Florida First Responders Scholarship Program

The Florida First Responders Scholarship Program (FFRS) has been created to assist in the recruitment of law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters within the state by providing financial assistance to eligible trainees who enroll in a commission-approved training program. The scholarship shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If eligible to be awarded the scholarship, the amount shall be up to, but not exceeding, the costs necessary to complete the student’s training program, less any state/federal financial aid received by the trainee.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, the student must:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be determined to have a financial need.
  • Not be sponsored by an employing agency that is already covering the cost of the training program, and
  • Be enrolled in one of the following programs:
    • A commission-approved basic recruit training program at a postsecondary institution for the purposes of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 943.13(9), F.S, for employment or appointment as a law enforcement officer,
    • An emergency medical technician training program under s. 401.2701, F.S., that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent Emergency Medical Technician-Basic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation,
    • A paramedic training program under s. 401.2701, F.S., that is approved by the Department of Health as equivalent to the most recent EMT-Paramedic National Standard Curriculum or the National EMS Education Standards of the United States Department of Transportation, or
    • A firefighter minimum standards course training program at a Florida Certified Training Center approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal for the purpose of meeting the minimum qualifications under s. 633.408, F.S. Department of Transportation.

 

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a State of Florida lottery-funded program to reward high school graduates who demonstrate high academic achievement and enroll in Florida post-secondary institutions.

Florida Bright Future recipients will receive a fixed cost per credit hour award based upon their award level:

  • Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
  • Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
  • Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)
  • Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC)

The cost-per credit hour amount of the award is determined by the Florida Legislative session and the program is administered by the Florida Department of Education. As a result, the awards amounts may vary year to year. No college preparatory courses are paid by Florida Bright Futures program.

Florida Bright Futures Eligibility

  • While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA is not required for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, we strongly encourage students to complete this application in order to be considered for other possible financial aid programs. 
  • Students must be declared into an eligible degree program.
  • Students must be enrolled in six credit hours (half-time enrollment) in courses required for their degree program per semester.
  • Course fees for withdrawn classes after the drop/add period must be repaid by the student.
  • Repayment to PHSC for the cost of withdrawn course(s) is required to renew the Bright Futures scholarship for a subsequent academic year.
  • It is the student's responsibility to review Florida Bright Futures scholarship requirements each year. Any questions regarding Bright Futures awards can be directed to the Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) or the PHSC Financial Aid Office.

Florida Bright Futures Renewal

  • Students who receive funding during the academic year (fall through spring) are automatically evaluated for renewal of their Bright Futures scholarship at the end of the spring semester.  Recipients are required to meet minimum credit hour requirements to receive their award each academic year.
  • 12 credit hours or more (full-time) enrollment, student must earn 12 credit hours per semester.
  • 9-11 credit hours (three-quarter time) enrollment, student must earn 9 credit hours per semester.
  • 6-8 credit hours (half-time) enrollment, student must earn 6 credit hours per semester.
  • Recipients must also maintain the annual cumulative GPA requirement for their specific Bright Futures scholarship award.

Florida Bright Futures Restoration

  • Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement for their Bright Futures scholarship at the end of the spring semester evaluation period during their first year of scholarship funding may be eligible for the restoration process if the student attended the summer semester and improved their GPA.
  • Please be aware that Bright Futures scholarship restoration eligibility does not apply to all Bright Futures scholarship students. 
  • For more information about the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Restoration Process and to apply for restoration, visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website.

Florida Bright Futures Appeals

  • Students who do not meet their Bright Futures scholarship requirements due to extenuating circumstances such as illness, or other emergency beyond the student's control, may request a Bright Futures post-secondary institutional appeal. To learn more about the Bright Futures appeal process visit the Financial Aid Appeals for the State of Florida page on the PHSC college catalog.
  • Appeals must include supporting documentation to attest to the reason the student was unable to meet their scholarship requirements.
  • If the student's Bright Futures scholarship appeal is granted, the student will be required to meet renewal criteria at the end of the evaluation period for the academic year in which the appeal was granted.
  • The deadline for submitting a Bright Futures scholarship appeal is August 15 each academic year.

Florida Bright Futures Helpful Hints

  • Become familiar with all Bright Futures scholarship eligibility requirements.
  • After receiving the scholarship, do not withdraw, audit, or accept incomplete grades for any course without first speaking to the Financial Aid Office.
  • Students who expect an award, but cannot view the award on their student WISE account, should contact the Financial Aid Office.

 

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)

The Florida Students Assistance Grant (FSAG) is a state funded need-based grant program available to Florida residents who are degree seeking in associate and baccalaureate programs of study at Florida public institutions.

FSAG Helpful Hints

  • Detailed information about FSAG eligibility and renewal is available through the PHSC online catalog.
  • Students must have a Pell-eligible Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by the FAFSA in order to received FSAG.
  • Minimum enrollment is 6 credit hours (half-time) in a declared program of study each semester.
  • Students must earn and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
  • Students who have attempted and completed more than 110% of their degree program requirements are not eligible for FSAG funds.
  • Eligibility for renewal is determined at the end of the spring semester.
  • Credit hours from the previous summer semester can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required.