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Financial Aid
> State Programs >
Special Awards
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This program is intended to provide financial aid to
children and spouses of firefighters, volunteer
firefighters, police officers, peace officers and emergency
medical service workers who died from injuries sustained in
the line of duty in service to the State of New York.
* Correction Officers are defined as peace officers in the
criminal procedures law, therefore surviving spouses and children are eligible
for this scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an award the student must:
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meet one of the
United States citizenship requirements;
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meet New York
State residency requirements;
-
enroll as a
full-time student;
-
enroll in an
approved program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution;
-
have a
matriculated status;
-
be in good
academic standing; have at least a cumulative "C" average after receipt of
two annual payments;
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not be in
default on any guaranteed student loan HESC administers;
-
be enrolled as
an undergraduate student; and
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be the child or
spouse of a police officer, peace officer, firefighter, or volunteer
firefighter who died from injuries sustained in the line of duty while
employed by New York State or any of its political subdivisions.
-
First-time
recipients of an award as of the 1996-97 academic year must have graduated
from high school, have a GED or other equivalent of a high school
certificate or have received a passing score on an approved
ability-to-benefit test.
Duration
The student can receive payment for four years of undergraduate
study or five years of undergraduate study if enrolled in an approved five-year
baccalaureate program or an approved educational opportunity program.
Award Calculation
The Memorial Scholarship award will equal the applicant's actual
tuition cost or the State University of New York (SUNY) undergraduate tuition,
whichever is less. Students attending institutions with tuition charges higher
than SUNY's may, if eligible, receive additional TAP assistance.
Memorial Scholarships also provide funds to meet the nontuition
costs of attending college. At SUNY and CUNY (City University of New York)
colleges, the annual award would equal the nontuition cost of attendance less
any federal Pell Grant and any other federal and state-funded scholarships or
grants. Approved nontuition costs include room and board, a books allowance,
supplies and transportation. At a private college, the award would equal the
average of the nontuition costs at SUNY colleges less any federal Pell Grant or
other federal and state-funded scholarships or grants.
For students who do not live on campus, the Commissioner of
Education has set the room and board allowance. The Commissioner of Education
also sets annually the allowance for books, supplies and transportation for all
students.
Application Procedure
Applicants for this award must submit a special eligibility
application - Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Police Officer and
Firefighter Supplement - which is available from HESC by request. This
supplement establishes students eligibility for this award and is submitted only
when the student initially applies for this award. Students must also submit an
application for the award by May 1 of the academic year for which assistance is
being sought.
For additional information and applications, you
may contact HESC’s Grants and Scholarships Unit at the address and telephone
number listed below.
New York State Higher Education
Services Corporation
99 Washington Avenue · Albany, New York 12255 · (888)
NYS-HESC
www.hesc.com
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