The Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner Perpetual Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Application Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION
ANSWER
Who is eligible to apply for the Brigadier General Donald B. Wagner scholarship?
Children and/or grandchildren (to include stepchildren and step-grandchildren) of members of the United States Air Force Medical Service Corps (MSC) officers (Active, Reserve, Air National Guard, or Retired) who are enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program in health care management or related field of study at accredited educational institutions of higher learning.​
When is the deadline to submit applications?
The deadline to submit an application is July 14, 2025.
Will the applicant get confirmation that the application was received?
Yes. The applicant will receive an automated reply confirming that the application was successfully transmitted.
Are sponsors (United States Air Force (USAF) Medical Service Corps (MSC) officers; Active, Reserve, Air National Guard, or Retired) of applicants required to be members of the USAF MSC Association (MSCA)?
No. Sponsors are not required to be members of the USAF MSCA.
What is the duration or the BG Wagner Scholarship?
All scholarship grants are awarded on a 1-year basis.
Can one re-apply for a scholarship if previously awarded a scholarship?
Yes. One can request consideration of subsequent years’ grants if they remain eligible. Such a request would require one to submit a new application.
What are the requirements for applying?
(1) On-line application can be found on the BG Wagner Scholarship Website at this link: CLICK HERE
(2) Documentation of program enrollment – a letter of acceptance to an accredited college or university undergraduate program if the applicant is a high school senior; a letter of acceptance to an accredited college or university graduate program if the applicant is pursuing an advanced academic degree; or evidence of enrollment at an accredited college or university if the applicant is continuing as undergraduate or graduate student.
(3) A certified high school or official college academic transcript (as appropriate).
(4) A one (1) page letter written by the applicant discussing his or her academic and career goals.
(5) A one (1) page letter from the applicant’s qualifying sponsor (i.e., the MSC officer related to the applicant) recommending the applicant for this scholarship grant.
In previous years, one could send their application by mail or use a link on the MSCA website. Are these options still available?
Applications will only be accepted through the BG Wagner Scholarship Committee website, however a link will be provided on the MSCA Website to the BG Wagner Application Link.
What if a Scholarship Board Member knows the Sponsor or the Sponsor is a donor to the MSCA Scholarship fund? How does the Board ensure a fair and equitable process?
To protect the integrity of the awards process and the not-for-profit status of the Corporation under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), the Board will ensure no external influence in award of scholarships. That is to say, neither the Scholarship Committee as a group, nor the Board of Directors as a group, nor any individual officer, committee member, or board member, may be unduly influenced in his/her/their determinations by the actions or inputs of any donors, parties associated with scholarship applicants, or other interested parties. Board members are required to sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure annually. In addition, if an applicant is related to a Board Member, that member is required to recuse themselves. Lastly, all packages will be presented to selection committee members in a de-identified manner. And, to ensure the greatest objectivity, the Scholarship Committee Chair will form the committee and administer the process, but will not participate in scoring/evaluating candidate packages.
What does the Selection Committee consider in awarding a scholarship?
The criteria used to select a scholarship grant recipient are related to the purpose of the grant, and include the following:
(1) Current and prior academic performance.
(2) Extracurricular activities.
(3) Conclusions that the scholarship committee can draw from the written materials as to the applicant’s motivation, character, ability, potential, and future goals.
(4) Financial needs.
How are award recipients notified and when are the notifications sent?
Each award recipient will receive a congratulatory letter from the BG Wagner Scholarship Board. Awards are normally announced in mid-August.
Does BG Wagner participate in the selection process?
BG Wagner does not participate in the selection process but is personally briefed by the Board on the selection results.
What if an applicant is having difficulty obtaining high school or college transcripts before the deadline, questions about their application or status of their submission?
If one has questions or issues regarding their application, they can contact the Selection Committee Chairperson, Col (ret) Brian Acker at ackerbj@icloud.com.