Scholarship Award

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen's Association approved a Scholarship Committee in October 2010. The Scholarship Committee will award scholarship money annually to one student in each of the Southern Maryland Tri-Counties. In the inaugural year, requests for monetary support were made to each Department, Squad and Auxiliary to establish the Scholarship Fund. Fundraisers will be planned and conducted to continually raise money for the fund.

LA–SMVFA Scholarship Guidelines for Applicants

• Applicants may apply for scholarship assistance for any University, College or Community College in a curriculum of their choice.
• Applicants must be a resident of Calvert, Charles, or Saint Mary’s County and must also be a member in good standing of any Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue Squad (EMS) or Auxiliary of the respective counties above.
• Applications must be submitted by April 10 to be considered for scholarship assistance for the ensuing academic year. Currently supported students will be required to resubmit an application form for consideration for continued support. The committee must receive the application form no later than April 10 for the ensuing academic year. Applications are available via download from the SMVFA Web Site.
• Applicants must enter full time or part-time status as a student in his/her respective College/University. Acceptance by the respective College/University will be a prerequisite for receipt of the scholarship. All applicants must be either a High School Graduate, currently enrolled in High School or hold a GED Certificate.
• The applicant shall be required to forward, or have forwarded, a letter of recommendation on department letterhead from his/her Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue Squad (EMS) or Auxiliary. This letter must be signed by either the President or a Chief Officer of the applicant's member company.
• The applicant shall be required to forward, or have forwarded, a current copy of their high school and/or college transcript. Receipt of transcripts from the University of Maryland–Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute are also encouraged.
• Recipients will be required to maintain an acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) to be eligible for scholarship support for the ensuing academic year.
• Recipients will receive scholarship funds directly. Funds may be used for tuition, books, or course related fees. However, if the funds are not used in support of a college/university course within one (1) year of receipt of the funds, the funds are required to be returned to the LA–SMVFA.
• The Committee anticipates awarding three (3) scholarships each academic year in the amount of $500 each. There will be one (1) scholarship per county (Calvert, Charles, and Saint Mary’s) as determined by the applicant’s residency. The Committee shall appoint three (3) individuals to assist in reviewing the applications. In the event that there have been no applications submitted representing any one or two of the specific counties, it shall be at the discretion of the committee to award said scholarship(s) to another applicant. The Committee will determine the recipients and the scholarship shall be presented at the LA-SMVFA Annual Installation of Officers.

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED APPLICATION (pages 3 through 6 and essay) TO THE SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMAN AT THE ADDRESS/E-MAIL ADDRESS INDICATED BELOW NO LATER THAN APRIL 10^TH OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR IN WHICH COLLEGE SUPPORT IS REQUESTED.