Two young Wanganui men received bursaries from the Returned Services' Association last year and applications are now open for 2014.
Descendants of servicemen and women are eligible to apply for the education awards.
Applicants need to supply the service number of their family member, the area they served in and write a 500-word essay about their relative's military experiences.
The fund was set up when veteran Eric Laurence and his wife Zita left their house to the RSA, asking that the money be used for education.
Wanganui RSA manager Dave Large says the applicants are now mostly grandchildren of veterans.
"We are starting to see applications from great-grandchildren now and they may have relatives who served in both world wars."
Alec Ewing of Wanganui had forebears in both WWI and WWII and his essay about their experiences helped to gain him an award last year and he is now studying statistics at Victoria University in Wellington.
"Traditionally the awards have been for academic studies but that is changing too - last year we helped Matthew McMurry with his fees for the Waipaoa Station agricultural training programme" says Mr Large.
"He wasn't eligible for any government assistance and he had done really well to get accepted and complete his first year so it was good that we were able to help him."
Applicants for the awards are required to show evidence of their commitment to study with school records, a CV and names of referees.
Application forms can be obtained by sending an email to manager@wanganuirsa.co.nz or sending a request to Wanganui RSA, PO Box 415, Wanganui.