Invest in your future
The DLA Student Leadership Scholarship opens Normandy to students who could not otherwise reach it. Each year DLA fully sponsors a select group of young leaders for seven days at our house - "Frank's House" - in Sainte Mère Église. On the ground where history was made they study the Normandy campaign with trained historians and train in leadership with our veteran cadre. Lodging, instruction and on the ground transport are covered so that money is never the barrier. The goal is simple. Identify potential. Bring it to Normandy. Send students home changed and better prepared to lead in their schools families and communities.
Program Snapshot
Designed for driven students and emerging leaders who want to grow through real history, honest reflection, and serious responsibility.
Location
Sainte Mère Eglise, Normandy France
Duration
Seven days, six nights
Group Size
Eight to sixteen students
Cost to Student
Program fee covered by DLA
Focus
History and leadership training on the ground where it happened
Who it is for and what you experience
Who should apply
The DLA Student Leadership Scholarship is for high school students who are ready to take real responsibility for their own growth and actions. Ideal applicants are dependable, honest, and willing to work hard in a structured environment where standards matter. You do not need perfect grades, but you should show steady effort in school and a pattern of following through on commitments in your activities, teams, or jobs. We are looking for young people who already serve in some way at home, at school, or in their community and who are willing to be stretched beyond what is comfortable.
This scholarship is for students who take expectations seriously and understand that personal growth requires discipline, humility, and consistency over time. Strong candidates show maturity in how they handle pressure, how they treat others, and how they respond to feedback. They are the kind of students who can be counted on to show up, do the work, and carry themselves with respect, especially when no one is watching. We are not looking for perfection; we are looking for character, effort, and follow-through.
Applicants should be prepared to complete a serious application and essay, participate in interviews, and show that they understand this is not a vacation but a chance to grow into the kind of leader others can depend on.
What you will do
Selected students receive a fully funded place in a seven-day DLA youth program in Sainte-Mère-Église. Scholarship recipients live at the charity house, study the Normandy Campaign with trained historians, and take part in daily leadership training alongside veteran cadre. DLA covers round-trip airfare to France, lodging, meals in Normandy, local transport, instruction, and program materials, removing the largest barrier for many families and ensuring selection is based on character and potential.
As part of accepting a scholarship, students are expected to attempt to raise funds to offset a portion of their airfare. This is not used to determine selection; it is a required exercise in buy-in, responsibility, and understanding the real cost of what it takes to run this program. To support students through the process, DLA uses Snap! Raise, a platform that helps groups run structured fundraising campaigns with guided setup and automated email/text outreach and payment collection.
In return, students are expected to engage fully, meet high standards of conduct, complete the application and essay with care, and approach the week as a serious step toward becoming leaders in their schools, families, and communities.
Application and Selection Process
1. Application
Students submit an online application with personal information, school details, and a parent or guardian contact. This step confirms basic eligibility and readiness for travel. Applicants must also upload a typed referral from a teacher as part of the application. If you have any questions or need help at any point in the process, please reach out.
2. Assigned Soldier and Essay
Qualified applicants are assigned a specific American service member who fought in the Normandy campaign. Students research that soldier’s life and service and write an essay that combines solid factual work with honest personal reflection on what they learned.
3. First interview
Applicants who complete the essay are invited to a virtual interview with a member of the DLA team. A significant part of this conversation focuses on the assigned soldier and what the student drew from that story, along with motivation, maturity, and fit for the program.
4. Second interview
A second virtual interview includes the student and a parent or guardian. This conversation confirms expectations, safety, travel commitments, and family support for the standards of the program.
5. Final Selection
DLA reviews all applications, essays, and interviews together and offers a limited number of scholarship seats to students who show strong character, clear potential for leadership, and a serious understanding of what this opportunity represents.
What the Scholarship Covers
The DLA Student Leadership Scholarship removes the single biggest barrier for most families. Cost. Selected students receive a fully funded place in a seven day youth program in Sainte Mere Eglise so selection is based on character and potential, not income.
DLA pays for round trip airfare to and from France, lodging at the charity house, all meals in Normandy, local transport during the program, instruction from historians and veteran cadre, and program materials. Once a student is accepted, our team works with parents or guardians to coordinate travel details and answer practical questions.
Families are responsible for a current passport, any required visas, personal spending money, and basic clothing and gear from a simple packing list. There are no hidden program fees. If a student is selected, the cost of being in Normandy and taking part in the full DLA experience is covered.
Expectations for Students and Families
What We Expect From Students
Students are expected to arrive prepared, on time, and ready to work each day. They must follow all instructions from staff and cadre, uphold the DLA code of conduct, and treat every site in Normandy as sacred ground. That includes appropriate behavior at cemeteries and memorials, respectful interaction with local residents, and consistent effort during lessons, physical training scaled to their ability, and reflection periods. Students are expected to support their peers, take care of shared spaces in the charity house, and represent their families and communities with maturity.
What Parents And Guardians Can Expect From DLA
Parents and guardians can expect clear communication before, during, and after the program. DLA provides detailed pre departure information, including packing lists, travel plans, and safety protocols. During the week in Normandy, students are supervised by experienced staff, veteran cadre, and trained historians, with clear procedures for medical issues and emergencies. Families can expect that standards are enforced fairly, that faith backgrounds and personal beliefs are treated with respect, and that their student is challenged in a way that is demanding but never careless.
Key dates and application timeline
The DLA Student Leadership Scholarship follows a clear yearly rhythm so students and families can plan with confidence. All dates will be published in advance for each scholarship cycle and are firm unless DLA communicates a change directly.
Key Milestones
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Applications open
Students can submit the online application and request consideration for the current scholarship year.
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Application deadline
All applications and essay assignments must be started by this date. Late submissions are not reviewed.
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Essay and first interview window
Students complete their assigned soldier essay and take part in the first individual interview during this period.
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Second interview window
Student and parent or guardian interviews are held and final questions about travel and expectations are addressed.
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Final decisions and travel preparation
Selected students are notified, travel is booked, and pre departure materials are sent to families.
Timeline
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Applications Due:
March 1, 2026
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Essay and first interview window:
March - April
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Second interview window
April - May
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Final decisions and travel preparation
May - June
You are not applying for a trip.
You are applying for who you will become!
If you are a student who is ready to work, ready to be stretched, and ready to let real history shape who you become, this scholarship is for you. If you are a parent or guardian who sees that potential and is willing to support a demanding process, we invite you to step in with us.
Seats are limited and selection is competitive by design. Apply with care. Treat the essay and interviews as your first test.
Step forward and invest in your future.