Veterans Writing Group of San Diego Ernie Pyle Award

With the rising costs of college making higher education less accessible each year, many students take advantage of military tuition assistance to fund their college degrees.

The Veterans’ Writing Group of San Diego was started more than ten years ago as a way for veterans of all ages and all sorts of military experience to test their memories and their writing skills in hopes of seeing the value of their works in print. Our mutual experiences as writers have led us to compile and publish four books loaded with stories and essays by veterans. The sale of these books and other generous donations allows us to provide the books free to veterans in nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, and to veteran groups e.g., the USO. 

Ernie Pyle set an example during WWII, writing as a war correspondent about the common GI so that people back home could identify with the tragedy of war and connect to our soldiers, sailors, and airmen. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his descriptions of the "dogface" soldiers around him in the battlefields of Europe. Tragically, Ernie lost his own life in the battle for Okinawa in 1944.

In honor of Ernie and the Veterans’ Writing Group, this scholarship seeks to support military veterans and those who are active in the military pursue their education and cover their college expenses. 1st place will receive $1,000 and 2nd place will receive $500.

Any veteran or active military member who is an undergraduate student and willing to have their essay published may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, submit an essay of approx. 250-500 words on "What my military service has taught me about the meaning of patriotism".