Financial help with college for military families

[rockvillemom]

I had no idea this existed - just passing it on.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/17/pf/college/student-loan-debt-military-taps/index.html?iid=SF_PF_River

As an orphan of military parents, 23-year-old Haycock’s mission is to make sure that no child of a fallen service member should struggle with student debt.

Just this past month, Haycock jolted into action after she was touched by a CNNMoney story of Rhea Shannon, whose father had died while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, and who was now struggling with $54,000 in student loans.

Within two hours, Haycock had arranged for JPMorgan Chase to wipe all of Shannon’s loans.

So after graduating in 2013, Haycock started working for TAPS and focused on its Education Support Services program, building it from the ground up by researching funding options through different states, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and private scholarships.

The program helps students through the college application process, reading essays for scholarships and guiding them toward funding sources.

“We try to catch the families even before (they apply), help them understand SAT/ACT prep, application processes, resumes, anything the families may need,” she said.

[dadoftwingirls]

I know there are specific scholarships for the children of a fallen military parent.

[ECmotherx2]

There is also the “Post 9/11 Yellow Ribbon GI Bill”. The parents would have had to qualify in order for this benefit to transfer to their child.

[Catmatmc]

I work in the MSO/VSO community, and there are a great deal of options for the families of our fallen servicemembers (and those of wounded servicemembers as well). I personally know a family of a wounded warrior that has already rec’d a scholarship for future college ed for their toddler through Folds of Honor https://www.foldsofhonor.org/

The challenge is (and always has been in the military community): no matter how much information you think is out there, people still fall through the cracks. Like the rep from TAPS says, catching them before the process begins is key. They need to be aware of what’s out there and then many will need help navigating it all.

Thanks for sharing and helping get the word out. I am familiar with TAPS. They do great work.