/Likeness, and Privacy
- Submitted materials will not be returned. By entering, applicants acknowledge that if selected, Marc Whitehead & Associates will have the rights to publish and promote the submission.
- Applicants consent to the use of their name, city/state of residence, likeness (including photographs), and award information for publicity.
- Personal contact information provided (email, mailing address, phone) will be used only to evaluate the scholarship application and will not be shared, sold, or otherwise disclosed. See our Privacy Policy for further details.

Final Notes
- All attachments must be sent only after you receive the Confirmation Email and must be in PDF or Word format.
- Remember: recipient will be asked to verify enrollment of 12 or more fall credit hours if awarded.
Good luck with your application!

Submission Form
Frances & Earl Perry Memorial Veterans Scholarship
College Scholarship for Veterans and Children of Veterans

(Use the Submission Form on this page to begin your application.)