Paying for a college education can often be a financial burden. However, if you are a military family, there are scholarships created specifically for your college-bound child. One of these is offered through the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF). The MCSF was established specifically to provide need-based scholarships to military children. These scholarships help cover the cost of attending post-high school, undergraduate, and career and technical education programs.

To talk about how college-bound children of Marines, Active Duty, or Veterans can apply for scholarships, Sarah Bumgardner, AAFMAA Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement, spoke with Colonel Harold “Odie” VanOpdorp USMC (Ret.), Chief Operating Officer of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He has been with the Foundation since 2021. As COO, he oversees several departments, including Operations (information technology and human resources), and Data Operations. Col. VanOpdorp served in the Marine Corps for 30 years until his retirement in 2019. Most recently, he was the Chief of Staff for the Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Secretary of the Navy.

To learn more about applying for an MCSF scholarship, visit mcsf.org/apply/eligibility/ and watch the discussion below.