Merit Scholar Award
Additional Prizes
Instructions to Merit Scholar Applicants
Instructions for Individuals Providing Recommendation and Downloadable Application
The LAFD Scholarship Fund was established and is funded primarily by the Jean Perkins Foundation, a private non-profit institution that has among its charitable interests aiding individuals that protect and serve the community as first responders.
To that end, the LAFD Scholarship Fund annually selects Merit Scholars from among applicants that are a) dependent children or step-children of active or fallen LAFD sworn employees who have completed probation and b) high school seniors or college freshmen who will be enrolled as full-time students in an accredited four-year college or university in the upcoming academic year. The Merit Scholar awards are cash grants of up to $30,000 ($7,500 per year while the student continues to be enrolled and making normal progress toward a college degree). Runners-up receive one-time grants of $5000. (For further information on this year’s competition contact June Andrade at the LAFD Scholarship Fund by phone at (213) 435-6095 or by email at june.andrade@lacity.org.)
These scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit. The single most important factor is academic achievement, but the all-civilian Selection Committee also considers other relevant criteria, including personal character and extracurricular accomplishments. The Los Angeles Fire Department has no role in the selection of Merit Scholars.
The Selection Committee expects to meet in April in order to identify this year’s finalists. These applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview to take place during April or May on a date determined by the committee. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider their availability for such an interview in the Los Angeles area during this timeframe before applying for a merit scholarship. The winners will be selected and announced shortly following those interviews.
Best Essay Competition: All Merit Scholar applicants are required to complete an essay as a part of their Application. In the past, these essays have provided the Selection Committee with critical insight into the lives and ambitions of the applicants and have aided immeasurably in the committee’s efforts to identify the most qualified applicants. In recognition of the time and effort the applicants dedicate to preparing the essays, the Selection Committee has established an additional award for the “Best Essay” of $5,000. The winner need not be selected as a Merit Scholar to win the Best Essay Competition but must submit a completed Application Form to be eligible.
Community Service Award: This award recognizes an applicant for their tremendous effort to selflessly donate their time helping others either locally or abroad. The LAFD Foundation has generously sponsored a $5,000 award for the individual with the most outstanding record of achievement in this area.
- Application. All applicants are required to complete Sections 1 through 13 of the Merit Scholar Application Form. Please type your information clearly.
- Section 1: requires you to provide some basic information about you and the colleges to which you have applied and your eligibility as a Merit Scholar Applicant.
- Section 2: asks you to list all the Scholarships, Grants, Honors and Awards you have received.
- Section 3 thru 7: asks you to indicate the various activities you have been involved from 9th thru12 grades. The form asks you to indicate your role in the activities, the periods of participation, information regarding frequency and duration of participation in the various activities:
One-time - with a specific date range and total participation hours
Periodic - with specific date ranges and total participation hours
Seasonal - with years and specific date ranges and total participation hrs.
Year-round - with specific years and total participation hours.
All 5 sections also require the name and contact information for the individuals who have supervised your participation in these activities.
- Sections 3: asks you to indicate the various Community Service activities in which you have been involved. The form asks you to indicate your role in these activities, the periods of participation, the amount of time committed. It also requires the name and contact information for the individuals who have supervised your participation in these activities.
- Section 4: asks you to indicate Athletic - individual or team sports in which you have been involved.
- Section 5: asks you to indicate any Student Government - participation,elected or ap- pointed, in academic organizations which promotes the interests of a schools’s student body.
- Section 6: asks you to indicate any Performing Arts - creative activities, individual or group, performed for an audience, such as drama, music or dance.
- Section 7: asks you to indicate Work and Other - part-time or summer employment (paid or unpaid) or any other experience the applicant would like to emphasize.
- Section 8 and 9: asks you to respond to a few questions about you and your personal opinions. (Sections 8 and 9 together give you your best opportunity to elaborate on some of your experiences and accomplishments, and, more importantly, to describe to the committee which factors you feel have been critical to your motivation and success.)
- Section 10: requires you to submit you standardized test score results. The Scholarship Selection Committee will definitely make allowances for the changing use and participation in standardized test. If it is missing, it will not be a negative for the applicant.
- Section 11: requires you to provide the names of the individuals that you have asked to supply your letters of recommendation.
- Section 12: requires you and a parent to sign a statement that attests to the accuracy of the information you have provided in your Application and to your intention to enroll in a full-time accredited college program in the upcoming school year.
- Section 13: requires that you write an essay on one of the prompts provided.
- Section 1: requires you to provide some basic information about you and the colleges to which you have applied and your eligibility as a Merit Scholar Applicant.
- School Transcript. Arrange for an official high school transcript to be sent to the address below in number 4. Applicants who have already enrolled in college should also provide a current college transcript.
- Two Letters of Recommendations and Recommendation (Grid) Form. The people you ask to write recommendations on your behalf should know you well. At least one must be a teacher or counselor, and neither may be a relative. Give each individual who has agreed to write a recommendation for you a copy of the Instructions for Individuals Providing Recommendations and the Recommendation (Grid) Form and a stamped envelope addressed to the location below in number 4.
- Mailing Address. The application, transcript, recommendation letters and verification form all should be emailed to june.andrade@lacity.org or mailed to:
Ms. June Andrade
c/o The LAFD Scholarship Fund
1700 Stadium Way, Suite 101
Los Angeles, California 90012
- Submission Deadline. The deadline for submitting all materials relating to your Application is March 31.
YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE UNLESS ALL REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF YOUR APPLICATION HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY MARCH 31