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New York State Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarship

Who is Eligible:

Volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel who:

• Have been New York State residents for at least one year.

• Are enrolled in an approved undergraduate degree program in New York State.

• Have a course load of at least six credits per term.

• If 23 years of age or older, have less than six months of volunteer service at time of initial award.

• If under 23 years of age, no minimum or maximum time of volunteer service is required at time of initial award.

• Are not in possession of a baccalaureate degree or higher.

• Are attending a college/institution within 50 miles of volunteer organization, or if no college is available within 50-mile limit, the nearest college/institution. Program of study is not a determining factor.

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Have applied for state and federal financial aid.

How to Apply:

• Volunteer organization selects one eligible candidate per year.

• Volunteer organization must develop a policy to be used to select a candidate. If the policy is not already on file, that written policy must be forwarded to HESC with the application in an envelope postmarked by August 1, 2004.

• Volunteer organization submits completed application to HESC at the address below in an envelope postmarked by August 1, 2004.

• A volunteer organization means ambulance company as defined in section three of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law or fire company as defined in section three of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law.

Recipient Selection

• If the number of applicants exceeds funding for the program, HESC shall randomly select recipients from the applicant pool. Receipt of the scholarship in future years is based on funding, but preference will be given to renewal scholarships.

Recipient Requirements

• Maintain good academic standing.

• Maintain a "C" average.

• Maintain status as an active volunteer with the volunteer organization for duration of scholarship.

• Maintain continuous enrollment in college/institution for duration of scholarship.

• File for state and federal financial aid.

Award Payment

• Payment will be made to college/institution on behalf of students upon certification of eligibility.

• Awards will equal the amount of tuition, reduced by any tuition-based grant, but can not exceed the amount of tuition charged by the State University of New York.

• Recipients will continue to receive benefits as long as they are continuously enrolled, meet the eligibility requirements and funding is available.

• Applications may be obtained by contacting the Scholarship Unit (1-888-697-4372).

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