Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid

Overview

The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to dependent children and spouses of Mississippi law enforcement officers, full-time firefighters, or volunteer firefighters who were fatally injured or permanently and totally disabled in the performance of official duties. The benefit is offered as an eight-semester scholarship covering tuition and campus housing at any state-supported college or university in Mississippi. The program supports undergraduate, full-time enrollment and is administered through an annual application and renewal process.

Description: Eight semesters of tuition, required fees, and average campus housing for eligible dependents or spouses of qualifying officers and firefighters injured or killed on duty.

• For dependents and spouses of qualifying officers and firefighters.
• Covers tuition, required fees, and average on-campus housing.
• Available at state-supported Mississippi colleges and universities.

Eligibility

Initial eligibility requires full-time undergraduate enrollment at a Mississippi public college or university and certification as a dependent child (under age 23) or spouse of a qualifying officer or firefighter who suffered fatal injuries or became permanently and totally disabled performing official duties. Returning students must maintain full-time enrollment (minimum 12 credit hours per semester) with passing grades and a cumulative 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale each term. Applicants must reestablish eligibility annually through the renewal application process.

Eligibility: Initial eligibility for dependents or spouses of officers/firefighters injured or killed on duty; continuing eligibility requires full-time enrollment and a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.

• Initial: full-time undergraduate enrollment at a state-supported MS institution.
• Dependent child must be under 23 on the first day of the term.
• Continuing students: maintain 12+ credit hours and a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award Details

The scholarship pays tuition, required fees, and the average cost of campus housing at any state-supported college or university in Mississippi. Funding is limited to a maximum of eight semesters or until bachelor’s degree completion, whichever occurs first. A student may not receive undergraduate grant aid from more than one state-supported undergraduate grant program in the same term; when eligible for multiple programs, the larger award is applied, and total semesters of grant aid across programs cannot exceed eight.

Award Value: Annual coverage includes tuition, required fees, and average on-campus housing; funds are payable to the institution with the student named as recipient.

• Covers tuition, required fees, and average campus housing.
• Maximum of eight semesters or until bachelor’s degree completion.
• Cannot combine with other state undergraduate grant aid to exceed eight semesters.

Application and Timeline

Applicants must complete the online application each academic year to receive or renew scholarship aid. New applicants are required to submit supporting documentation demonstrating relationship and the qualifying injury or death. Current legislation requires a renewal application annually; students must file the online renewal by the program deadline to remain eligible. For additional information or questions about the application process, contact the program administrator, Shirley Mitchell, at [email protected] or by calling 1-800-327-2980.

Application Timeline: Annual online application and renewal required; new applicants must attach required supporting documents.

• Apply online each academic year to initiate or renew aid.
• New applicants must submit supporting documentation with the application.
• Renewal required annually by the stated deadline.

Required Documentation

Applicants must provide documentation proving their relationship to the qualifying officer or firefighter and evidence of the officer’s or firefighter’s death or permanent and total disability, depending on the situation. Proof of dependency for a child includes a birth certificate or adoption records; proof for a spouse is a marriage license. For permanent and total disability, four items are required: a letter from the former supervisor or employer, a physician’s statement, verification from the Public Employees’ Retirement System, and verification from the Social Security Administration. For death claims, required items include a supervisor or employer letter confirming fatal injuries in the performance of duty and a death certificate.

Documentation of Eligibility: Child: certificate of live birth or proof of adoption. Spouse: marriage license. Documentation of disability or death must follow the program’s specified requirements.

• Child: birth certificate or proof of adoption; child must be under 23 at term start.
• Spouse: marriage license; spouse must not have remarried if disability-based.
• Permanent disability: supervisor/employer letter, physician statement, PERS verification, SSA verification.
• Death: supervisor/employer letter and death certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions address repayment, GPA requirements, maximum length of eligibility, transferability, and definitions of eligible relationships and service categories. There is no repayment requirement if a student leaves school; a returning student may reapply but may need to recertify initial eligibility and reestablish full-time enrollment. Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress. The scholarship is transferable to another in-state public institution if the student remains in good standing at the previous school.

Additional FAQ points: Definitions clarify child (natural, adopted, stepchild), spouse, full-time firefighter, and volunteer firefighter as used by the program; detailed definitions specify eligible categories of law enforcement officers and firefighters.

• No repayment required if the student discontinues enrollment; reapplication required to return.
• Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Maximum eligibility: eight semesters or bachelor’s degree completion.
• Scholarship is transferable to another in-state public college or university if in good standing.