Joe Rice, manager for University of South Carolina's TRIO program, speaks during a Military Spouse and Children Scholarship Seminar Wednesday at the Strom Thurmond Building. The seminar, which was sponsored by the Army Community Services Employment R...

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- From parents looking for scholarship money for a college-bound child, to those looking to ease ever-rising tuition for themselves, now is the time to begin the hunt for college funds. The Army Community Services Employment Readiness program offers seminars geared toward military spouses and children to help set them on the right track toward finding and applying for college scholarships. Below is a sampling of the available scholarships:

MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP FINDER

Military spouses and dependent children should visit www.military.com and click on "Scholarship Finder." Users can set up a profile to meet their specific needs, then users will receive daily e-mails from a variety of sources regarding military scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN:

Army Emergency Relief offers financial aid for full-time college study for dependent children of retired Soldiers. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and on academic achievements and individual accomplishments. Apply online at www.aerhq.org and click on "scholarships."

The two programs are:

A-A A+- Dependent Children Scholarship Program Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund Dependent Children Scholarship)

A-A A+- Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (AER)

Q: Do you have a number of spouses who apply for scholarships who are turned down'

A: We don't turn down anyone. If they have a complete application and are eligible then they will get some sort of funding, IF they meet the financial need requirements. We have 11 spouses that did not meet financial need requirements, therefore did not receive education assistance.

Q: Do you have a set number of scholarships that you award each year'

A: No. We will take as many that want to apply.

Q: Have you ever run out of money and not able to give a scholarship to all who meet the requirements'

A: No. We are given a maximum amount approved by our Board of Managers. We adjust our brackets according to that maximum to assist all eligible students that meet financial need requirements.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

A-A A+- Severely injured Service Members and Spouse Scholarship Opportunities, http://www.dantes.doded.mil/sfd/index.asp'Flag=true

A-A A+- Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Program, www.militaryonesource.com/mycaa (One time- up to $6000)

A-A A+- Military helps spouses get degrees too!

http://education.military.com/school/military-helps-spouses-get-degrees-too

A-A A+- Dependents' Educational Assistance (Department of Veterans Affairs), http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/CH35/CH35_Pamphlet_General.htm

A-A A+- Education Benefits for Survivors of Service Members, www.vba.va.gov/survivors

A-A A+- Defense Commissary Agency (Dependent Children), http://www.militaryscholar.org/about/about.shtml or www.commissaries.com

A-A A+- Military Order of the Purple Heart, http://www.purpleheart.org/Membership/Public/Programs/Scholarships/Default.aspx (Request a free copy of the Military Children's Scholarship handbook at www.militaryhandbooks.com)

A-A A+- National Military Family Associations (Military spouse scholarships) http://www.nmfa.org

A-A A+- National Military Family Association Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program,

http://www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer'pagename=Spouse_Scholarship

A-A A+- Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), http://www.feea.org/scholarships.html (Current civilian federal employees and their dependent members.)

A-A A+- Post 9/11 GI Transferability, Military member can transfer GI Bill entitlements to family members, http://www.defenselink.mil/gibill