VICENZA, Italy -- The defense commissaries at Caserma Ederle and Camp Darby are again making available a $2,000 Scholarship for Military Children.

The scholarship program is open to sons and daughters of active duty, reserve/Guard, or retired military commissary customers. Recipients must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a four-year undergraduate college or university, accredited in the United States, or a two-year community college. They must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants must download a two-page application from at www.militaryscholar.org. There is also a short essay question where applicants have the opportunity to share their thoughts about the following question: With the development of high speed Internet, you are now living in a world that is completely different than 20 years ago. What are the pluses and minuses for society and the family? How would you address the minuses?

Deadline for scholarship applications is Feb. 16. The scholarship application can be turned in at the commissary administration office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. -- 5 p.m., or at the cash office for all other hours.

According to the Vicenza commissary manager, 12 applications were received last year and Arianna Ortiz was awarded the scholarship.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program is primarily funded through the generosity of manufacturers and suppliers whose products are sold at military commissaries worldwide. Purchase of products from these companies funds the Scholarships for Military Children program. The Fisher House Foundation volunteered to underwrite the administration of this program.