The National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children’s Foundation (NLEFCF) is offering applications for the General Scholarship to children of law enforcement officers or firefighters lost in the line of duty or permanently disabled in the line of duty. In order to apply, the applicant must be enrolled as full-time students who are pursuing their first Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, or Certificate at any accredited college, university or technical/vocational institution in the U.S. The program recognizes financial need as well as academic and overall achievement and help students by providing financial support for their education at qualified institutions.The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year. The winners will receive a maximum award of $5,000. The scholarship may be renewed annually (for up to a maximum of four years).
National Law Enforcement & Firefighter Children’s Foundation founder and President, Alfred R. Kahn, hosted our first annual Thanksgiving Parade Breakfast in November 2001 – just after the 9/11 tragedy. His hope was to provide the families of New York’s first responders lost in the line of duty with a positive, supportive and festive atmosphere as they entered what was sure to be a very difficult holiday season. The event was even more powerful for the children and families than Mr. Kahn could have imagined.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, the applicant must meet all the following criteria:
- Applicants must be dependent children, stepchildren or legally adopted children of an eligible law enforcement officer or firefighter who was killed or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty.
- The applicant must have been conceived prior to the death or total and permanent disability of the eligible officer or firefighter.
- An applicant who is an adopted child must have been adopted by the eligible officer or firefighter prior to, or the adoption process must have begun prior to, the date of the death or total and permanent disability.
- An applicant who is a stepchild must have been listed as a dependent on the eligible officer or firefighter’s federal and state income tax returns in the income tax years immediately prior to the death or total and permanent disability.
- Candidates must be pursuing their first Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, or Certificate 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.
- Candidate must be enrolled as a full-time student during the entire academic year.
- Candidate must maintain a 2.7 out of a 0-grade point average, or the equivalent as documented by the Office of the Registrar at the academic institution.
- Candidate must be making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their program as defined and documented by the academic institution.
- Candidate must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States attending school in the United States.
- Current NLEAFCF officers and employees, and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
To apply for the scholarship, the applicant can download and submit the application through the given link: http://nleafcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2016-application-form-all-scholarships.pdf
Supporting Documents:
First-time candidates must submit the following items:
- The academic transcript which includes cumulative GPA through the spring semester of the just-completed academic year.
- Proof of full-time enrollment for the fall semester.
- Evidence of honors, leadership positions, volunteer activities and other achievements.
- Personal essay, not exceeding 700 words, summarizing personal and professional achievements and career goals.
- Proof of US citizenship or permanent residency (i.e. birth certificate, naturalization papers or valid US passport)
- Documentation verifying you are the child of the deceased or disabled law enforcement officer or firefighter.
- Written notification from the Chief Executive Officer of the involved agency confirming the line of duty death or total and permanent disability.
- In the case of permanent disability, the applicant must provide a physician’s certification of the “total and permanent disability.” The physician must be a doctor of medicine who is legally authorized to practice in the United States.
- Letters of recommendation from three (3) individuals excluding family members, including one academic reference, one personal reference and, if possible, one reference from the related law enforcement officer’s or firefighter’s employer.
- A copy of candidate’s completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- A copy of candidate’s Student Aid Report (SAR).
- A copy of candidate’s upcoming Fall Tuition Bill and Financial Aid Award letter from the enrolled school.
Award recipients may be eligible to apply for a renewal of their scholarship for up to three subsequent years of their continuing undergraduate program (for a total of four years of awards). To be eligible for a renewal:
- Applicant must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or greater and must provide the following items in their renewal request submission:
- Documentation that applicant is making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their degree as defined and documented by the academic institution.
- The academic transcript which includes the cumulative GPA through the spring semester of the just-completed academic year.
- Proof of full-time enrollment for the upcoming fall semester.
- Personal essay, not exceeding 700 words, summarizing the impact of prior NLEAFCF scholarship awards, the importance of this scholarship toward achieving your academic goals and your achievements and accomplishments since receiving your last NLEAFCF scholarship award.
- A copy of candidate’s completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- A copy of candidate’s Student Aid Report (SAR).
- A copy of candidate’s upcoming Fall Tuition Bill and Financial Aid Award letter from the enrolled school.
Submitting Details:
Application and all supporting documentation must be received by the NLEAFCF to be considered for the academic year starting in the fall.
Mail submission packet to:
National Law Enforcement & Firefighters Children’s Foundation
ATTN: Scholarship Committee
928 Broadway Suite 703
New York, NY 10010
Financial Aid and Award Money:
- General scholarships provide a maximum award of $5,000 for a single academic year.
- Awards are based on financial need as well as academic merit and other achievements, such as a demonstrated leadership, outstanding performance in the arts or sports, and/or volunteer activities benefiting the community.
- The number of scholarships awarded varies from year to year.
- This scholarship may be renewed annually (for up to a maximum of four years) depending on the availability of funds and the financial need and the academic record of the awardee.
- Annual awards will be sent directly to the appropriate office of the recipient’s school by way of a check made payable to the school on behalf of the scholarship recipient.
- The annual award will be distributed in two (2) equal payments – one for the fall semester and one for the spring semester.
Application Deadline:
The submission deadline for 2017-2018 scholarship awards will be July 1, 2017.
Link for More Information:
http://nleafcf.org/scholarships/general-scholarship/
Contact Information:
If you have any questions contact to Sarahbeth Grossman by call 646-822-4236 or email nleafcf-at-nleafcf.org
