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The Falcon Foundation

The Falcon Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation that provides scholarships to private preparatory schools for motivated young people seeking admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy and a career in the Air Force.

Although it is a private organization, the Falcon Foundation works closely with the U.S. Air Force Academy. Information concerning the foundation and its scholarship program appear in the Air Force Academy catalog.

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The Falcon Foundation supplies, for a limited number of highly motivated young people, the opportunity to prepare for admission to the Air Force Academy by providing scholarships at a junior college or preparatory school especially selected for this purpose. A group of prominent Air Force alumni organized the foundation in 1958, three years after the Academy was established.

The Falcon Foundation recognized that many deserving young people, with outstanding potential for an Academy education and a desire for an Air Force career, need additional academic preparation to compete for a cadet appointment. The competition for an Academy appointment is intense, and those who have not had the best educational opportunities may need to prepare more thoroughly before seeking a nomination to compete for admission. The Falcon Foundation endeavors to meet this need with annual scholarship grants.

The Falcon Foundation acquires funds necessary to undertake the scholarship program from memberships, contributions and donations. The number of scholarships awarded annually is determined by the funds available. Contributions and donations to the foundation are tax deductible to the donor and tax exempt to the foundation. Each scholarship is dedicated in honor of a pioneer in aviation or individuals who have distinguished themselves in aviation or national defense.

The Gertrude Skelly Trust, also established in 1958 to provide similar scholarships, is restricted to motivated sons or daughters of career military personnel desirous of attending the Academy. More than 600 such scholarships were granted by the Gertrude Skelly Trust prior to 1983, when it was combined with other scholarships awarded through the Falcon Foundation.

TYPE OF SCHOLARSHIP
The Falcon Foundation makes annual cash grants for scholarships to several schools in various parts of the nation. Each scholarship award provides a large portion of the cost of room, board and tuition. Scholarship recipients must be able to pay for transportation to and from school, and for clothing and other personal expenses.

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Young people who wish to apply for a Falcon Scholarship should first examine the eligibility and selection requirements and compare their qualifications to these standards.

Applicants must:

-- Must be at least 17 and not have passed their 22nd birthday on July 1 of the year of admission to a prep school.
-- Must be a citizen of the United States.
-- Must be unmarried and have no dependent children.
-- Must, as a minimum, meet the established medical standards for a commission in the Air Force.
-- Must have completed the U.S. Air Force Academy Pre-candidate Questionnaire.

The Falcon Foundation considers each application, school records and references. Based on all available information, the foundation compares each applicant's qualifications to the following criteria:

-- Motivation to enter and graduate from the Air Force Academy and thereafter to follow a career as an officer of the Air Force.
-- Scholastic achievements.
-- Qualities of maturity, truthfulness, courage, kindliness, unselfishness, fellowship and devotion to duty.
-- Exhibition of moral force of character and leadership instincts, and an interest in others.
-- Physical vigor as shown by a fondness for, and participation and success in sports.

STEPS FOR APPLICATION
1. Request the Air Force Academy Pre-candidate Questionnaire from the director of admissions by writing to USAFA/RRS, 2304 Cadet Drive Suite 210, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840.

2. Complete and return the questionnaire and apply to authorized sources of nomination to the USAF Academy prior to Jan. 31.

3. Secure and complete the application for a Falcon Foundation scholarship. The application must be signed by both parents (if available) or the legal guardian of applicant, giving consent and support to their acceptance of a scholarship for preparatory schooling, to seeking an appointment to the Academy, and, if successful, to eventual admission as a cadet. The applicant must sign the application and agree to comply with the rules of the preparatory school, if selected to attend, and to seek a nomination and appointment to the Air Force Academy.

4. Complete and return the application for a Falcon Foundation scholarship prior to April 30 of the year in which he desires to enter the fall semester of the preparatory school.

5. Request the College Board Admissions Testing Program and/or College Testing Program. Forward SAT or ACT test results to the director of admissions. Arrange to take either or both tests so the results can be reviewed by the Academy prior to March 15. After evaluation by the Academy admissions office, applicants will be notified of their potential for admission to the upcoming Academy class. Highly qualified individuals will be scheduled by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board for the USA Academy qualifying medical examination.

ACADEMY APPOINTMENT
Completion of preparatory school does not entitle a young person to special consideration for an Academy appointment. Falcon scholars are required to follow the standard procedure for all Academy candidates. The procedure is contained in the Academy catalog available from high schools' guidance counselors.

One may be an active candidate for an Academy appointment at the time application is made for a Falcon Scholarship. The Falcon Foundation recognizes that the request for a scholarship is an alternate plan to obtain additional education if the applicant fails to receive an appointment on their first attempt to do so.

(Current as of April 2009)