GENERAL INFORMATION

A group of prominent Air Force officers organized the Falcon Foundation in 1958, three years after the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) admitted its first class. 

The Falcon Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit foundation. Its purpose is to provide scholarships to Junior College or private preparatory schools for motivated young people seeking admission to USAFA and a career in the Air Force. 

Although it is a separate organization, the Falcon Foundation works closely with USAFA. Information concerning the Foundation and its scholarship program appears in the USAFA Catalog and can be viewed at: www.falconfoundation.org 

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PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND   

The Falcon Foundation provides a limited number of highly-motivated young people the opportunity to prepare for admission to USAFA by providing scholarships at a Junior College or preparatory school especially selected for this purpose.  

The Falcon Foundation recognized that many deserving young people, with outstanding potential for an Academy education and a desire for an Air Force career, needed additional academic preparation prior to 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 to compete for admission. 

The Falcon Foundation endeavors to meet this need within its means through its sustaining program of annual scholarship grants.

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FUNDING OF SCHOLARSHIPS

The Falcon Foundation acquires funds necessary to implement the scholarship program from a scholarship endowment. The number of scholarships awarded annually is currently set at 100 by the USAFA Admissions Office. 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 defense positions.

The Gertrude Skelly Trust was also established in 1958 to provide similar scholarships, but focused primarily on motivated sons or daughters of career military personnel desirous of attending USAFA.  Over 600 such scholarships were granted by the Gertrude Skelly Trust prior to 1983, when it was combined with The Falcon Foundation. These “Skelly” scholarships are now included in the 100 annual scholarships awarded.

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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 portion of the cost of room, board and tuition. Scholarship recipients must pay for transportation to and from school and for clothing, laundry, other personal expenses and their proportionate share of the tuition, fees and books.

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SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Young people are automatically eligible for a Falcon Scholarship by first applying to USAFA.  The USAFA Office of Admissions then decides on recipients of the Falcon Foundation scholarship from the pool of direct entry applicants who are qualified, but not competitive.

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A FALCON SCHOLARSHIP·    

·   Must be at least 17 years of age and not have passed their 22nd birthday on 1 July of the year they are admitted 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 United States Air Force.

·   Must have completed the USAFA Precandidate Questionnaire (PCQ). 

The USAFA Admissions Office will consider each application, school records and references. Based on all available information, the USAFA Admissions Office will compare each applicant's qualifications to the following criteria:

·   Motivation to enter and graduate from USAFA and, thereafter, to follow a lifetime career as an officer in the United States Air Force.

·   Scholastic achievements.·    

·   Qualities of maturity, truthfulness, courage, unselfishness, fellowship, and devotion to duty.

·   Exhibition of moral force of character and leadership and an interest in others.

·   Physical vigor as shown by a fondness for, and participation and success in, sports.

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STEPS FOR CONSIDERATION OF SCHOLARSHIP    

·  Request the USAFA Precandidate Questionnaire (PCQ) from the Director of Admissions(USAFA/RRS).

·  Complete and return the PCQ to the USAFA prior to 31 January and apply to all authorized sources of nomination (check with your nominator for deadlines).

·   Request the College Board Admissions Testing Program and/or College Testing Program. Forward SAT or ACT test results to the Director of Admissions, USAFA-RRS, 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 2300, USAF Academy, CO 80840-5025. Arrange to take either or both tests so the results can be reviewed by the Academy prior to 15 March. 

After the PCQ is evaluated 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 (DODMERB) for the USAF Academy Qualifying Medical Examination. Those applicants who are deemed qualified but not competitive are rank ordered and contacted for consideration of a Falcon Foundation Scholarship.

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KEY ADDRESSES

Director of Admissions (Procedures)
HQ USAFA/RRS
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 2300
USAF Academy, Colorado 80840-5025
(719)333-2520
www.academyadmissions.com

The Falcon Foundation (Information Only)
3116 Academy Drive, Suite 200
USAF Academy, CO 80840-4400
(719)333-4096 Fax: (719)333-3669
www.falconfoundation.org

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APPOINTMENT DURING PREP SCHOOL YEAR       

Falcon Scholars have been identified by the Admissions Office as having the potential to be successful at USAFA following successful completion of their preparatory program and attainment of admissions guidelines.  Barring unusual circumstances, the Air Force Academy is committed to appointing Falcon Scholars who: 

1.   Successfully complete their preparatory program

2.   Meet the admissions guidelines

3.   Obtain a nomination valid for the year of entry into USAFA

Falcon Scholars will be required to follow standard admissions procedures for all Academy candidates during their preparatory year to include obtaining a new nomination for the year of entry to USAFA.

FALCON FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP OFFER AND SUBSEQUENT OFFER OF DIRECT APPOINTMENT TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY   

Since Falcon Scholar candidates are also direct entry applicants, the selection for direct entry to USAFA may arise after the Falcon Scholarship has been accepted.  For these cases, the Falcon Scholarship may be declined to accept the offer of direct entry to USAFA.

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Revised March 2010