Veteran & Military Resource Center

Kapi’olani Community College – Financial Aid Office To learn more about applying for financial aid at Kapi’olani CC, please click here.

Kapi'olani Community College - Scholarship Awards are made available by the generosity of private individuals and organizations who wish to reward students for various accomplishments, such as academic achievement, service to the school and community, leadership ability, first-generation college attendance, and specific major/career choices. Financial need and unique personal backgrounds may also be taken into consideration. The offering of specific scholarships is dependent upon the availability of funds. Unlike loans, you don’t have to pay these funds back. Outside scholarships from non-Kapiʻolani sources are added to your account. Depending on your financial aid package, your need-based assistance MAY be reduced by a similar amount (beginning with work-study & student loans) per federal regulations.

University of Hawai'i (UH) System Common Scholarship Application The UH System Common Scholarship Application is one way students can apply for multiple system and campus scholarships at the same time. This application is used for students interested in applying for UH System Scholarships (Awarded by the UH System Financial Aid Office),
Campus-specific scholarships (excluding UH Mānoa scholarships administered by the department or the UH Mānoa Financial Aid Office),  UH Community Colleges Scholarships (available through the Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges) and UH System Scholarships are scholarships awarded by our UH System Office, and can usually be used at different UH campuses.

The UH System Common Scholarship Application is also the primary application used by all of our UH campuses (with the exception of UH Mānoa which uses multiple applications). Many of the scholarships available through the UH System Common Scholarship Application are funds available through the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation awards about $5 million annually from various private and corporate donations.

Each UH campus has a broad pool of funds for student financial awards. To help balance donor preferences and legal requirements regarding scholarships, a pool and match method of managing scholarships is utilized via a common scholarship application platform. UH selects recipients for the majority of awards based on neutral criteria such as merit and financial need. In rare cases where funding was given to UH with specific restrictions, the institution will honor those restrictions to the extent allowed by law. This approach using a common scholarship application system ensures that UH awards scholarships in a manner that does not result in an advantage or disadvantage to a recipient because of his or her race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or gender.

Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college to eligible students and families. We partner with postsecondary schools, financial institutions, and others to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college. To access the FAFSA, please click here.

Yellow Ribbon Program – The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed either the annual maximum cap for private institutions or the resident tuition and fees for public institutions. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Please fill out the Yellow Ribbon Program form at the Veteran & Military Resource Center in iliahi 112. Pamphlet available here.

Tillman Military Scholars Program – The Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Military Scholars program supports our nation’s active and veteran servicemembers and their families by removing financial barriers to completing a degree or certification program of choice.

Military Tuition Assistance

How Do You Get Tuition Assistance? The procedure to apply for Tuition Assistance varies according to your service and even your unit. However, your education office should have the latest information and forms you need to take advantage of this program. The forms have to be signed by your commander and supervisor, who determine whether college courses will interfere with your duties. In most cases, tuition assistance is granted.

• Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA)offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue Off-Duty or Voluntary Education. For more information, click here.

• Navy Tuition Assistance program pays 100% of tuition and required fees charged by educational institutions for course enrollments. TA is available to both Naval Officer and Enlisted active duty personnel and Naval Reservists on continuous active duty. It is also available to enlisted Naval Reservists ordered to active duty 120 days and to Naval Reservist Officers ordered to active duty for 2 years or more.

• Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) Program is an important quality of life program that provides 100% tuition and fees for courses taken by active duty personnel. The program is one of the most frequent reasons given for enlisting and re-enlisting in the Air Force. You must apply for Tuition Assistance online using the Air Force Virtual Education Center. This must be done through the Air Force Portal at https://www.my.af.mil/. There are six steps to completing the AFVEC online TA process.

• GoArmy is the virtual gateway for all eligible Active Duty, National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online, anytime, anywhere for classroom and distance learning. It allows Soldiers to manage their education records including college classes, testing, on-duty classes and Army Education Counselor support. The Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning. The courses must be offered by schools that are registered in GoArmyEd and are accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For general information about the Army's automated TA process, visit www.ArmyIgnitED.com.

• Coast Guard Tuition Assistance assists eligible personnel – active duty, reserve and civilian employees – in their professional development by providing funding for off-duty voluntary education courses to broaden their academic or Coast Guard technical background.

• National Guard Tuition Assistance (TA) Program provides National Guard personnel with funding for education and training programs taken at a regionally, nationally, or professionally accredited college, university, or vocational school recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Army Reserve offers opportunities for selected reserve soldiers to pursue their education on a voluntary basis. Voluntary education plays a vital role in a reservist’s career because it enhances promotional opportunities. Voluntary education differs from military education and training which is required for MOS/AOC. If you are interested in participating, voluntary education must be completed on personal time with financial assistance provided by the Army Reserve. You are strongly encouraged to become familiar with and utilize all available education benefits and programs. Army Reservists may go to https://www.goarmy.com/reserve.html and sign in using their AKO login and password to submit TA requests online.
  
  

Spouse and Dependent Children Tuition Assistance

• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) provides financial aid to military spouses and family members:

• Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) is available to spouses of active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel in OCONUS locations pursuing full- or part-time enrollments in vocational certification, undergraduate, or graduate degree programs.

• VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program provides financial assistance to spouses and unmarried dependent children of active duty members as well as unmarried dependent children of retired Marine Corps or Navy members.

• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that provides scholarship opportunities for dependent children of Marines for pursuit of higher education opportunities.

• Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) is a Department of Defense (DoD) program that provides financial assistance to spouses of active duty military members and spouses of activated Guard and Reserve service members (deployed for a year or more) for certification, licensure, education or training in careers in high-growth, high-demand occupations. MyCAA booklet is available here.

• Fry Scholarship is an amendment to the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (chapter 33) that makes education benefits available to the children of service members who die in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001. The scholarship was created to honor the memory of Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena, Texas. With only a week left in his Iraq tour in 2006, Fry injured his hand and was given the option of going home early with a Bronze Star. Fry declined the offer and volunteered to go on one last run to defuse bombs. Fry was killed March 8, 2006, by an improvised explosive device in Anbar province, Iraq, leaving behind his widow and three small children.