SCHOLARSHIPS

JROTC Cadets
Scholarship winners

On an annual basis, the Sarasota Military Officers Foundation (SMOF) awards two types of scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Sarasota County High Schools.

Our Leadership Scholarship program is open to graduating seniors enrolled in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program at Booker High School, Riverview High School, Sarasota High School, Sarasota Military Academy, or Venice High School.

Our Merit Scholarships are open to graduating seniors (military association is NOT required) from Booker High School, Riverview High School, Sarasota High School, Sarasota Military Academy, Venice High School, Suncoast Polytechnical High School, and the Pine View School.

Unfortunately, we can only accept applications from students at the above schools. We cannot accept applications from home-schooled students. 

Scholarships awarded in both categories will be valued at $3,000.

Requirements

  1. A completed application (each section must be completed in full – points will be deducted for incomplete answers)
  2. Minimum GPA of 3.0
  3. Minimum SAT of 1,000 (out of 1,600) or Minimum ACT score of 19 (out of 36) (super scores accepted)
  4. SAT or ACT scoresheet
  5. At least two (2) signed Letters of Recommendation. One must be from a guidance counselor (Merit Scholarship) or Senior Military Instructor [SMI] (JROTC Scholarship). Other(s) may be from a teacher at your school or other source.
  6. A high-school transcript is required and must be signed by your guidance counselor.
  7. College/University/Technical College Letter of Acceptance

Instructions

Completed applications (including all attachments) must be submitted electronically no later than Midnight (2400 hours) Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Use the provided electronic application. Paper copies will not be accepted.

Incomplete applications and/or applications received after Sunday, March 29, 2026 will not be considered for a scholarship.

Should a JROTC Scholarship or a Merit Scholarship not be utilized due to non-submission or ineligibility of the nominee, the scholarship money will be reallocated by the Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship winners will be advised in writing of their award. The award letter will instruct the recipient of the requirement to furnish the Scholarship Committee chairperson with proof of enrollment (not an acceptance letter) from the college, university, or technical college they will be attending.

Only when these documents have been received by the Chairperson will the scholarship check be issued and presented at the Scholarship Awards Luncheon held in May of the scholarship year. If the scholarship awardee has not complied with this requirement by January 31st of the following year, the award will be forfeited.