New York State Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarship

As a membership recruitment incentive, New York State is now offering college scholarships to men and women who join volunteer fire departments and ambulance squads.

August 9, 2002 is the deadline to submit the name of a scholarship candidate from your volunteer company to the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. (HESC) in Albany.

The 2002-03 state budget enacted by the Governor and the Legislature includes $2 million for these scholarships of up to $3,400 a year for eligible candidates to attend public or private colleges starting this fall.

You will need form HE 8229 New York State Volunteer Service Scholarship for Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Recruits that serves as the scholarship application.

There are a few rules you should note. Each New York State volunteer organization may submit one scholarship application each year to HESC.

Your volunteer company must develop a policy that it will use to select a candidate. That written policy must be sent to HESC with the scholarship application.

Submitting a scholarship application does not guarantee a scholarship. If more applications are received than money is available, HESC shall randomly select the scholarship winners.

The recipient must maintain status as an active volunteer with your volunteer organization for the duration of the scholarship. You must immediately inform HESC if a scholarship recipient is no longer an active volunteer with your volunteer company.

More information about this new program is included in the fact sheet on the reverse side of the application.

Remember, the completed application and a copy of your selection policy must be mailed to HESC by August 9, 2002 to:

Call the HESC Scholarship Unit at 888-697-4372 with any questions about the application process or program eligibility.