The Tailhook Educational Foundation
Scholarship Application
In 2020, TEF awarded over 100 scholarships to our brightest Naval Aviation legacy students.
Eligibility
High school graduate and child or grandchild of a current or former Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer,
or Air-crewman.
- Or -
Children/grandchildren of individuals who served onboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
- And -
Accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college.
Applications are available on ~15 December and due back at TEF headquarters by ~01 March each year.
Please check the TEF Web pages for the exact TEF Scholarship application opening and closing dates for that academic year.
TEF awards over 100 scholarships annually ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 per year. A number of our TEF grants are awarded to students pursing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math) curriculum. All TEF grants assist Naval Aviation legacy undergraduate students obtain a higher education.
As part of TEF’s ongoing educational program, we send over 1,000 quarterly copies of the “The Hook” magazine to U.S. high schools, colleges, and NROTC/ NJROTC units.
TEF scholarships are only made possible by the continued generosity of our individual and organizational donors. All donations to TEF are fully deductible as charitable contributions.
Frequently asked questions
Application Info
When do TEF scholarship applications open & when do they close?
Can I update a previously submitted TEF application?
Does service on a U.S. Navy Amphibious ship qualify as service on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier?
How many TEF scholarships are awarded each year & what are the values of the TEF scholarships?
When are all scholarship application information/ data/ forms due?
All supporting documents (SAT, ACT, transcripts, documentation of service, etc.) are due in our office by 01 March.
Should I include letters of recommendation (LORs) in my application package?
TEF does not require LORs as a part of your application package, however, feel free to include LORs if you'd like.
What other information/ data/ enclosures can I include in my application package?
Do I need to reapply for a TEF scholarship each year?
Can a Tailhook scholarship be used for post- graduate degrees?
No, our scholarship grants are for undergraduate degrees only at accredited schools or universities.
Will TEF accept PDF or other types of electronic attachments to meet the scholarship application requirements listed?
Yes, TEF accepts PDF & other attachments to meet scholarship application requirements.
- If however, if there is any doubt as to what the attachment says, TEF will ask the applicant for a hard-copy.
- Additionally, TEF reserves the right to request the applicant provide us with hard copy of anything they submitted electronically.
- This is specifically applicable to official records or reference to the student’s grades or GPA transcripts.
What is meant by “academic achievement outside of school”?
Any academic accomplishments in addition to &/ or outside the school’s standard curriculum requirements to graduate, examples:
(1) AP courses
(2) Courses taken at a different school
(3) College courses (including Junior College courses)
(4) On-line courses
(5) Other training courses, e.g.:
- Lifeguard/ Lifesaving or any associated field-medical/ emergency courses (CPR, First aid, etc.), -
- Pilot license, scuba certificate
- Academic music courses
- Agricultural academic courses
- Various trade school academic training courses
- Etc.
Application packages should include proof of the outside academic achievements you list.
Eligibility Info
What are the eligibility criteria to apply for a TEF scholarship?
or Air-crewman - Or - children / grandchildren of individuals who served onboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
What kind of documentation is required to prove TEF Scholarship sponsorship eligibility?
-
DD214 honorable discharge/ retirement papers with documentation specifying the member was a Naval Aviator
-
USN officer designations for Naval Aviator include: 1310/ 1315 (pilot) & 1320/ 1325 (NFO) & some other 13XX designators
-
USMC officer designations for Naval Aviators include: 75XX
-
Flight Surgeon designators include: 2100, 2102, 210X
-
Aircrew designations include: Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) of 78XX, 82XX, L00A, or 94XX
-
-
Naval Aviation designation letter itself
-
Naval Aviation based award listing aviation service or Naval Aviation designator
-
Set of orders listing aviation duties or to a USN aircraft carrier or Naval Aviation designator
Notification Info
When will the awardees be announced?
If I'm selected to receive a TEF scholarship, will I need to send TEF additional information?
How will the scholarship be paid out?
TEF mails awardee checks for the full amount of the grant directly to your school or university on ~01 August each year. The checks are made out to the university and student, so you should be contacted by your school to endorse the check and have it placed into your college account. It is important to provide TEF with your school's correct mailing address and department which is to receive the check. We will also ask you to provide a student ID# or social security number to ensure that your account is properly credited.
Sponsorship Info
Who can sponsor a TEF scholarship applicant?
What type of documents can be used to verify my sponsor’s service?
We will accept any official government document (DD214, copy of orders, designation letter as Pilot, NFO, Air Crew or Flight surgeon, etc.) In addition, we have accepted copies of log book pages, copies of pages from cruise books, photos in uniform showing aviator wings.
What are the requirements to sponsor a TEF scholarship applicant?
-
Their parent or grandparent AND -
A Naval Aviator (USN, USMC or USCG - pilot, NFO, aircrewman) OR -
A Service member who served on a US Navy aircraft carrier.