JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida Military Alumni Association is offering a $5,000 scholarship to incoming freshmen with military ties — and organizers said the need has never been greater.
The UFAMA is awarding a minimum of $5,000 in scholarship funds to up to five incoming University of Florida freshmen. Scholarships are open to students with military or ROTC affiliations, as well as those meaningfully influenced or inspired by military service or leadership. The deadline to apply is April 17 at 5 p.m. on the UFAMA website.
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Federal cuts put military education funding at risk
Cost-cutting efforts by the Pentagon are leading to a significant decrease in traditional scholarships and funding for military families — and local organizers are stepping in to fill the gap.
Earlier this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo ending graduate-level professional military education starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Criticism has been aimed at Ivy League schools, including Harvard, though currently enrolled service members may finish their courses.
Military.com reports that some officials warn the move could signal risk for other education-related programs. Army planners are also reportedly looking at cutting ROTC’s $315 million annual budget by up to $30 million.
‘Getting that snowball rolling’
UFAMA Treasurer Eric Campbell says the scholarship hits close to home.
“I was a University of Florida ROTC alumni, and I didn’t have a scholarship initially so I know the exact burden that freshmen year, before I was able to pick up scholarship and having to fund everything,” Campbell said.
Campbell says the association’s goal is to grow the program significantly over time.
“The main thing here is getting those scholarships in the hands of these students is going to help with that next transition, and right now it might seem small, we’re only able to do five thousand these first few years, but the goal is to get that snowball rolling, get our endowment fully established — then one day we’re giving out tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.
Real impact: A cadet’s story
Dioz Cruz, a Navy ROTC cadet at the University of Florida in Gainesville and a previous scholarship recipient, says the funding made a direct difference during a difficult time.
“With all the budget cuts, we had significant delays in our disbursement of those payments, so scholarships like this especially within the military community, really helped,” Cruz said.
Cruz says the financial relief allowed him and fellow cadets to stay focused on their training and academics.
“A lot of us really depends on theses scholarships — I think it really gave us that comfortability to focus on our studies and focus on our military training because we don’t have to worry about that financial aspect as well,” he said.
Cruz credits his father with pointing him toward the organization.