Anchor Scholarship Pre-Qualifying (STEP 1) Application 2026

Welcome to STEP ONE of the Anchor Scholarship Foundation process, Pre-Qualification.

The pre-qualification portion of the application determines for both Anchor Scholarship Foundation and Administered Scholarship applicants

• the applicant's dependent status

• the applicant's sponsor's Time in Service* (minimum of 6 years) within US Surface Navy and subordinate commands**

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY & RECEIVE THE ANCHOR SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP?

Dependent children and spouses of active duty, retired, honorably discharged, or deceased U. S. Surface Navy personnel, Enlisted or Officer.

 ~Dependent Children: unmarried natural-born, adopted, or stepchildren (up to the age of 23 of the application year) who are graduating seniors or current college/trade school students.

The pre-qualification portion of the application MUST be completed and submitted by March 1st at 11:59 PM EST. No exceptions are made to our deadlines. 

 NOTE: All communication from the site will come from "Kaleidoscope Support" [email protected]. Please add this to your address book / safe-sender list. If you don't find communication in your INBOX, please check your SPAM or JUNK folder.

*Sponsor Eligibility Criteria

• Surface Warfare Qualification (officer/enlisted)

• MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: 6 years in commands under the administrative control of Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVSURFLANT) and/or Commander Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR). The time requirement is cumulative and assignments need not be consecutive.

• Sponsors may utilize qualifying service on CVNs toward the six-year service requirement. Enlisted sponsors must have a Surface-designated rating for CVN service to qualify.

• Will also qualify for Ship’s Company Scholarship(s) if those eligibility requirements are met as well.

Deceased Sponsor

• The dependent child or spouse of any Surface Warfare qualified member of the U.S. Navy (Officer or Enlisted) who died while serving on active duty will qualify, regardless of the length of service of the deceased parent/spouse. You will be asked to submit proof of Surface Qualification (SWO or ESWS) and copy of the sponsor’s Report of Casualty (DD Form 1300).

Will be considered for:

• Foundation Scholarships

• The Raytheon-Zumwalt Scholarship

• The T. Nash Broaddus DECO Scholarship

• The RADM James Prout III Memorial Scholarship (additionally, must reside in the San Diego area)

• The Leidos STEM Scholarship

• The Rolls-Royce STEM Scholarship

As well as any Ship’s Company scholarships for which the student’s sponsor meets the qualification.

*Qualifying Commands

• Sponsor Eligibility Criteria

  • Sponsor must have been a member of one, or more, of the below listed ship’s company for a minimum of 1 year

  • Does not need to have a special qualification(s), i.e. Surface

Will be considered for

• The USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) Scholarship

• The Arleigh Burke Association Scholarship

  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)

• The Arleigh Burke Trust Scholarship

  • USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)

• The USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) Scholarship

• The USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) Scholarship​​

• The Billy Hurley III Scholarship

  • USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93)

  • OR USS Gettysburg (CG 64)

• The Jack H. and Ruby Lucas Scholarship

  • USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)

• The USS Nantucket (LCS 27) Scholarship

• The USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) Scholarship

• The USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) Scholarship

For more information on applicant eligibility for specific administered scholarships or the Anchor Scholarship Foundation scholarship program visit www.anchorscholarship.org.

Already Pre-Qualified? Applicants who pre-qualified in a previous scholarship season must still complete Step I, the Pre-Qualification, by the March 1st at 11:59 PM EST deadline. However, they will not be required to enter sponsor command information or upload eligibility documents.

Siblings Pre-Qualified: All applicants must complete STEP I, the Pre-Qualification, by March 1st at 11:59 PM EST. If an applicant’s sibling has pre-qualified within the last five years, the applicant is not required to enter sponsor command information or upload eligibility documents, other than proof of sponsor dependency. If the applicant's siblings' pre-qualification is older than five years, command information and eligibility documents will be required.

If you have any questions throughout the scholarship process, please contact:

Kelly Westcott, Scholarship Administrator, [email protected]

NOTE: All communication from the site will come from [email protected]. Please add this to your address book / safe-sender list. If you don't find communication in your INBOX, please check your SPAM or JUNK folder.