DESCRIPTION
For the past 22 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has awarded college scholarships to children of first responders.
Scholarships are awarded for a single academic year. Awards are based on financial need, academic merit, and achievements such as demonstrated leadership, excellence in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community.
The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year. Scholarships may be renewed annually for up to four years depending on the availability of funds, the applicant’s financial need, and the recipient’s academic record.
Priority is generally given to students whose first responder parent has suffered a line of duty disability or line of duty death and demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Documents:
All applicants must have:
Current transcript
FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR)
Resume or list of achievements
Current picture
New applicants must also have:
Proof of United States residency or permanent citizenship
Letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor
Picture of parent’s first responder ID/proof of employment
ELIGIBILITY
Citizenship: United States
Grade Level: Undergrad, Graduate
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicant must be the biological, adopted or step-child of a police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic or 911 dispatcher.
Applicants who are the child of a deceased first responder must have been conceived prior to the death or total and permanent disability of the eligible first responder.
Applicants who are an adopted child must have had the adoption process begun prior to the date of scholarship application submission. If the first responder is deceased or has total and permanent disability, the adoption process must have started prior to the death or total and permanent disability.
Applicants who are a stepchild must be listed as a dependent on the eligible first responder’s federal and state income tax returns. If the first responder is deceased or has total and permanent disability, the applicant must be listed as a dependent in the income tax years immediately prior to the death or total and permanent disability.
Applicant must be pursuing a bachelor’s, associate’s, certificate, graduate or law degree at any accredited college, university or technical/vocational institution in the United States that participates in the federal financial aid programs offered through the U.S. Department of Education.
Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student during the entire academic year.
Applicant must have and maintain a 2.7 out of a 4.0 grade point average (80 out of 100 point scale), or the equivalent as documented by the Office of the Registrar at their academic institution.
Applicant must be making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their program as defined and documented by the academic institution.
Applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and attending school in the United States.
Current First Responders Children’s Foundation officers and employees and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply.
Scholarship recipients must reapply for their scholarship each year.
Scholarship recipients are eligible to reapply and receive a scholarship for up to four years maximum.
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
First Responders Children’s Foundation was founded in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 to support the 800 children who lost a first responder parent on that tragic day. Since then, the Foundation has continued its mission of helping first responders and their families nationwide. Today, we offer scholarships, emergency financial hardship support, bereavement grants, resiliency and mental health support, and natural disaster aid to help alleviate the challenges that first responder children face daily. We also have a robust community engagement program that allows us to forge lasting relationships that build trust, inspire futures, and strengthen the bonds between communities and public safety agencies across the country.
