2026 scholarship cycle is closed. 2027 to be announced.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
The Service and Sacrifice Scholarship Fund, organized by Let’s Walk It Out—222+ Mile Ruck March (LWO), provides one-time financial aid scholarships and awards for immediate family members (spouse, children, or stepchildren) of Veterans and First Responders who died by suicide. A maximum of three awards of $1,000 each are available for university, junior college, technical/vocational/trade school, program, or private Kindergarten through 12th grade school.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
• Be an immediate family member (spouse, child, or stepchild) of a Veteran or First Responder who died by suicide.
• Have already been accepted by, or be in attendance at, the accredited college, university, junior college, technical/vocational/trade school, or program, or private Kindergarten through 12th grade school at which the scholarship will be applied.
• The location of the educational facility must be physically located within the United States and its territories.
Application Timeline
• Application Period: April 5th to June 10th, 2026.
• Submission: All documents must be submitted electronically via the LWO application portal. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be considered.
• Evaluation: The Scholarship Committee will evaluate applications by June 30th, 2026.
• Notification: Awardees will be notified by email by July 15th, 2026, and award certificates will be mailed promptly.
Application Requirements
Submit the following documents through the LWO application portal:
1. Recommendation Letter: A letter from the deceased’s former place of duty/work (e.g., military, fire department, police, EMS, or similar).
2. Acceptance Letter: A copy of the acceptance letter from the school or program where you are or will be enrolled.
3. Personal Letter: A letter including:
o Your full contact information (name, mailing address, phone number, email).
o Your educational and career plans and aspirations.
o Your planned course of study and why you chose this school or program.
4. Academic Records: Copies of your most recent transcript and SAT, ACT, or GRE scores (if applicable). Current grade cards are accepted if no test scores are available.
5. Summary of Activities and Achievements: A summary covering:
o Academic honors and awards (e.g., Honor Roll, National Honor Society, AP/Honors classes).
o Athletic participation and awards (e.g., sports, team/individual honors).
o Extracurricular activities (e.g., music, drama, clubs).
o Non-school activities (e.g., work, volunteer, church, service programs).
6. Proof of Service: Documentation verifying the deceased’s service in the U.S. Armed Forces, Police, Fire Department, or other First Responder role (e.g., DD214, work credentials, or official letter from the department).
7. Proof of Cause of Death: Documentation confirming the cause of death as suicide (e.g., death certificate, obituary stating suicide, police report, a Notarized Sworn Statement (newly added), or official letter from the department).
8. Essays: Write a 300-500-word essay from one of the following two topics:
o Cultivating Resilience Through Community Connection: Discuss how building strong support networks (e.g., peer groups, mentorship programs) helps individuals recover from mental health challenges, emphasizing collective strength.
o The Role of Hope in Healing: Explore how small acts of kindness (e.g., peer support, creative outlets like art or music) inspire hope and resilience in those facing mental health challenges.
Award Process
• The Scholarship Committee will submit recommendations to the LWO Board of Directors for final approval.
• Awardees will receive funds paid directly to the financial aid office of their designated school for tuition or direct payment.
• Non-awarded applicants will be notified and encouraged to reapply the following year.
Submission
All materials must be submitted electronically through the LWO application portal between April 5th and June 10, 2026. Contact the scholarship committee if you have any issues obtaining specific documentation. For more information, visit the LWO website or contact the Scholarship Committee via email at scholarship@letswalkitout.org.