Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program

Eligibility

• Be a Maryland resident.
• If classified as a dependent student, have a parent who is also a Maryland resident.
• Be actively engaged as a career or volunteer firefighter, ambulance member, or rescue squad member in Maryland.
• Volunteer applicants in jurisdictions using a Length of Service Award Program must have earned at least 50 LOSAP points in the tax year before the award year, with points earned in at least two categories.
• Volunteer applicants in jurisdictions without LOSAP must meet the equivalent active-member point requirement established by the county or municipality.
• Career applicants must have worked at least 1,000 hours as part of a fire, ambulance, or rescue squad in the tax year before the award year.
• Be accepted for admission or enrolled at an eligible Maryland institution.
• Enroll full-time with at least 12 credits per semester or part-time with 6 to 11 credits per semester.
• Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an eligible fire service, emergency medical, rescue, or public safety program.

Requirements

• Complete the Charles W. Riley Scholarship application through MDCAPS.
• Submit the Riley Service Verification Form.
• Initial applicants must submit an official acceptance letter or comparable documentation for an eligible academic program.
• Volunteer applicants must submit LOSAP documentation or equivalent documentation of qualifying service points.
• If awarded, initial recipients must electronically sign the required promissory note.
• If awarded, initial recipients must electronically sign the employment or service obligation agreement.
• Renewal recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Renewal recipients must continue meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements.

How to Apply

1. 1Log in to MDCAPS and complete the Charles W. Riley Scholarship application.
2. 2Obtain and complete the Riley Service Verification Form.
3. 3If you are a volunteer member, obtain documentation of your LOSAP points or equivalent county or municipal service points.
4. 4If you are an initial applicant, obtain documentation showing acceptance into an eligible degree program.
5. 5Upload all required documents through MDCAPS by the application deadline.
6. 6If awarded as an initial recipient, electronically sign the promissory note and service obligation agreement.
7. 7Continue meeting service, enrollment, GPA, and satisfactory academic progress requirements for renewal.