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.