VADM Robert L. Walters Scholarship
Offered by Surface Navy Association
About This Scholarship
The Surface Navy Association's VADM Robert L. Walters Scholarship supports the families of the surface fleet — the Surface Warfare Officers, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists, and Coast Guard Permanent Cuttermen who spend their careers on ships rather than in cockpits or under the sea. The award is $2,500 per year, renewable for up to four years for students who keep a cumulative 3.0 GPA, making the full value up to $10,000.
Eligibility runs through SNA membership: applicants must be members or dependents of members whose membership is in its second consecutive year or beyond. The sponsoring member must be active duty, retired, or honorably discharged with at least three years of active duty aboard U.S. Navy or Coast Guard surface ships (the service need not be consecutive). Both full-time undergraduates and postgraduate students qualify, which is rarer than it should be among military-family scholarships.
The application is substantial: a 500-word essay, three recommendation letters, official transcripts, sea service documentation, and SAT or ACT scores for high school seniors and active-duty applicants. Everything is submitted electronically through the SNA site by the annual March 1 deadline — email and fax submissions are not accepted.
Eligibility
- SNA member, or dependent of an SNA member, with membership in its second consecutive year or beyond
- Sponsoring member must be an active duty, retired, or honorably discharged Surface Warfare Officer, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, or Permanent Cutterman with at least 3 years of active duty aboard U.S. Navy or Coast Guard surface ships
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in an undergraduate or postgraduate program
- Renewal requires a cumulative 3.0 GPA
How To Apply
- Ensure the sponsoring member's SNA membership is in at least its second consecutive year
- Prepare the 500-word essay, three recommendation letters, official transcripts, and sea service documentation (plus SAT/ACT scores for high school seniors and active-duty applicants)
- Submit electronically via the APPLY NOW button at surfacewarfare.org by March 1, 2027 — email and fax submissions are not accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Walters Scholarship renewable?
Yes. The award is up to $2,500 per year for a maximum of four years, provided the student maintains a cumulative 3.0 GPA — up to $10,000 in total.
Do graduate students qualify?
Yes. Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate enrollment both qualify, as long as the SNA membership and surface fleet service requirements are met.
How long must my sponsor have been an SNA member?
The membership must be in its second consecutive year or beyond at the time of application.