Resources

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CLARITY FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION

The Independent Schools that partner with Orion offer financial aid to supplement Orion’s scholarship funding and defray the cost of tuition. The company Orion’s partner schools use is Clarity Financial Aid: https://app.clarityapp.com/sign-up. Selected Orion Scholars must apply for financial aid to supplement their Orion Scholarships to Orion Member Boarding Schools. Parents can submit the Clarity application to multiple schools in the application portal. This should be done no later than the January before intended enrollment in boarding school.

THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST — “SSAT”

Applicants to Orion Military Scholars Program must take the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT), a standardized test used for admission to private schools. Applicants can take the SSAT paper test in person at an authorized testing center, or take an online SSAT test, or take the SSAT test from a Prometric Testing Center. Each of these options is explained in detail on the SSAT website: https://www.ssat.org/.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS - “NAIS”

NAIS is a nonprofit membership association of more than 1,900 independent private schools and school associations in the United States and abroad. NAIS’s website contains a “Parents’ Guide to Independent Schools” which includes posts on financial aid, school visits, school search timelines, independent school directory, application checklist, and more.

THE ASSOCIATION OF BOARDING SCHOOLS - “TABS”

TABS is a membership association dedicated to serving college-preparatory boarding schools in the US, Canada and abroad. Its membership is comprised primarily of subscriber schools, but also “friends in boarding” organizations that serve those schools.

As a strategic partner and Friend in Boarding, Orion Military Scholarship Fund will assist TABS in meeting its primary goals. Orion’s efforts to promote awareness of boarding school as an option for military families, and to provide scholarships for children of active duty military children to attend those boarding schools, will help TABS to expand and diversify the applicant pool for member institutions.

TABS’ website has an extensive list of member boarding schools.

MILITARY CHILD EDUCATION COALITION — “MCEC”

MCEC is a coalition of public school districts, private schools, colleges and universities, small businesses and corporations, organizations, military commands and installations, military families, and interested individuals. Through programs, accreditation, parent mentorship, grant-funded initiatives, podcasts, services and professional development, the MCEC works to meet the needs of military-connected students, parents, and education professionals.

BLOOM - EMPOWERING MILITARY TEENS

Bloom Military Teens is an organization founded by two teen Army brats in 2018. Bloom’s teenage cofounders launched a website in April 2020, and today, Bloom has a thriving Instagram presence. The military teens who manage and run the organization offer advice, a blog, open discussion, experience sharing, quizzes, art and poetry by, for and about US military teenagers all over the world. They also collaborate with the National Military Family Association, to conduct periodic surveys on The Military Teen Experience.

MCEC PODCAST FEATURING ORION SCHOLAR RILEY E

On November 4, 2021, MCEC Podcast host Susan Sellers interviewed 2021 Orion Scholar Riley E to discover how Orion’s Military Scholarship Program provides stable educational opportunities for military children.

Riley, the child of an active duty Army family stationed at GITMO, relayed his experiences at his new boarding school, St. George’s School in Newport, RI, which was made possible through Orion’s Military Scholarship Program. Riley will be able to stay at St. George’s School until he graduates, regardless of where his parents get stationed next.

Susan also spoke with Lisa Molinari, Orion’s Vice President of Operations, who gave information on Orion’s second application season, which is open until December 1st.

Hear the full podcast HERE.

 
 

ORION MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP MCEC PODCAST

On the July 9, 2020 episode of the Military Child Education Coalition’s “For the Sake of the Child” podcast, Orion’s leadership team spoke with host Tina Barber about what The Orion Military Scholarship Fund brings to the table for military families seeking better educational opportunities for their children. To hear the full podcast which includes the specifics of the Orion Military Scholarship Program, click HERE.

MIC3

The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, made up of the Council of State Governments in cooperation with the Department of Defense, created the Interstate Compact to provide an administrative tool for states to provide consistent policies affecting transitioning military students. However, many private schools are still unaware of the educational challenges facing military students transitioning between schools. Orion supports MIC3’s mission to address the key educational transitional issues facing military families. More information can be found at https://www.mic3.net/.