Applications are now being accepted for financial assistance for spouse and legal dependents of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters.  Applications and supporting materials must be mailed no later than March 1, 2009.  All applications and supporting materials will become the property of the VPFF.  Applications received after March 1, 2009 will be returned to the applicant.

Applications and supporting materials shall include: 

ü      A completed VPFF Scholarship application form

ü      An official copy of the school transcript and grade report from the school currently attending or most recently attended.  The official school transcript should list all grade points earned and academic course work completed to date.

ü      A brief statement (about 200 words) prepared by the applicant which indicates their reasons for wanting to continue their education.

ü      Two (2) letters of recommendation:

a.        Letters of recommendation should be from a  teacher, school administrator, counselor, work supervisor, or military supervisor who can address the qualifications and academic aptitude of the scholarship applicant.

b.      The required letters of recommendation may not be from the immediate family members, close family friends, blood relatives, or relationships by marriage. 

ü      A statement or extra curriculum activities in school and outside of school.

ü      All applicants (both new and renewal applicants) submitting a scholarship application and supporting materials are required to satisfy all application process requirements.

 SELECTION CRITERIA

Ø      Scholarship recipients will be selected based on previous academic performance (high school grades for new college applicant and cumulative college grade point averages and academic performance of college reentrant).  A minimum satisfactory academic performance of a C grade (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required for all scholarship recipients.   

Ø      The applicant’s statement indicating their reasons for wanting to continue their education will be considered to help identify the applicants’ needs as well as the applicant’s educational and career goals.

Ø      The accompanying letters of recommendation will be considered to help determine the applicant’s aptitude promise and prior academic achievement. 

Ø      A total of (3) scholarships will be awarded per year for the maximum amount of $1,000 each.  The student may only be awarded one scholarship per year.  In the case that all four scholarships are not given out in one year, the remaining monies may roll over to the next year.  This would allow for more than four awards in the proceeding year is there were more than four applicants.  

DISBURSEMENT  

Ø      Scholarship recipients will be notified in writing from the Secretary-Treasurer of the VPFF. 

Ø      The scholarship award will be made at the Board Meeting in May, 2009.  

Ø      Scholarships will be awarded to:  Any public or private four-year accredited college or university.  Any public or private two-year accredited college.  Any public or private accredited Vocational-Technical College or Training Institution. 

Ø      The award money shall be drawn upon for:  Fees or charges required for tuition; fees or charges for room and board while attending school; expenses for textbooks, course work, lab fees and other materials as required by a course instructor. 

Ø      Scholarship awards are not transferable to another individual or institution and are forfeited by the recipient upon withdrawal from the institution where the scholarship award was disbursed by the VPFF or upon failure to meet the institutions appropriate standards of academic achievement, conduct or character. 

Ø      In the case of board certified medical physician’s diagnosis of a chronic or acute illness or traumatic injury which intervenes in the ability or eligibility of a scholarship recipient to enter or continue academic studies at the university, college or institute of higher learning, the payment of scholarship monies may be suspended for a period of twelve (12) months.  

Ø      In the event a scholarship recipient’s educational endeavors are interrupted during the period of scholarship award year as a result of being called to active duty under Title 10 of the United States Code or National Guard Duty in State status, the scholarship award money shall be held by the Secretary-Treasurer of the VPFF for a period of not more than twenty-four (24) months, unless the time for active duty is extended by the military authority.  

Ø      Any scholarship award recipient’s leaving the US Armed Services or National Guard duty must reapply for reinstatement of the scholarship monies or the remaining portion of scholarship monies within ninety (90) days after severance from duty.

*The disbursement of funds will require receipts or other verifiable documents showing money spent for any of the qualifying expenses.  The reimbursement for the expenses (up to $1000) can be made at any time during the year (May 09 to April 10)

VPFF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
(printable form)

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