FINANCIAL AID

Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship

Program Overview
The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Fireman Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to dependent children and spouses of any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter who has suffered fatal injuries or wounds or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office.  This financial assistance is offered as an eight semester tuition and room scholarship at any state-supported college or university in Mississippi.

Important Dates
Application dates:  Open
Online application:   January 1 - September 15

Eligibility
You are eligible if all the following apply:

• You are a current legal resident of Mississippi
• You are admitted as a full-time student at any one state-supported college or university
• You are certified as a dependent child or spouse of any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer fire fighter who has suffered fatal injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office or certified as the dependent child or spouse of any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer fire fighter who has become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office

Award Amount and Length of Eligibility

• Under the program, scholarship funds cover the cost of tuition, including required fees, and the average cost of campus housing at any state-supported college or university within the state of Mississippi. 
• Funding cannot exceed eight (8) semesters, or until the child recipient reaches the age of twenty-three (23) years on the first day of said semester.

Awarding Priorities
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid will make awards on a first-come first-served based upon our level of funding.

To Apply

1. Complete the online application. This online application must be completed each academic year whether you are a prior recipient or a first-time applicant.
2. Submit the following supporting documents for Mississippi residency:

• Signed copy of the first two pages of parent’s MS State Tax Return for the current tax filing year or first two pages of spouses MS State Tax Return for the current tax filling year
• Copy of current valid parent(s) or spouses Mississippi driver license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application
• For additional Information on the application process and additional documentation, please contact Susan Eckels, Program Administrator at seckels@mississippi.edu  or by calling either 1-800-327-2980 ext# 4 or 601-432-6570 ext #4.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What if I do not attend school after receiving Mississippi Law & Firemen Scholarship for a semester or year?  Do I have to repay the funds I have previously received?  Will I be eligible for the Mississippi Law & Firemen Scholarship if I return to school at later date?
   There is no repayment of this scholarship if you leave school.  If you return to school as a full-time student at a later date, you may re-apply; however, you may be required to certify certain initial eligibility requirements again.
2. Last semester I was enrolled as a full-time student, but because of some personal problems, my grade point average was very low.  If this same situation happens during a semester that I am receiving Mississippi Law & Firemen Scholarship, will there be any problem with my continued eligibility?
   This scholarship is not awarded based on academic merit but as a tribute to your parent’s service to the State of Mississippi; therefore, you are not required to maintain certain academic standards in order to continue receiving it; however, you must remain in good standing at the institution you are attending.  You should understand what the satisfactory academic progress standards are at your school and strive to maintain those standards throughout your enrollment.  You are eligible to receive this scholarship as a full-time student for a maximum of eight (8) semesters or until you reach the age of twenty-three (23), whichever occurs first.
3. Why must I reapply for the LAW every year?
   Current legislation requires "...the board shall create a renewal application for each student who received the award for one or more terms during the immediately preceding academic year." At a minimum, a student must file an on-line application no later than the close of business on the deadline date of September 15th.
4. When and how are the funds reimbursed to me?
   All Mississippi Law & Firemen Scholarship funds are made payable to the institution with the student (you) designated as the recipient of a specified amount.
5. May I transfer this scholarship to another school? 
   Yes.  If you remain in good standing at your previous school, the Mississippi Law & Firemen Scholarship is portable to another in-state public school.  You should contact this office, in writing, by November 15 to ensure the availability of this award for the spring semester at the “new” school. 
6. What is the definition of “child” or “children” as it applies to this scholarship?
   “Child” or “children” means natural children, adopted children or stepchildren. For proof of dependency, additional documentation may be required for adopted or stepchildren.
7. What is the definition of a spouse as it applies to the scholarship?
   A person who was legally married to a Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter at the time of the death or in the case of the Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter who suffered fatal injuries or wounds, prior to or after March 13, 2990, and has not remarried.
8. What is the definition of a Mississippi law enforcement officer as it applies to this scholarship?

• “State highway patrolmen” means all law enforcement officers, regardless of department or bureau, of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.
• “Municipal police officer” means all law enforcement officers of any municipality who are regular duty personnel on full-time status, but not including auxiliary officers or those serving on a temporary or part-time status.
• “Sheriffs” and “deputy sheriffs” mean all law enforcement officers of fill-time duty status on a regular basis serving the sheriff’s department or any county at the time of death or injury, but not including deputy sheriffs who are engaged in administrative or civil duty, or deputy sheriffs serving in a temporary capacity or part-time basis
• “Constables” means all duly elected constables of any beat of any county within the state who were permanently or fatally injured while actually engages in the performance of their duties concerning the criminal laws of the county and state.