Supporting Baltimore Police Families
The Signal 13 Foundation has expanded its role beyond helping qualified Baltimore City police department personnel in times of stress by funding college scholarships for the children of active-duty members, both civilian and sworn.
Application Procedure
Eligible students should express their interest in writing, indicating which college/university they plan to attend. The letter should contain a statement granting the college/university the authority to release need analysis information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Foundation's Scholarship Committee. Letters should be addressed as follows:
Chairman, Scholarship Committee
Personal and Confidential
Signal 13 Foundation, Inc.
732 Deepdene Road
P.O. Box 5661
Baltimore, MD 21210-9997
scholarships@signal13foundation.org
The chairman will request the Financial Aid Office to certify the student's financial needs and the tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming academic year. The committee reserves the right to obtain a credit report to verify the information on the application. Applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) according to the aid application deadline established by the college/university they select or by March 1, whichever date is earlier
Award Process
- All applications will be taken between October 1 and April 15.
- No decision will be made until the Scholarship Committee receives information on financial needs, tuition, and fee charges provided by the college/university.
- Awards will be made at a meeting of the Committee to be held sometime in June.
- The Foundation's Scholarship Committee will notify the applicant in writing of its actions.
- Once an award has been approved, the Scholarship Committee will notify the college/university of the recipient's name and request for scholarship invoice for payment. Payment will be made by Signal 13 directly to the college/university in two equal installments for the fall and spring semesters.
- A numbering system will be used for all grant requests, indicating a year, and a number on the application, to ensure grants are made objectively.
Scholarship Value
Scholarship funds may only be used for tuition and mandatory fees, and may not be applied to room and board, books and supplies, transportation or personal expenses. Recipients must demonstrate financial needs as determined by the college or university. The maximum award granted will be equal to the lesser of the student's level of demonstrated need or the tuition and mandatory fees charged by the college/university. (It is anticipated that students who demonstrate financial need in excess of tuition and mandatory need will qualify for additional forms of financial aid from other sources.)
Renewal
All Signal 13 Scholarships will be awarded with the understanding that the Foundation expects to renew them annually. However, annual renewals will depend on the total amount of funds available for scholarship assistance. Renewal awards will be based on continued demonstrated financial need and satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. The student must maintain a minimum of 2.50 GPA for the previous academic year to qualify for renewal. Current recipients are required to apply for a grant every spring for the upcoming school year by April 15.
Eligibility
- To be eligible for scholarship assistance you must be a legal dependent of an active member of the Baltimore City Police Department (sworn officer or civilian) who has been with the department one year and has successfully completed the probationary period. Applicants for renewals are also subject to this requirement.
- Recipients must be enrolled on a full-time basis (12 credits per semester) in a degree-granting program.
- Recipients must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Federal Methodology need analysis formula.
- Entering freshmen recipients must meet the admission standards of the college/university they choose to attend. Students currently enrolled in college must have a Grade Point Average of at least 2.50 on a 4-point scale.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens 30 years old or younger, with the exception that renewals will be made after the age of 30, provided the student has successfully completed at least one year of schooling under the scholarship program.
- If an officer or police employee retires or is disabled by an injury on the job in the middle of his/her child’s college career, Signal 13’s scholarship will continue. Legal dependents are defined as the natural descendant, adopted children, or stepchildren as a result of marriage.
