America's 911 Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by America's 911 Foundation, Inc.
Overview
- The 2026 College Scholarship program will award twenty scholarships, each worth $2,000.
- Eligible applicants are high school seniors who are either active First Responders themselves or have a parent who is an active First Responder (volunteer or paid).
How to Apply
- You must register by creating an account. After signing in you will see a candidate control page where additional application steps are available.
- Complete all required fields and upload your essay through the portal.
- Everything must be finished and submitted by February 15, 2026. The online system will lock and suspend accounts at 22:00 Eastern Time on February 15, 2026.
- Technical/account support will not be available after February 8, 2026. Do not wait until the last minute—start early.
Eligibility Details
- Applicants must be high school seniors who are active First Responders or whose parent is an active First Responder.
- “Active” means currently serving. If a parent is retired or receiving disability retirement, the applicant is not eligible.
- First Responder service may be paid or volunteer.
What Counts as a First Responder
Included examples (paid or volunteer):
- Police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, marshals, border patrol
- Firefighters
- EMTs and paramedics
- Ambulance/rescue personnel
- Correctional officers
- Game wardens, park rangers
- Dispatchers serving any of the above
- Anyone with arrest authority
Essay Requirement (Mandatory)
- Interview a First Responder from your community who is not a family member.
- Address the following in your piece:
1. Tell their story.
2. Explain what led them into a first responder career.
3. Describe the most difficult and the most rewarding aspects of their experience.
4. State what they hope for future generations entering first responder roles.
- Length: 300–500 words.
- File formats accepted for upload: .pdf, .doc, or .docx only.
- Formatting: Times New Roman or Arial, 12‑point font, 1.5 line spacing.
Evaluation and Other Notes
- Applications will be judged on grammar, spelling, punctuation, content, and overall presentation—attention to correct language is important.
- Extensions will not be granted under any circumstances.
- If you indicate financial need, follow the application instructions for submitting that information.
- If you are selected and later need to change the college listed for payment, log back into your account and update the school so the award check is sent to the correct institution.