MONROE — Children of North Carolina veterans may be eligible for scholarships to North Carolina colleges and universities.

According to Michelle Marcano, Union County Veterans Service officer, two scholarships are available to children of North Carolina veterans. The first scholarship is offered by the state of North Carolina through the N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs (NCDVA), and the second is provided by the North Carolina Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NCACVSO).

To be considered for the NCDVA State Scholarship, the veteran parent must have been a legal resident of North Carolina at the time of entry into service or the child must have been a lifelong resident of North Carolina. In addition, the veteran parent must also meet one of the following:

• Killed or died in wartime service or the result of wartime injuries.

• Rated 20 to 100 percent disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs from wartime service or awarded the Purple Heart.

• Is or was at the time of death drawing pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Served in a combat zone or adjacent waters and received a campaign badge or medal.

• Was a prisoner of war or missing in action.

• Honorably discharged, deceased war veteran who does not meet any criteria listed above.

The NCDVA State Scholarship must be used at an approved institution in North Carolina. In public, community and technical colleges and institutes it offers free tuition and exemption from some mandatory fees and, in some cases, provides a room and board allowance. In private colleges and junior colleges the scholarship ranges from $1,500 to $4,500 per nine-month academic year. The application must be received in the Union County Veterans Service Office by Dec. 31 for screening and submission to the NCDVA District Office in Charlotte. Interviews will be conducted in January and February to meet the March 1 deadline.

The NCACVSO Scholarship was established to honor deceased county veteran service officers. This is a $500 scholarship. The applicant must be the child of an honorably discharged veteran residing in North Carolina. The application must be submitted by Dec. 31.

Students and parents seeking applications or with questions can contact the student’s high school counselor or the Union County Veterans Service Office located in Room 14 on the ground floor of the Union County Government Center. Phone numbers for the Veterans Service Office are 704-283-3711, 3744 or 3807. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.