Carry the Load Scholarship

Applications open January 1, 2025 and close March 31, 2025.

Award Amount: up to $10,000 per recipient may be awarded

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be a child of a fallen first responder or military personnel, currently attending or planning to attend college as a freshman in the Fall.

  • Must live and plan to attend college in the Continental US.

  • Student plans to or is pursuing higher education (2 year, 4 year, trade school qualify)

  • Student must demonstrate a strong desire to pursue a college degree and a commitment to continuous learning and personal growth.

  • Student must exhibit high-quality character and leadership.

  • An overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher at the time of application.

  • Student must complete the application and attach a copy of unofficial transcript and a 500 maximum word essay explaining the applicants need for the scholarship.

  • Past applicants and recipients may apply again.


APPLICATION PROCESS

Please fill out the form below to apply. Before submitting your scholarship, please read our terms for applying. You'll verify you have done so at the end of this form.

Attach your transcript and essay using the buttons below. Please name the documents “firstlastname_transcript”, and “firstlastname_essay” respectively.

Feel free to email us with any questions.

The Scholarship shall be presented at the Carry The Load Dallas Memorial March in Dallas, Texas on Memorial Day. Recipient does not have to be present at ceremony for scholarship award.


TERMS FOR APPLYING

Before submitting a scholarship application, all applicants must indicate they have read and agreed to the following terms:

  • The application must be submitted via automated format.

  • Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Applications and all attachments (transcript, and essay) must be submitted at the same time.

  • Your submission of this application will stand as your certification that the data contained in the application and all related attachments are true and correct.


ATTACHMENT REQUIREMENTS

All attachments must be less than 5MB and in one of the following file types: .txt, .pdf, .docx, .odf, .rtf.

  • All attachments must be included at the time of submission.

  • Students must attach a copy of their “unofficial transcript” for grade verification. Please black-out any personal identification information on the transcript before sending such as social security number, TXDL number, etc.

  • For essay attachments, please put your name in the lower left-hand corner and page number in the lower right corner of each page.

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HISTORY OF SCHOLARSHIP

Carry The Load is a non-profit organization that exists to preserve the sanctity of Memorial Day through community gatherings and storytelling to unite Americans in appreciation for the sacrifices made by a few who carried the load for all. What started in 2011 as a grassroots effort by two veteran U.S. Navy SEALs has now grown into a nationwide movement with people honoring and remembering our nation’s heroes throughout the year.

In 2023 Carry the Load and Stelos joined forces to create Carry the Load Scholarships. The aim of the scholarships is to provide financial support deserving students who have lost a parent in the line of duty. In two years the scholarship as awarded $29,000 and plans to award another $40,000 in 2025!

The awards are proudly supported by the following sponsors for whom we are eternally grateful!