Through AFA scholarships, caring organizations and individuals help students pursue their dreams of higher education with generous scholarships, awards, and grants. These programs exemplify the lifelong bond of Airmen and the commitment of our supporting community.

AFA annual scholarships include:

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 $2,000 to USAF/USSF Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve personnel pursuing a master's degree in a non-technical field. 

Mike & Gail Donley Spouse Scholarships

Provides $2,500 annually to encourage Air Force or Space Force spouses worldwide to pursue higher education.

Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship

Provides $5,000 to minor dependents of Air and Space Force Active Duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree.

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.

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.

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. 

Trident University Full Scholarship

Provides five full-tuition scholarships to current AFA members pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees at Trident University. Both current and prospective students are eligible.

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.

Eligibility can be found in application page after applications open on December 1st: https://www.afa.org/education/scholarships/ 

• freshman
• sophomore
• junior
• senior

Applications available here and will be opened December 1st: https://www.afa.org/education/scholarships/

Many of our nation’s Airmen, Guardians, and their 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 2022, AFA contributed more than $230,000 to Airmen, Guardians, their spouses, and their children through 12 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.

Selections will be announced in July.

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.