9/11 Promise Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by 9/11 Promise

Introduction The 9.11 Promise Run, Inc. offers scholarships to eligible children of first responders and members of the military who were killed or whose injuries prevent them from working. Since 2019, fundraising by participants in 9.11 Promise Run events has supported scholarship awards that assist children and families affected by the loss or incapacitation of a loved one. Award amounts and timeline - Scholarship awards range from $5,000 to $15,000. - Applications open each year on November 1 and are reviewed for awards announced in the following spring. - The application submission deadline is midnight on March 15. - Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than May 1. Eligible uses of funds Scholarship proceeds may be applied toward trade school, undergraduate, or graduate study costs, for either in-state or out-of-state institutions. Who is eligible Applicants must meet all of the following: - Be the child of a fallen first responder or military service member, or the child of a first responder or military service member who has been certified as unable to work. Applicants must be under 25 years of age at the time of application. - Have a high school diploma or equivalency, or be in the final year of high school. - Be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited trade school, college, or university for trade, undergraduate, or graduate-level study. - Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (based on high school or college coursework to date). Application materials and selection factors Selection considers academic record, leadership, and future potential, and requires the following materials: - Two letters of recommendation from non-family members. One letter should come from an educator, employer, or community member who knows you and your goals; the other may be from any non-family individual of your choosing. - Two essays: 1) What have you learned from being a child of a first responder or military service member? 2) Why are you applying for this scholarship and how would it help you? - Proof of dependency. - Documentation of the parent’s status: a death certificate if applicable, or proof of Individual Unemployability from the Veterans Administration for military recipients, and an equivalent certification for first responders. - Proof of the parent’s first responder and/or military service. Terms and disbursement - Scholarship funds are paid directly to the accredited institution on the recipient’s behalf. Recipients do not receive scholarship checks personally. - Funds may be used for tuition, room and board, required books and equipment, and other related academic expenses. - Awards cover one academic year. Applicants may reapply for funding in up to six separate years, but receiving an award in one year does not guarantee future grants. - If a recipient voluntarily withdraws from their institution before the end of the funded period, any unused funds must be returned to 9.11 Promise Run, Inc. - If a recipient is dismissed from their institution prior to completing the academic year, unused funds must be returned to 9.11 Promise Run, Inc. - If a recipient transfers to a different school during a period covered by a 9.11 Promise Run scholarship, written approval from 9.11 Promise Run, Inc. is required to continue the scholarship at the new institution.