Scholarships

The Charles Kosmutza Scholarship — DAV Department of New Jersey

Named for the late Charles Kosmutza, a New Jersey veteran whose generosity made this program possible, the department awards three scholarships of $1,000 each for the 2026–27 school year — one to a graduating senior in each of our three districts: Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. Awards may be used for college, community college, trade school, or other post-high-school education.

Who Can Apply

• A New Jersey resident and a graduating high school senior
• A natural or adopted descendant of a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Department of New Jersey — sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nieces, nephews, and cousins are eligible
• Proof of the relationship and of the veteran’s DAV membership is required

The Essay

In your own words, 500 words or fewer, on the 2026–27 topic:

“A Veteran Who Changed My Life”

Tell the story of a veteran who influenced who you are today, and what their example taught you.

Rules That Matter

• Applications and essays must be typed or printed legibly, in full
• One application per student
• Sign and date the authentication; a parent or guardian signature is also required if you are under 18

Deadline: Friday, May 14, 2027, at 3:00 PM. Applications must be received by the deadline — mail early.

Send applications and essays to: DAV Department of New Jersey, 171 Jersey Street, Building #5, 2nd Floor, Trenton, NJ 08611. Applications and essays may also be faxed to (609) 396-9562. Questions: (609) 396-2885 or adjutant@davnj.org.

District Scholarship Chairs

• Northern District (Sussex, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Warren, Bergen): Debbie Hamilton-Clax — (862) 222-6599
• Central District (Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean): Anthony Stradford — (609) 865-4655
• Southern District (Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, Burlington, Camden): Donald Walls — (609) 412-8786

Winners are selected by the Scholarship Committee and notified by certified mail. The Scholarship Division roster also appears on the Officers page.

DAV Scholarships for Student Volunteers — Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship (National)

Already volunteering for veterans? DAV National honors student volunteers with the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program, named for the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

• $140,000 awarded every year — 15 scholarships, from $2,500 to $30,000
• Open to volunteers age 21 or younger with at least 100 volunteer hours credited to DAV — at a VA medical facility, through a DAV chapter, through the DAV Auxiliary, or through DAV’s Local Veterans Assistance Program (LVAP)
• Application deadline: February 28, 2027 — apply at DAVScholarships.org

New Jersey students: the fastest way to start earning eligible hours is volunteering through a local chapter or the department’s LVAP program. A hundred hours between now and February is within reach — and it changes two lives: yours, and the veteran’s you’re serving.