First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarships

For the past 20 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has awarded scholarships to hundreds of children of first responders. 

Annual Amount

Scholarships provide a maximum award of $6,250 for a single academic year

Additional Selection Criteria

ELGIBILITY

• 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.
  

Application Process

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR NEW APPLICANTS IN ON JUNE 15

RENEWAL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 1

APPLICATION & DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Current transcript
• Fall 2022 tuition bill
• Fall 2022 financial aid award letter (provided to you from your college or university)
• Proof of full-time enrollment for Fall 2022 which must list:  Your name, School name, Fall 2022 semester, and Total number of credits enrolled
• Student Aid Report (SAR)
• List of achievements (honors, leadership positions, volunteer activities, etc.)
• Picture of applicant
• Picture of first responder's ID or letter from employer
• Three letters of recommendation (one must be from a teacher or professor)
• Proof of United States citizenship or permanent residency (birth certificate, naturalization papers, or passport)
• Personal statement not to exceed 700 words summarizing personal and professional achievements & career goals
• Optional for renewals only:  A short statement summarizing the impact of prior First Responders Children's Foundation scholarship awards, the importance of this scholarship toward achieving academic goals, and achievements and accomplishments since receiving the last scholarship award.

FOR STUDENTS WHOSE PARENT OR GUARDIAN SUFFERED A LINE OF DUTY DISABILITY OR PASSED AWAY, PLEASE PROVIDE:

• Letter from human resources or agency stating the line of duty disability or death
• Statement telling us their story

ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS:

• Letters of Recommendation:  May be submitted directly to https://1strcf.org/scholarship/ if the writer/guidance counselor will not release them to the student.  Letters of recommendation must be submitted by our application deadline, 6/15/22.
• Fall 2022 Proof of Enrollment/Schedule & Fall 2022 Tuition Bill:  Understanding that colleges and universities are all on different timelines, these two documents may be submitted directly to https://1strcf.org/scholarship/ after our application deadline of 6/15/22.  Must include:  Your name, School name, Fall 2022 semester, and Total number of credits enrolled.
  

Deadline

June 15, 2022

For the application or more information go to:
https://1strcf.org/scholarship/