All essays must be at least 1500 words and must be the original work of the applicant. Entries will be judged by creativity of content, how well it addresses the essay theme, spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. In addition, students are encouraged to read and follow all directions explicitly before sending in their entry.
Students entering the contest must be U.S. citizens attending schools in the U.S. or military academies. The scholarship is sponsored by the Joe Foss Institute, a non-profit organization located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and dedicated to promoting freedom in America, patriotism and educating youth about those who made sacrifices to protect freedom. Joe Foss was a Marine Corp fighter in WWII, South Dakota's 20th governor and a mentor to Hays C. Kirby.
Hays C. Kirby was a Lt. Col. in the US Air Force and an accomplished aviator who flew fighter jets for the Air Force Reserves' famous 301st Fighter Wing "the SPADS". He was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Airman's Medal for his accomplishments in the military and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
The deadline for this scholarship is usually in MARCH of each year, and the award amount is usually $1,000 - $5,000.
For more details, visit www.joefossinstitute.org/joe-foss-institute-programs/educational-scholarships/
