Noteboom The Law Firm

The Pat Tillman Scholarship Fund

March 15, 2010 - The Pat Tillman Foundation's Tillman Military Scholars program offers a scholarship to veterans, but it is more than just a scholarship. Because the scholarship was created in Pat's image, the receiving veterans must exemplify traits of community service and selfless commitment, including:

• Showing a record of service to their communities; and
• Pledging to continue those activities.

 The scholarship is given at 8 universities. Last year was its inaugural year and the program dispersed $642,000 to 52 veterans and their families. Their very admirable goal is to distribute $6.2 million every year which is the same amount of money the Arizona Cardinals offered Tillman in his contract. Tillman instead chose to join the Army and serve his country following the Sept. 11, 2001 attack.

Because of what Tillman's family went through after the Army's slow process of admitting the circumstances of Tillman's death in Afghanistan, the scholarship focuses on the families of the recipient.

Veterans applying for the Pat Tillman scholarship are assessed based on a number of factors. Veterans are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA, but the foundation can be flexible on this number. The criteria used to determine eligibility includes:  

• Financial need;
• Record of personal achievement;
• Essay responses;
• Demonstrated service; and
• Education and career ambitions.

 The Tillman scholarship can be used by veterans and their families to obtain any degree at any institution. The foundation intends to keep most of the scholarship money aimed at institutions with considerable amounts of veteran students as well as programs to support veteran students and their families. Students enrolled at universities already partnered with the foundation are given unique focus, these include:

• Cleveland State University;
• Mississippi State University;
• Texas A&M University;
• University of Arizona;
• University of Arkansas;
• University of Idaho;
• University of Maryland; and
• University of Oregon.

 Cleveland State University has started a Veterans only program (SERV) and has seen some very early success. Veterans in this program spend their first semester in class with other veterans before entering classes with civilian students. While the numbers from this program aren't where some want them to be, the program has been copied by other universities.

Learn more about the Pat Tillman Scholarship and how you can apply.