Memorial Scholarships

Office of Student Accounts

Memorial Scholarships

Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Police Officers and Firefighters provide financial aid to children and spouses of deceased police officers, firefighters, and volunteer firefighters of New York state who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The scholarship supplements the $450 received through the Child of Police Officer-Firefighter-Correction Officer (CPF) award program.

AMOUNT

The Memorial Scholarship award will be equal to the applicant’s actual tuition cost or the State University of New York (SUNY) undergraduate tuition cost, whichever is less. The first $450 of the award is paid through the CPF award program. Students attending institutions with tuition charges higher than SUNY tuition charges may, if eligible, receive additional assistance through New York state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

At SUNY and CUNY (The City University of New York), the annual award would be equal to the amount of an allowance set annually by the Commissioner of Education for non-tuition costs of attendance less any Federal Pell Grant and other federal and/or state-funded scholarship or grant. At a private college, the award would be equal to the amount of an average of the allowance for the non-tuition costs at SUNY less any Federal Pell Grant and other federal and/or state-funded scholarship or grant.

Memorial Scholarships also provide funds to meet the non-tuition costs of attending college. These include room and board and an allowance for books, supplies, and transportation.

The non-tuition allowances are determined annually by the Commissioner of Education.

The Memorial Scholarship award is available for four years of full-time undergraduate study (or for five years in an approved five-year bachelor’s degree program).

ELIGIBILITY

Students must:

Be New York state residents.
Be matriculated at approved colleges or other postsecondary institutions in New York state.
Study full time in approved undergraduate programs.
Have a parent or spouse who was a police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter who died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

HOW TO APPLY

Student must establish eligibility by submitting a Memorial Scholarship Supplement which is available from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Once eligibility has been established, the student must submit an application for payment by May 1 of the academic year for which payment of the scholarship is sought.

To apply for payment: Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, AND the Express TAP application (ETA). There is no fee for these applications.

Students do not have to submit a Memorial Scholarship Supplement every year, but must submit an application for payment each year.

For more information on other state and federal student financial aid programs (loans, grants, and scholarships) for full-time, part-time, graduate, and undergraduate study, write to the address listed below.

DISABILITY

If a disability prevents attendance at college full time, you may still be able to get financial aid. See the college financial aid administrator.

Additional information can be obtained by writing to HESC at 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255, or calling (888) NYSHESC. You can access the HESC Web site at www.hesc.com.