The Foundation offers financial assistance for post-secondary education and training to spouses, life partners, children and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Children and stepchildren must be under age 30 and have been under age 22 at the time of the firefighter’s death.
NFFF Scholarship Program
Spouses, life partners, children, and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial are eligible to apply for the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Scholarship and our partner programs. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Scholarships are awarded for undergraduate and graduate studies, vocational-technical training, and certification and job training programs. They may be used for study at in-state or out-of-state public and private schools.
The Alan Patrick Sondej Memorial Scholarship Fund is the first National Fallen Firefighters Foundation scholarship fund that is designed to provide scholarships that satisfy the full four year cost of college tuition and books. Awards are based on an evaluation of academic achievement and financial need and are available to students pursuing a major in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Kenneth M. Hedrick Memorial Scholarship Fund is the second National Fallen Firefighters Foundation scholarship fund that is designed to provide scholarships that satisfy the full four year cost of college tuition and books. Awards are based on an evaluation of academic achievement and financial need and are available to students pursuing a major in the field of public safety.
The Motorola Enhanced Scholarship Initiative will provide for larger, and in certain cases, full, scholarships. To be eligible, the applicant must be pursing a major in a STEM subject or public safety. Awards are made on a annual basis and will be based on an assessment of financial need and academic performance using a composite scoring system.
Our Partners
Scholarships Awarded
Since 1997, the Foundation and its partners have awarded 1,650 scholarships totaling over $6,281,532 to spouses, children, and stepchildren of fallen firefighters. Fields of study for the recipients have ranged from Accounting to Auto Mechanics, and from Fire Science to Elementary Education.