NYS Memorial Scholarship

Name: NYS Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Emergency Medical Service Workers

Award Amount:

• Provides financial aid to cover up to four years of full-time undergraduate study, including:
  • Tuition: An amount equal to the actual annual tuition charged to New York State residents attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York, or the actual tuition charged, whichever is less.
  • Non-tuition Costs: Includes room and board and allowances for books, supplies, and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY colleges.
  • Mandatory Fees: All required fees.

Overview:

The NYS Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance to children, spouses, and financial dependents of firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers (including NYS correction officers), and emergency medical service workers who have died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. The scholarship aims to support the educational pursuits of the families of these fallen heroes by covering tuition, non-tuition costs, and mandatory fees at approved colleges or universities within New York State.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a child, spouse, or financial dependent of a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer, peace officer, or emergency medical service worker who has died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York.
• Be a legal resident of New York State and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, 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 undergraduate student in an approved program of study at a New York State postsecondary institution.
• Not be in default on a student loan guaranteed by HESC and not have any outstanding state or federal grant overpayments.

Application Process:

• Complete and submit the NYS Memorial Scholarship Web Application, available on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) website.
• Provide documentation verifying the applicant’s relationship to the deceased service member, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or evidence of financial dependence.
• Submit a copy of the service member’s death certificate and any official documentation confirming that the death was a direct result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.
• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application to determine eligibility for other financial aid programs.
• Ensure all required documentation is submitted by the specified deadlines to avoid delays in processing.

Additional Information:

• The scholarship is renewable for up to four years of full-time undergraduate study, provided the recipient maintains satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution.
• Recipients must remain in good academic standing and comply with all program requirements to continue receiving the scholarship.
• For detailed guidelines, application instructions, and further assistance, visit the official NYS Memorial Scholarship page on the HESC website or contact the financial aid office at your chosen institution.

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