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Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Type of Aid

Scholarship does not have to be repaid.

Program Details

A Pell-eligible student with a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) during the award year whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer may be eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year and have all federal financial aid awarded based on an EFC of zero regardless of the calculated EFC.

For purposes of this scholarship, a public safety officer is defined as:

  • A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with state or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

  • As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b):
    • an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, as a chaplain, or as a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew;
    • an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the agency in an area, if those official duties are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and are determined by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;
    • an employee of a state, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an area if those official duties are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties. The IASG is available to eligible students whose parents or guardians died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and who are not eligible for the Pell Grant. If your parent(s) or guardian(s) died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001 and you are eligible for the Pell Grant, you may qualify for an increase.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

  • Must have been younger than 24 years of age or enrolled at a higher education institution at the time the parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer

  • In subsequent award years, the student will continue to be eligible as long as the student is Pell-eligible and has a Pell-eligible EFC.

  • Student must meet all Title IV student eligibility requirements.

  • Must provide proof of eligibility (documentation as indicated on the application form)

Award Amounts

  • Eligible students’ Pell Grant award will be increased to the maximum annual Pell Grant amount, and other awards will be calculated as if the student has an EFC of zero. Pell-eligible students with an EFC of zero will not receive an increase as they are already awarded the maximum amount of Pell Grant. 

 

Locate the Children of Fall Heroes Scholarship Application on our Financial Aid Documents page.

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