Scholarship Fund Update

Your NHA Scholarship Fund at Work

By CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) President (NHA LTM #4 / RW#13762)

Established in 1993, the NHA Scholarship Fund provides scholarship opportunities for Naval Rotary Wing affiliated service members and their families (Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard). Defraying the cost of college education for our members and their families remains at the heart of our request. From NHA members, some linking back to the earliest days of the NHA, I request your support to continue to grow our scholarship fund.

Since inception, the Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to more than 400 recipients. In 2021, we had 60 highly qualified candidates apply, and awarded 21 scholarships ($54,000 total), including three active duty enlisted scholarships. Our fund sources were split between individual, corporate, and investment accounts. Here are some recent results and our plan going forward:

By the 2025 award year, our goal is to triple the number of qualified scholarship applicants and increase the scholarship award level to $5,000 per recipient. Your donation can support the current year scholarship winners and allow us to continue to build our investment portfolio to ensure growth and long-term sustainment.

This year. Donations. Initial reports are in from the 2021 4th Quarter fundraising, and it looks like, between the generous individual donations, corporate contributions, and memorial and legacy gifts, we have met our goal to fund 15 $3,500 scholarships in 2022. Our investment portfolio is equally healthy and will allow us additional flexibility in making our annual awards.

As you reflect on donating, please consider giving to or establishing a memorial or legacy fund to preserve the legacy of our communities and its heroes with either an annual “pass-through scholarship” designating a gift to NHA’s general memorial fund or to the HS-5 Night Dipper/Bill Roop Memorial or to establishing a sustained scholarship (like our Ream Family, Kaman and Raytheon Scholarships). Or, consider establishing a fund, like an H-53/Big Iron Legacy, or an H46 1,000 Pallet Lift Legacy, as an example.

Applications. Our applications are steadily growing and should exceed previous years as we process the final prescreen and tally the number of complete applications by 31 January. In each category, odds look good for winning an award, with strong entries from military spouses, graduate school students, and active-duty officer and enlisted applicants enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs. Thanks to MCPOs Hickey and Hauptman for getting the word out on the flightline and in the hangar. Good luck to all applicants.

We’ll shift into the selection stage in mid-February as we rack and stack the regional and functional categories to select our scholarship winners and announce them in the Spring Rotor Review and at the annual Symposium.

Also, consider rejoining or extending your current membership in the NHA as a new Lifetime Member. Some will say, “Wait, I paid my dollar and got my card in the 80’s…” like I did. But those were different times. Perhaps that membership drive was to increase awareness of the NHA. Today, it’s about growing and sustaining the association.

I look forward to announcing the 2022 scholarship rounds at the next NHA National Symposium 11-13 May 2022 at the Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, VA! See you there!

The NHA Scholarship Fund is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable California corporation: TAX ID # 33-0513766. NHA Scholarship Fund P.O Box 180578 Coronado, California 92178-0578 (619) 435-7139 Office (619) 607-0800 Cell / www.nhascholarshipfund.org