Military Service Recognition Scholarship

The Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS) provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.

General Information

MSRS provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who provided eligible military service on or after Aug 2, 1990, while New York State residents and who:

• died or became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred; or are classified as missing in action in a combat theater or combat zone of operations; or who died as a result of injuries incurred in these designated areas; OR
• died or became severely and permanently disabled as result of injury or illness suffered or incurred during military training operations in preparation for duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations.
  

MSRS is also available to members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who provided eligible military service at any time on or after August 2, 1990 while New York State residents, and who became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness suffered or incurred:

• in a combat theater or combat zone; OR
• during military training operations in preparation for duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations.

Scholarship Amounts

MSRS provides 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:

• Tuition: An amount equal to your actual tuition or the State University of New York’s (SUNY) in-state tuition, whichever is less.
• Non-tuition Costs: These include room and board and allowances for books, supplies and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY Colleges. The Commissioner of Education sets the non-tuition cost allowances each year.
• Residence: A student living on campus will receive a higher room and board allowance than a commuter student. Students choosing to live in off campus housing will be paid at the lower commuter rate.

Please note: the maximum allowance for students living on campus for the 2011-12 academic year is $10,750 plus a transportation allowance of $1,010. Commuter students are allowed a maximum room and board allowance of $3,570 plus a transportation allowance of $1,810. The maximum allowance for books and supplies is the same amount for both students living on campus or commuter students.

Receipt of other grants and scholarships may reduce the MSRS award. The total of all aid received cannot be greater than the student's Title IV cost of attendance.

Eligibility

Students must:

• Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State.
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department.
• Be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester.
• Be matriculated in an approved program of study
• Be in good academic standing.
• Not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards.

How to Apply

Complete and submit the Military Service Recognition Scholarship Web Supplement. Be sure to print the Web Supplement confirmation, sign it, and submit it, along with the required documentation, according to the instructions.

Once you have established your eligibility and are assigned an account number by HESC, you must do one of the following by June 30 of each academic year to request payment:

• Current New York State residents – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and TAP on the Web application. FAFSA and TAP applications and instructions are available on-line at HESC.org.
• If you are not a resident of New York State – Contact the HESC Scholarship Unit at 1-888-697-4372 to request a Scholarship and Grant Payment Application.

Award Payment

HESC will make payments to schools on behalf of students upon certification of eligibility and submission of appropriate financial aid applications.