ANAVICUS Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada United States

Overview
ANAVICUS (Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada United States) is the U.S. component of ANAVETS, the Canadian veterans organization established in 1840. The U.S. charter was granted in 1953 at The American Legion’s national convention in St. Louis, where ANAVICUS held its inaugural meeting. The organization comprises approximately 1,200 members—primarily past national commanders of The American Legion and other notable Legionnaires. Membership is strictly by invitation and new members are formally inducted twice yearly at the national convention and at the Washington Conference.

Memorial and Scholarship Program
In 1982, the ANAVICUS executive committee voted to create and fund a memorial to Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery, the author of the original GI Bill. That memorial is installed at The American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis. In addition to the memorial, ANAVICUS provides a number of scholarships—nine annually in memory of distinguished ANAVICUS members—and several named awards supporting students at specific institutions or those meeting particular eligibility criteria.

Scholarships and Eligibility (summary of awards)
- Frank R. Kossa Memorial ANAVICUS Scholarship
- Intended recipient: a cadet at the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario.
- Criteria: awarded to an outstanding third-year cadet on the basis of academic achievement and leadership potential. All third-year cadets are evaluated at the end of that year; the college selects the recipient.

- Father Edward J. Carney Scholarship
- Background: Carney served as a national chaplain of The American Legion and was a longtime chaplain for ANAVICUS.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a sophomore or junior at Merrimack College (North Andover, Mass.) chosen on the basis of financial need, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and demonstrated leadership potential. Merrimack College selects the recipient.

- Reverend Frank L. Harrington Scholarship
- Background: Harrington was a national chaplain of The American Legion and faculty at Carroll College (Helena, Mont.).
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: an outstanding sophomore or junior at Carroll College, chosen for financial need, at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and leadership potential. Carroll College makes the selection.

- General Lewis B. Hershey Scholarship
- Background: Hershey helped establish the U.S. unit of ANAVIC and served as its first president for 20 years.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a sophomore or junior at Trine University (Angola, Ind.) selected based on financial need, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and demonstrated leadership potential. Trine University selects the recipient.

- James F. O’Neil Scholarship
- Background: O’Neil was a past national commander of The American Legion and a former president of ANAVICUS.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: an outstanding sophomore or junior at Saint Anselm College (Manchester, N.H.) with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and demonstrated leadership potential. Saint Anselm College selects the recipient.

- General Frank R. Schwengel Scholarship
- Background: Schwengel played a key role in forming the U.S. unit of ANAVIC.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a sophomore or junior at Iona College (New Rochelle, N.Y.) selected for financial need, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and proven leadership potential. Iona College chooses the recipient.

- E. Roy Stone Jr. ROTC Scholarship
- Background: Stone was an alumnus and longtime supporter of Furman University, a past national commander of The American Legion, and a longtime member of the ANAVICUS Executive Committee.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a deserving, full‑time student at Furman University (Greenville, S.C.), with the college making the selection.

- Richard M. Pedro Memorial Scholarship
- Background: Pedro served for many years as Department of New York adjutant and on the ANAVICUS Executive & Selection Committee.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a student enrolled in an ROTC program who demonstrates financial need and maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The college selects the recipient.

- Judge Daniel F. Foley Scholarship
- Background: Foley was a long‑time president of ANAVICUS.
- Award: $1,500.
- Eligibility: a student who is a direct descendant of a member or deceased member of the Army, Navy, & Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS). Applications are received by the ANAVETS board of directors, which selects the bursary recipient at its September/October meeting. ANAVETS will confirm enrollment with the college or university and forward the award directly to the student’s account.

- Rev. Jerome D. Fortenberry Scholarship (for direct descendants of active ANAVICUS members only)
- Background: Fortenberry served as a longtime chaplain for ANAVICUS.
- Award: $1,500 (one scholarship awarded per calendar year).
- Eligibility: reserved exclusively for direct descendants (children, grandchildren, great‑grandchildren) of current, living ANAVICUS members. Applicants must be a high school senior or enrolled at an accredited college or vocational school. The scholarship payment is sent to the educational institution for deposit into the student’s account. Application materials are made available in September and are due in April.

Notes on selection
Unless otherwise noted, the named colleges and universities manage the selection process for their respective scholarships. Financial-need determinations, GPA verification, and leadership qualifications are assessed by the institution making the award, except in cases where ANAVETS/ANAVICUS explicitly handles application intake and payment.

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