Frontline Families Scholarship
A scholarship for educational assistance to the surviving family members of frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19.
Frontline Families Scholarship
The Frontline Families Scholarship Fund was established by Dr. Michael Osterholm, world-renowned epidemiologist, to provide educational assistance to the surviving family members of frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19. All eligible applicants will receive awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, with the total amount depending on the applicant’s demonstrated financial need.
The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.
Students and families who qualify for Frontline Families Scholarships may also be eligible for scholarships from the Brave of Heart Scholarship.
Eligibility
Applicants to the Frontline Families Scholarship Program must be:
- A child of a deceased frontline healthcare worker who died from COVID-19 while employed at a medical facility.
- High school seniors, high school graduates, or current college undergraduates.
- Planning to enroll in full-time or part-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
Children are defined as biological, step- or legally adopted children age 26 and under as of the application date.
Frontline healthcare workers are defined as the following occupations: nurse, physician, diagnosing clinician, health care support, medical first responder, healthcare technologist, community or social worker, administrator/administrative support, security personnel, cleaner, culinary/food service, coroner, and pharmacist.
Ineligible occupations include non-medical frontline workers, such as supermarket employees, delivery workers, ride-share drivers or funeral home staff. Other occupations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Awards
Scholarships
The Frontline Families Scholarship Program is not competitive; all eligible applicants will receive awards.
Applicants will be asked to disclose information regarding the deceased’s employment and financial status. Based upon this information, Scholarship America will verify the applicant’s eligibility and calculate their financial need.
Total award distribution and individual award amounts may vary based upon funds available, but provided there is sufficient funding, applicants that do not demonstrate financial need, or do not provide financial information, will be eligible to receive a $1,000 award. Applicants who demonstrate financial need will be eligible to receive a $2,500 award.
Awards are not renewable; however, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements and funds are available. Applicants can receive the award a maximum of four times.
Awards are for students enrolling in postsecondary education; not elementary or secondary school.
Awards do not retroactively cover past education related expenses or student loans.
Notification
All applicants will be notified in May.
Payment of Scholarships
Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of the sponsor in August. The award is made payable to the student’s school.
Requirements
As part of your application, you must upload both the:
- Frontline healthcare worker’s proof of occupation – any one of the following documents: final paystub, final W2, a letter from employer, or life insurance policy from their employer
- Frontline healthcare worker’s death certificate
Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.
