During its eighth-straight award period, the scholarship program will distribute nearly half a million dollars in financial assistance in the upcoming fall semester to service members and veterans working toward their education goals in colleges or trade schools worldwide.

To date, more than 800 service members and veterans have received post-secondary scholarships totaling more than $3 million.

View the entire list of 2017 fall semester recipients.

"I believe that veterans should pursue careers in education, because our experiences are so unique. We should have a bigger impact on today’s future leaders,” said scholarship recipient Stephen Gerard. "With your help, some of my financial burden will be lifted, and I can continue to push forward in my pursuit of a career that I truly believe I am connected to.”

Teaming up with Sport Clips Haircuts, the Help A Hero scholarship program was created in January 2014 to help ease the burden of student loans as student veterans work to achieve their educational goals, and take the next steps to starting their careers in the civilian workforce. Each semester, service members and veterans can apply for scholarships of up to $5,000.

"The hard-earned benefits service members and veterans receive don’t always cover everything they need to succeed,” said VFW National Commander Keith Harman. "We’re so pleased to work together with Sport Clips’ owners, stylists, professional partners and loyal customers to help ensure successful future careers for the men and women of our armed forces who have sacrificed so much for us already.”

The Help A Hero scholarship program is now accepting applications for the 2018 spring semester until Nov. 15, 2017.Learn more about scholarship eligibility requirements, and apply online today.

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ABOUT THE VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation's largest and oldest major war veterans’ organization. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With nearly 1.7 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in almost 6,500 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans’ service organization is proud to proclaim"NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our website atwww.vfw.org.

ABOUT SPORT CLIPS: Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. It was established in 1993 and began franchising in 1995. The sports-themed haircutting franchise, which specializes in haircuts for men and boys, is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the "Fastest-Growing Franchises” and in the top 10 in its "Franchise 500.” There are more than 1,600 Sport Clips stores open in the U.S. and Canada. Sport Clips is the "Official Haircutter” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on haircuts and franchises, and was named a "2016 Best for Vets: Franchises” by Military Times. Sport Clips provides "haircuts with heart” through its annual Help A Hero fundraiser that has given $5 million to the VFW; national partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants; and other national and local philanthropic outreach. Sport Clips is a proud sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Furniture Row Racing’s Erik Jones, and partners with numerous NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport Clips, visitsportclips.com.

Contact: Randi K. Law, Manager, Communications and Public Affairs, VFW National Headquarters,rlaw@vfw.org.