Scholarships for Police Dependents

States and nonprofit organizations offer scholarships specifically for police officer dependents.

Spouses and children of police officers can receive scholarships through state programs, police associations, family foundations and nonprofit organizations. Certain programs only extend eligibility to dependents of officers killed or disabled in the line of duty, but others also award funding to dependents of currently serving or retired police personnel. Award amounts vary, and programs may limit applicants based on geographical region, residency or enrollment status.

State Programs

Certain states offer scholarships specifically for dependents of law enforcement officers or emergency workers. The California Student Aid Commission awards the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant to spouses and children of California police officers, firefighters and corrections officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The LEPD program offers awards up to $11,259, as of June 2011. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education offers the Law Enforcement Officers' Dependents Scholarship to the children and spouses of Arkansas police officers, game wardens and emergency medical personnel killed or disabled on the job. The LEO program only offers funding to pay for tuition and on-campus housing at Arkansas public postsecondary institutions.

Police Associations

Police associations throughout the United States often sponsor scholarships for their members or dependents of police officers. The South Suburban Association Chiefs of Police in suburban Chicago offers multiple scholarships for dependents of law enforcement officers living within its membership region. The Wisconsin County Police Association in Delavan, Wisconsin, awards scholarships to dependents of its members. The Wisconsin program offers funding for freshmen students enrolled in two- or four-year degree programs at technical schools, colleges or universities.

Family Foundations

Foundations formed to honor the memory of deceased law enforcement officers often have scholarship funds for students. The Ronnie Williams Foundation offers the Ron and Cora Lee Children of Law Enforcement Officers program, which awards scholarships to dependents of currently working or retired law enforcement officers from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey or Maryland. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and attend school full time.

Industry Organizations

Organizations within the law enforcement industry often sponsor student aid programs for police officer dependents. The Electronic Security Association offers the Youth Scholarship Program for the children of currently serving, retired or disabled local police officers and firefighters. The association operates 14 state chapters, and each chapter awards scholarships. Children of federal law enforcement officers cannot qualify for the award. Award amounts may vary, depending on the state chapter.

Other Options

Local and national nonprofit organizations directly or loosely associated with law enforcement may have scholarships for police officer dependents. The Police Officer Defense Fund offers the Strive Scholarship to the children of police officers who are currently serving, were killed while serving or have retired. The Defense Fund program only extends eligibility to high school seniors and pays up to $2,000, as of June 2011. Blue Knights International, a nonprofit organization comprising motorcycle enthusiasts within law enforcement, offers the Blue Knight Scholarship to the family members of its members. As of June 2011, Blue Knights awards scholarships up to $1,000, which students can use to attend a postsecondary institution or police academy.

References

• Police Officer Defense Fund: Strive Scholarships
• Blue Knights International: Blue Knights Scholarship
• Blue Knights International: Scholarship Application Guidelines
• Electronic Security Association: 2011 Youth Scholarship Program
• Electronic Security Association: Scholarship Application Information
• Ronnie Williams Foundation: Scholarships

Resources

• Ronnie Williams Foundation: Ron and Cora Lee Children of Law Enforcement Officers Scholarship
• Wisconsin County Police Association: Scholarship Program
• South Suburban Association Chiefs of Police: Scholarships
• Arkansas Department of Higher Education: Law Enforcement Officers' Dependents Scholarship
• California Student Aid Commission: Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program
• Scholarships
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