John Edelman Scholarship
The John Edelman Scholarship fund offers five $10,000 scholarships annually to students studying degrees toward a career in mental health counseling.
Investing in Student Veteran Mental Health
John Edelman is committed to supporting education that promotes improved mental health to veterans and service members. He has committed to providing five $10,000 scholarships for high-performing student veterans pursuing degrees/careers in mental health counseling, and through the John Edelman Scholarship fund, to reward achievement and encourage further study.
Application Open: 3/31/26 - 5/01/26
Eligibility
Student veterans must meet the following criteria to apply for the John Edelman Scholarship:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a university for the 2026-2027 academic year or intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time student at a university in the United States for the 2026-2027 academic year
- Maintaining a strong academic performance
- Pursuing a degree that will result in a career in mental health counseling or related field, including, but not limited to:
- Psychology, any subfield
- Psychiatry
- Social work
- Behavioral health
- Be either:
- A current student veteran (includes members of the National Guard or Reserve) as proven by: (1) A DD214 and (2) an official or unofficial transcript
- A student on Active Duty as proven by: (1) submission of Active Duty orders, (2) a Memorandum of Understanding from your commanding officer indicating that you are currently in good standing with your unit, and (3) an official or unofficial transcript
- Received an honorable discharge or is in good standing with his/her branch of service
At the time scholarship funds are issued, recipients must provide proof of enrollment or an official acceptance letter for Fall 2026. Applicants who are not enrolled in Fall 2026 courses will be deemed ineligible.
How to Apply
Students must submit a complete application, including:
- A current, PDF copy of a resume or CV
- An official or unofficial copy of current university transcripts
- Two letters of reference from a professor, advisor or supervisor
- Long form DD214 (Member 2 or 4) with Social Security Number redacted
- A short essay answering the following questions:
- Tell us about your previous leadership experiences, whether in high school or during your service. How have you carried these experiences forward in your classroom or in other university activities?
- What led to your desire to pursue a career in mental health, and how do you plan on using your degree to achieve that career?
- In your view, how do mental health challenges impact the veteran population and what are some avenues to improve those challenges?
Application Deadline – May 1, 2026. All applications must be submitted through the MySVA portal.
Decisions will be shared by August 1, 2026
How You Can Help
Be part of the solution and help empower student veterans.