Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers provide financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers*, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York.

*Peace Officers are defined in the criminal procedures law and include many categories including New York State Correction Officers.

Award Amount

Memorial Scholarships provide funds to help meet the cost of attending college. The award covers up to four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program) and includes the following components:
      • At a public college or university (SUNY or CUNY): actual tuition and mandatory educational fees; actual room and board charged to students living on campus or an allowance for room and board for commuter students; and allowances for books, supplies and transportation.
      • At a private institution: an amount equal to SUNY four-year college tuition and average mandatory educational fees (or the student's actual tuition and fees, whichever is less) and allowances for room and board, books, supplies and transportation.
      • In all cases, the total of all aid received by the recipient cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance.

Update: Legislation enacting the 2008-09 New York State budget included changes to certain grant, scholarship and loan forgiveness programs to meet statutorily mandated savings. As a result, the award amount to each student will be reduced by 2 percent.

Eligibility

Students must:
      • Be matriculated at approved colleges or other post-secondary institutions in New York State.
      • Study full time in approved undergraduate programs.
      • Have a parent, spouse or were a financial dependent of a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer, peace officer or emergency medical service worker who died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York.

How to Apply

Students must establish eligibility by submitting a Memorial Scholarship Supplement.
      • Once eligibility has been established, the student must submit an application for payment by May 1 of the academic year for which payment of the scholarship is sought. To apply for payment complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), AND the Express TAP application (ETA). There is no fee for these applications.
      • Students do not have to submit a Memorial Scholarship Supplement every year, but must submit an application for payment each year.

Award Payment

Upon certification of eligibility, payment will be made to the school on behalf of the student.