Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program
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The 2025-2026 application is open.
| The Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program encourages members of the fire-fighting, ambulance, and rescue organizations serving Maryland communities to pursue credited courses that lead to employment in an organized fire department, ambulance, or rescue squad in the State.
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| Application Timeline:
- Opening Date: The 2025-2026 academic year application opens March 1, 2025, for high school seniors graduating in Spring/Summer 2025 and other applicants who will be attending college in the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
- Closing Date: The 2024-2025 academic year application will close on April 1, 2026.
- Notification Date: While specific notification dates are not provided, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants are advised to submit all required materials promptly to ensure timely processing.
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| Eligibility Requirements: Actively engaged career or volunteer firefighters, ambulance or rescue squad members. Actively engaged is defined as either:
- A volunteer member within a county or municipality that operates Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), who has recorded at least 50 LOSAP points as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year, and the points have been earned in at least two different categories; or within a county or municipality that does not operate LOSAP, has recorded at least 50 points under the point system established by the county or municipality to identify active members as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year, and the points have been earned in at least two different categories, OR
A career member who has worked a minimum of 1,000 hours as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year prior to the award year.
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| Application Process & Requirements:
Applicants must submit the online application through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) by visiting https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us. The online application and all required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the closing date.
*Note: All required documents will be requested and submitted online through each applicant's MDCAPS account.
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Initial Applicants
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i. Riley Application (in MDCAPS)
ii. Riley Service Verification Form
iii. Riley Fire Official Acceptance Letter or comparable documentation
iv. Riley Fire Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) or documentation of points earned from county/municipality (Note: This documentation is only required if applicant is an “Active Volunteer” firefighter)
v. If awarded, initial applicants must electronically sign the below documents in MDCAPS (located under “Check Application Status” of student’s account) prior to receiving payment:
1. Riley Fire Promissory Note 2. Riley Fire Employment Obligation Agreement
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Renewal Recipients
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i. Riley Service Verification Form
ii. Riley Fire Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) documentation or documentation of points earned from county/municipality (If applicant is “Active Volunteer” firefighter)
Note: Renewal applicants do not have to sign the Promissory Note or Employment Obligation Agreement again if awarded.
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| Selection of Recipients
Eligible applicants who are renewals will be given priority over initial applicants. Within these groups, applicants will be ranked and awarded according to the submission date of their completed online application form.
Applicants who are not selected will be placed on the waitlist pending the availability of funding. Applicants not selected in an academic year must reapply for consideration in a subsequent academic year, and will be ranked according to the submission date of their completed online application form.
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| Renewal Requirements Eligible applicants who are renewals will be given priority over initial applicants. Within these groups, applicants will be ranked and awarded according to the submission date of their completed online form. o Applicants must maintain 2.5 GPA
o Meet SAP requirements
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| Award Amount Applicants who are not selected will be placed on the waitlist pending the availability of funding. Applicants not selected in an academic year must reapply for consideration in a subsequent academic year, and will be ranked according to the submission date of their completed online application form.
An annual award shall be at least 50 percent of the student’s actual annual tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution. The award may not exceed the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student at a 4-year public institution within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).
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| Required Documentation: - For Initial Applicants
- Official Letter of Acceptance or comparable documentation
- LOSAP or documentation of points earned
- Service Verification Form
- Promissory Note
- Service Obligation
- All Applicants:
- LOSAP or documentation of points earned
- Service Verification Form - Provided through the applicant's MDCAPS account. Must be completed by the institution.
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Additional Information:
