The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Education Center and Vietnam Era Museum is closed for renovation. Please revisit this website for updates on our reopening date. Our outdoor Memorial and monuments will remain open seven days a week

College Scholarships

New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation Scholarship Program

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation awards $2,500.00 scholarships for post-high school education (college, university, or trade school) each year. These scholarships are presented to the winning students at our Memorial Day Ceremony.

Questions? Please contact: scholarship@njvvmf.org

Scholarship applications are being accepted for 2024

New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation Scholarship Program

Deadline April 15, 2024

WINNING ESSAY SELECTION

The Scholarship Committee will select winners from all eligible applications. Those not selected will not receive any form of notification. The winners will be required to submit enrollment confirmation to a college, university, or trade school in the form of an enrollment deposit.

The winners must attend the Foundation’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 11:00 am, Monday, May 27, 2024, where checks will be awarded as part of the Ceremony.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicant must:

  • be a New Jersey resident;
  • be a graduating high school senior.
  • have visited the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial (on their own /class trip/ scholarship tour) and write an essay about that visit;
  • have been accepted by a college, university or trade school – letter of acceptance must be included in application materials.

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

  • A reflective essay focused on the student’s experience visiting the Memorial;
  • A completed online application form; click HERE
  • A letter of acceptance to a college, university or trade school.
  • ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE ONLY.
MAILED AND DROPPED-OFF PAPER SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate the essays:

  • Grammatical and mechanical proficiency. 
  • Ideas are organized in a coherent and structured manner. 
  • Student’s voice is evident; personalized ideas, analysis, and conclusions are original and refreshing. 
  • Reflection on The Memorial is articulately and poignantly reflected, providing the reader with an understanding of a transformational impact. 
  • Information regarding The Memorial is factually accurate. 

SCHOLARSHIP TOURS

The Museum will be closed during the scholarship season and tours will be conducted by arrangement Tuesday through Saturdays. Contact Michele Knell at 732.335.0033 X108 or mknell@njvvmf.org to set up a tour with one of our Vietnam veteran Docents.

Click the link below to fill the Scholarship Tour Request form.

  1. Student’s name
  2. Date and time of visit/tour
  3. Number of guests attending
  4. Name of school
  5. History teacher’s name
  6. How you learned about the NJVVMF, the scholarship, the tours, etc.
2023 Scholarship Winners: Sarah Newen, Hackettstown High School and Michael Trovato, Franklin High School

Frequently Asked Questions

A reflective essay is an essay in which the writer examines their experiences in life. The writer then writes about those experiences, exploring how he or she has changed, developed, or grown from those experiences.

2023 Winning Essays:

Sarah Newman

Michael Trovato

Examples of previous winning essays can be found here, here, and here.

Please note: Your essay should be about the Memorial.  It can include a discussion of the Museum, but the main content should focus on your experience during the tour and/or of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial.

The Foundation staff may only be reached via email at scholarship@njvvmf.org with questions. Phone calls regarding the program are not accepted.

Applications are only accepted online on the Scholarship web page. Click Here

While a letter is required, it does not have to be from the school you have decided on attending, just an acceptance to a college, university, or trade school. If you are selected as a winner, you will have to submit proof in the form of an admission deposit to the school you have decided on.

Tours with our Vietnam Veterans are given Tuesday through Saturday at 11 am or 1 pm by appointment only. Appointments can only be made by emailing tours@njvvmf.org well in advance. Please include in your email:

  1. Student name
  2. Date and Time you are coming
  3. The number of guests that will be attending with you
  4. Do you plan on touring the Museum as well?
  5. What school do you attend and if possible your History Teacher’s Name
  6. Cell phone number
  7. How did you learn about the scholarship, the tour , and the NJVVMF? (i.e. teacher former scholarship recipient, tour guide, website, email, guidance counselor , social media, etc)

Tours of the Memorial are Always free, and tours of the Museum for applicants are free.

Whereas, it is easy to tell if a student has visited based on the content of their essay. We do ask the date of your tour on the application for in house evaluation of tour scheduling Other than we do not require any proof of visit.

Absolutely! If you visited the Memorial and Museum on a class trip, you could write your essay from that experience.

The NJVVMF Scholarship Committee will select two winners from all eligible applications. The winners will be notified by May 15, 2023. Those not selected will not receive any form of notification. If you do not hear from the Foundation’s staff by May 15th, you have not been selected. Please do not call our office to see if you have been chosen.

If you are not selected as a winner, you will not receive any correspondence from the Foundation. So, if you have not heard from us by May 15, 2023, it is safe to assume you have not been chosen to receive a scholarship.

Directions to the Memorial

Take the NJ Garden State Parkway to exit 116 – PNC Bank Arts Center.  As you enter the grounds of the Arts Center, follow the brown directional signs to the Memorial and Museum.  Turn right on Memorial Lane and make your second left into the parking lot for the Memorial and Museum.

Hours of Operation:

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is open 24 hours, 7 days a week

The Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM.

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2024 Scholarship Tour Request

Please use the following form to sign up for a Scholarship Tour held every Tuesday-Saturday by appointment only.

The first tour will be offered on Saturday February 4th and the final Saturday is April 12th.
If you are touring on another day other than a Saturday please indicate which day and time you are planning on visiting us.

It is strongly encouraged that you fill out this reservation form. We will do our best to accommodate walk-ins.

Any questions can be emailed to tours@njvvmf.org.