Financial Aid

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

Beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, a scholarship is awarded to Pell-eligible students whose parents or guardians died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer. If you believe you qualify for this award please contact the Financial Aid Office at (309) 298-2446 or via email at financial-aid@wiu.edu for next steps.

The student is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

  • Must be Pell eligible and have a Pell-eligible EFC
  • Parent or guardian* died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer**
  • Must be less than 24 OR enrolled in an institution of higher education AT THE TIME of his/her parent’s/guardian’s death.

*DEFINITION OF PARENT/GUARDIAN FOR CFHS:

  • Includes non-custodial parents, step-parents, and parents of independent students.
  • Parent/guardian status at the time of death

**DEFINITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER:

  • Law Enforcement Officer, firefighter, or chaplain who served in a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation
  • FEMA Employee (Federal Emergency Management Agency),  or a state, local, or tribal employee performing official duties of the agency during a major disaster or emergency that has been, or later declared to exist under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistant Act  AND are determined by FEMA to be hazardous duties.
  • A member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew who, as authorized or licensed by law and the applicable agency, is engaging in rescue activity  or in the provision of emergency medical services.
  • A fire police officer, serving with state or local law as an officially recognized member of a legally organized public safety agency and providing security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned, special event.
  • An individual as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.