The Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance to United States armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse attending a Maryland postsecondary institution. To be eligible for the VAIC scholarship, an individual must be a member of the Uniformed Services of the United States who served in Afghanistan or contiguous air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001; or in Iraq or contiguous waters or air space, as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003. Applicants must have been accepted for admission or enrolled in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible institution, or be accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible institution. .If the applicant chooses to file the FAFSA or MHEC One-App for Undocumented Students, it must be completed by March 1 or the applicant will be ineligible. Awards are made annually, with renewal applicants given first priority. Eligible applicants who are veterans shall be given priority over dependent or spouses. Within priority groups, applicants will be ranked according to application complete date. A recipient is eligible to receive a renewal award for up to 4 years. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Maryland Higher Education Commission for more information.