First Responders Children's Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by First Responders Children's Foundation

Overview
Our scholarship program supports children of first responders by awarding annual scholarships and connecting recipients to a strong network of peers, working professionals, mentors, and partner organizations. Every awardee becomes a member of the Scholars Council, a community that offers professional and peer support.

Award details
- Scholarships are issued for one academic year.
- Selection considers financial need, scholastic achievement, and accomplishments such as leadership, excellence in the arts or athletics, and community volunteer service.
- The number of awards varies each year.
- Scholarships may be renewed for up to four academic years total, subject to available funding, demonstrated financial need, and the student’s academic performance.

Eligibility
To apply, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Relationship to a first responder
- The applicant must be the biological child, an adopted child, or a stepchild of an active or retired police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, or 911 dispatcher.
- If the applicant is the child of a first responder who is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the child must have been conceived before the date of that death or disability.

2. Adoption and stepchild rules
- Adopted children: the legal adoption process must have been initiated before the scholarship application is submitted. If the eligible first responder is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the adoption process must have begun prior to that death or disability.
- Stepchildren: the applicant must have been claimed as a dependent on the eligible first responder’s federal and state income tax returns. If the first responder is deceased or has a total and permanent disability, the applicant must have been claimed as a dependent on the tax returns for the year(s) immediately preceding the death or disability.

3. Academic program and enrollment
- The applicant must be pursuing a bachelor’s, associate’s, certificate, graduate, or law degree at an accredited U.S. college, university, or technical/vocational school that participates in federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
- The applicant must be enrolled full-time for the entire academic year.

4. Academic standing
- Minimum grade requirement: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent — e.g., 80 on a 100-point scale), as certified by the school’s Office of the Registrar.
- The applicant must be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of their program, as defined and documented by their institution.

5. Citizenship and residence
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and must be attending school in the United States.

Other conditions
- Current officers and employees of the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), and members of their immediate families, are not eligible to apply.
- Scholarship recipients must submit a renewal application each year. Recipients may receive funding for up to four years total.
- To qualify for renewal, scholars are expected to take an active part in Scholars Council activities and to respond to all required communications and outreach from FRCF.

If you need any wording adjusted for a specific application form or webpage, tell me where it will appear and I’ll tailor it.