The Pillar of Courage Scholarship in Honor of Sharene Brown is designed to recognize and empower military spouses by providing educational opportunities that honor their resilience, leadership, and service within their families and communities.

The scholarship will cover up to one online degree program (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree). The scholarship will be applied directly to the recipient’s tuition for up to 60 semester hours or 36 consecutive months in the selected online degree program, whichever comes first. This scholarship covers tuition, textbooks, and technology fees.

Eligibility

  • Be the spouse of a current or veteran service member from any of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including Guard and Reserve.
  • Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Be prepared to begin coursework within 90 days of receiving the award.
  • Meet CSU admissions standards for chosen degree level (2.0 GPA for undergraduate, 3.0 GPA for graduate).
  • Maintain continuous enrollment and remain in good standing throughout the degree program.

Required Documents

  1. Title 10 or Title 32 orders for Guard/Reserve members
  2. DD-214 for veteran spouses (may also require a copy of marriage license)
  3. For Guard/Reserve, would a copy of the LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) or the NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service).
  4. A written essay (2,000 words or less) addressing the prompt.

Application Period

The scholarship application will open on January 17. All required documents must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 28.

The scholarship committee will review all applications and select recipients. Award notifications will be issued within 15 business days after the conclusion of the review process. The scholarship will be awarded in March.

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