AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY VETERANS
Journey to Serve Scholarship
The $5,000 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is designed to help US and Canadian military veterans continue their call of duty in a funeral service or deathcare career honoring the values revered in every branch of the military: Respect, dedication, and commitment to community.
Eligibility
This scholarship is open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States or Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited funeral service program.
Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarship
The $2,500 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is named in memory Hunter M. Harbeson, who, like generations before him, including his father Jeff Harbeson, served in the United States military, and continued his journey to serve in a career in funeral service and deathcare.
Eligibility
Open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
Submission Cycles
Applications accepted:
- February 15-April 1
- September 15 – November 1
Terms & Guidelines
- Online submissions only.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships are open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States or Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
- Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
- Scholarships are offered in partnership between the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation, as part of the Journey to Serve Initiative.
- The Funeral Service Foundation offers additional academic scholarships. A candidate may be eligible for, and may apply for, other Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarships, but may only receive one Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarship, regardless of program.
- Canadian military veterans are eligible to apply for the FSAC (Funeral Service Association of Canada) National Scholarship, which is an academic scholarship available to any registered student attending any recognized Canadian Funeral Service Education program on a full-time basis and in good academic standing.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarship recipients and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarship recipients are not eligible to receive additional academic scholarships from the Funeral Service Foundation.
- The ICCFA Educational Foundation does not offer additional academic scholarships.
- Students may be eligible for additional professional development scholarships offered by the Funeral Service Foundation, the ICCFA Educational Foundation, and the Funeral Service Association of Canada.
- Those who have previously applied for, but did not receive, a Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarship are encouraged to apply again.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are subject to available funds, and are not renewable.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are for mortuary science/funeral service academic study only.
- Funding is sent directly to the school; under no circumstances will the Funeral Service Foundation or the ICCFA Educational Foundation make a payment directly to the student.
- Funding may be used for tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
- Alternates may be selected if a scholarship recipient declines the award.
- No loan programs, vocational grants or assistance for graduate study are available from the Funeral Service Foundation or the ICCFA Educational Foundation.
- The Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation will only confirm receipt of completed applications and reserve the right to eliminate from consideration unsigned or incomplete applications without further notice to the applicant.
- If a student terminates his or her enrollment in the school for any reason, the remaining/unused balance of the scholarship must be returned to the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation only, and may not be transferred to another school, and may not be paid to the student personally.
- Serious protracted illness or injury that would delay participation in the program may be considered reason for holding an award in reserve. Time limits and other restrictions may be set by the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation. Other leaves of absence will be considered on an individual basis.
- All award decisions of the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation are final.
Submission Requirements
Essay & Video
Each candidate is required to answer all questions in no more than 250 words per question, and submit a brief video, no longer than two minutes.
Additional Information
When you submit your application, you’ll also be required to upload:
- A letter of enrollment or a letter of good standing from an ABFSE- or Canadian accredited institution.
- Most recent academic transcript.
- An overview of military service.
Learn more about available scholarship opportunities.
------------
What We're Looking for in a Candidate
Our scholarship evaluation is based on three core pillars that reflect a candidate's readiness to become a successful, sustainable leader in the funeral service profession. We seek to partner with candidates who demonstrate genuine passion, strategic vision, and personal commitment.
1. Merit & Professional Potential
We seek candidates who are forward-thinking and demonstrate high potential to make a lasting impact.
- Strategic Vision: Show us a clear, thoughtful plan for your professional future. Do you understand the opportunities and changes facing the profession, and can you articulate how you will apply new insights to advance your work or community?
- Unique Fit: Define the distinct skills, experiences, or unique perspectives that will enrich your service to families and elevate your potential as a leader.
- Impact & Interpersonal skills: Demonstrate how you have contributed to positive outcomes in your firm, school, or community — or share a clear plan for creating meaningful impact. We value candidates who show initiative in leading, collaborating, and uplifting others.
2. Commitment to Success & Full Potential
We assess the viability of your plan to ensure that this scholarship allows you to achieve your maximum potential without undue strain.
- Resilience & Sustainability: For professional development, articulate a proactive, personal strategy for sustainability and well-being.
- Feasibility & Dedication: Explain how our scholarship will serve as a critical resource. Show us that you have taken personal initiative in securing the resources needed to realize your goals.
- Maximizing Potential: We view this award as an investment in the most promising talent. Show us how removing financial or time obstacles will enable you to fully dedicate yourself to your studies or training, thereby maximizing your contribution and impact upon completion.
3. Authenticity & Communication
We value the personal honesty and professional maturity required to serve the public.
- Authentic Voice: Your responses should be personal, written in your unique voice, and demonstrate deep reflection. Show your ability to convey meaningful personal narratives (e.g., a defining moment, a growth experience, or a challenging transition) with maturity and sincere insight.
- Professional Poise (Video): For the video question, we assess your presence, clarity, and genuine connection to the material. Your ability to communicate effectively and engage an audience is essential for serving families and representing the profession.
- Professional Thoroughness: All applications should be complete, well-organized, and adhere to all word and time limits, demonstrating the high standard of attention to detail required in deathcare.
------------
AI Usage Policy for Scholarship Applicants
The Foundation values the authenticity and originality of every applicant's voice and experience. Therefore, while preparing your application, you may use AI tools (such as grammar checkers or editing assistants) for refining your work. Acceptable uses include checking grammar, improving sentence flow, or adjusting your personal narrative to meet word count limits.
However, all ideas, strategic analysis, and personal narratives must be original to you. It is strictly prohibited to use AI tools to generate the core content of the essays, formulate your main arguments, or select the specific personal experiences required by the prompts. Any submission found to contain non-original, AI-generated content may be disqualified, as your thoughtful, personal insight is the sole basis of our evaluation.
Academic Scholarships for Military Veterans
AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY VETERANS
Journey to Serve Scholarship
The $5,000 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is designed to help US and Canadian military veterans continue their call of duty in a funeral service or deathcare career honoring the values revered in every branch of the military: Respect, dedication, and commitment to community.
Eligibility
This scholarship is open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States or Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited funeral service program.
Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarship
The $2,500 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is named in memory Hunter M. Harbeson, who, like generations before him, including his father Jeff Harbeson, served in the United States military, and continued his journey to serve in a career in funeral service and deathcare.
Eligibility
Open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
Submission Cycles
Applications accepted:
- February 15-April 1
- September 15 – November 1
Terms & Guidelines
- Online submissions only.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships are open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States or Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
- Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
- Scholarships are offered in partnership between the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation, as part of the Journey to Serve Initiative.
- The Funeral Service Foundation offers additional academic scholarships. A candidate may be eligible for, and may apply for, other Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarships, but may only receive one Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarship, regardless of program.
- Canadian military veterans are eligible to apply for the FSAC (Funeral Service Association of Canada) National Scholarship, which is an academic scholarship available to any registered student attending any recognized Canadian Funeral Service Education program on a full-time basis and in good academic standing.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarship recipients and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarship recipients are not eligible to receive additional academic scholarships from the Funeral Service Foundation.
- The ICCFA Educational Foundation does not offer additional academic scholarships.
- Students may be eligible for additional professional development scholarships offered by the Funeral Service Foundation, the ICCFA Educational Foundation, and the Funeral Service Association of Canada.
- Those who have previously applied for, but did not receive, a Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarship are encouraged to apply again.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are subject to available funds, and are not renewable.
- Journey to Serve Academic Scholarships and Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Academic Scholarships are for mortuary science/funeral service academic study only.
- Funding is sent directly to the school; under no circumstances will the Funeral Service Foundation or the ICCFA Educational Foundation make a payment directly to the student.
- Funding may be used for tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
- Alternates may be selected if a scholarship recipient declines the award.
- No loan programs, vocational grants or assistance for graduate study are available from the Funeral Service Foundation or the ICCFA Educational Foundation.
- The Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation will only confirm receipt of completed applications and reserve the right to eliminate from consideration unsigned or incomplete applications without further notice to the applicant.
- If a student terminates his or her enrollment in the school for any reason, the remaining/unused balance of the scholarship must be returned to the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation only, and may not be transferred to another school, and may not be paid to the student personally.
- Serious protracted illness or injury that would delay participation in the program may be considered reason for holding an award in reserve. Time limits and other restrictions may be set by the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation. Other leaves of absence will be considered on an individual basis.
- All award decisions of the Funeral Service Foundation and the ICCFA Educational Foundation are final.
Submission Requirements
Essay & Video
Each candidate is required to answer all questions in no more than 250 words per question, and submit a brief video, no longer than two minutes.
Additional Information
When you submit your application, you’ll also be required to upload:
- A letter of enrollment or a letter of good standing from an ABFSE- or Canadian accredited institution.
- Most recent academic transcript.
- An overview of military service.
Learn more about available scholarship opportunities.
------------
What We're Looking for in a Candidate
Our scholarship evaluation is based on three core pillars that reflect a candidate's readiness to become a successful, sustainable leader in the funeral service profession. We seek to partner with candidates who demonstrate genuine passion, strategic vision, and personal commitment.
1. Merit & Professional Potential
We seek candidates who are forward-thinking and demonstrate high potential to make a lasting impact.
- Strategic Vision: Show us a clear, thoughtful plan for your professional future. Do you understand the opportunities and changes facing the profession, and can you articulate how you will apply new insights to advance your work or community?
- Unique Fit: Define the distinct skills, experiences, or unique perspectives that will enrich your service to families and elevate your potential as a leader.
- Impact & Interpersonal skills: Demonstrate how you have contributed to positive outcomes in your firm, school, or community — or share a clear plan for creating meaningful impact. We value candidates who show initiative in leading, collaborating, and uplifting others.
2. Commitment to Success & Full Potential
We assess the viability of your plan to ensure that this scholarship allows you to achieve your maximum potential without undue strain.
- Resilience & Sustainability: For professional development, articulate a proactive, personal strategy for sustainability and well-being.
- Feasibility & Dedication: Explain how our scholarship will serve as a critical resource. Show us that you have taken personal initiative in securing the resources needed to realize your goals.
- Maximizing Potential: We view this award as an investment in the most promising talent. Show us how removing financial or time obstacles will enable you to fully dedicate yourself to your studies or training, thereby maximizing your contribution and impact upon completion.
3. Authenticity & Communication
We value the personal honesty and professional maturity required to serve the public.
- Authentic Voice: Your responses should be personal, written in your unique voice, and demonstrate deep reflection. Show your ability to convey meaningful personal narratives (e.g., a defining moment, a growth experience, or a challenging transition) with maturity and sincere insight.
- Professional Poise (Video): For the video question, we assess your presence, clarity, and genuine connection to the material. Your ability to communicate effectively and engage an audience is essential for serving families and representing the profession.
- Professional Thoroughness: All applications should be complete, well-organized, and adhere to all word and time limits, demonstrating the high standard of attention to detail required in deathcare.
------------
AI Usage Policy for Scholarship Applicants
The Foundation values the authenticity and originality of every applicant's voice and experience. Therefore, while preparing your application, you may use AI tools (such as grammar checkers or editing assistants) for refining your work. Acceptable uses include checking grammar, improving sentence flow, or adjusting your personal narrative to meet word count limits.
However, all ideas, strategic analysis, and personal narratives must be original to you. It is strictly prohibited to use AI tools to generate the core content of the essays, formulate your main arguments, or select the specific personal experiences required by the prompts. Any submission found to contain non-original, AI-generated content may be disqualified, as your thoughtful, personal insight is the sole basis of our evaluation.