(a) To be eligible for the Military Dependents’ Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following conditions:

1. (1) The student's parent or spouse must have been declared to be a disabled veteran, prisoner of war, missing in action, killed in action, or killed on ordnance delivery during the course of active military duty after January 1, 1960;
2. (2) The student's parent or spouse must have been a resident of the State of Arkansas at the time he or she entered service in the United States Armed Services, or whose official residence is currently within the State of Arkansas;
3. (3) The dependent child or spouse of a person declared to be a prisoner of war or missing or killed in action, or a person killed on ordnance delivery, or a disabled veteran must be a current resident of Arkansas;

4. (4) The student must qualify as the dependent of a disabled veteran, prisoner of war or a person declared to be missing or killed in action, or killed on ordnance delivery by meeting one (1) of the following criteria:

   1. (A) The student is the legal spouse of a person declared to be a prisoner of war, missing or killed in action, killed on ordnance delivery, or a person declared to be a disabled veteran;
   2. (B) The dependent child must be the biological child of the parent who was declared to be a prisoner of war or missing or killed in action, killed on ordnance delivery, or a disabled veteran;
   3. (C) The dependent child is legally adopted or in legal custody of the guardian who was declared to be:

(i) A prisoner of war;

1. (ii) Missing;

   1. (iii) Killed in action;

      1. (iv) Killed on ordnance delivery; or
      2. (v) A disabled veteran; or

   2. (D) The dependent child is the stepchild of the parent who was declared to be:

      1. (i) A prisoner of war;
      2. (ii) Missing;
      3. (iii) Killed in action;
      4. (iv) Killed on ordnance delivery; or
      5. (v) A disabled veteran;
2. (5) The dependent child must meet the United States Department of Education’s definition of “dependent” with regards to children;

3. (6) A stepchild must have:

   1. (A) Been listed as a dependent on the federal and state income tax returns in each of the five (5) income tax years immediately prior to the death or total and permanent disability; and
   2. (B) Received more than one-half (1/2) his or her financial support;
4. (7) The applicant must apply for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, Chapter 35 of Title 38 of the United States Code, with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
5. (8) The applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student in any private, nonprofit institution of higher education in Arkansas or state-supported institution of higher education in Arkansas;

6. (9) The applicant must be an undergraduate student seeking an:

   1. (A) Associate degree;
   2. (B) Baccalaureate degree; or
   3. (C) Certificate of completion; and

7. (10)

   1. (A) The applicant must apply for the scholarship prior to the published deadline in order to receive the scholarship.
   2. (B) Reimbursement can only be made for the year in which the student is currently enrolled and has made application.

(b) Once a person qualifies as an eligible student under the terms of the program, there shall be no situation, such as the return of a parent or spouse, or the reported death of a parent or spouse, that will remove the dependent from the benefits of this program.

1. (c) An eligible recipient shall receive a scholarship for one (1) academic year, renewable for up to three (3) additional academic years for a total of eight (8) semesters, if the recipient meets the following continuing eligibility criteria established by the Division of Higher Education:
2. (1) The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale;
3. (2) The student is making satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate of completion; and

4. (3) The student is enrolled in at least twelve (12) semester hours or the equivalent per term and completes twenty-four (24) semester hours, or the equivalent, per academic year.

   1. (d) For purposes of scholarship payments, “academic semester” includes summer terms, semesters, quarters, or their equivalent at the postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled.