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Children of Fallen Heroes Awards (CFHA)

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Eligibility Requirements:

Beginning with the 2024-2025 award year, students who meet the eligibility requirements for Pell Grants will receive Maximum Pell, regardless of their calculated Student Aid Index (SAI). To qualify for this award, a student must be:

  1. The child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while (a) serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer; and
  2. Less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g.,for the 2024-25 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible)

For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Award, a public safety officer is:

  • As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b) See page 2 for definitions; or 
  • A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

In subsequent award years, the student continues to be eligible for the award, as long as the student remains Pell eligible, regardless of their calculated Student Aid Index (SAI).

Proof of Eligibility

The Children of Fallen Heroes Award requires student coordination with the institution’s financial aid administrator (FAA) to determine and document eligibility.

  • A determination letter acknowledging eligibility for certain federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice; 
  • A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of an individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer as defined above; 
  • Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition in 42 U.S.C. 3796b, or as a fire police officer as noted above; or 
  • Other documentation from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian. 

How to Certify Eligibility

Contact the Financial Aid Department by emailing fas@mscc.edu with CFHS in the subject line or call 931-393-1553 to coordinate on providing the required information and documentation for determining eligibility.

As Defined in section 1204(9) of Title 1 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968

‘‘Public safety officer’’ means— 

  1. an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, or as a chaplain;
  2. an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who is performing official duties of the Agency in an area, if those official duties—
    1. are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and
    2. are determined by the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be hazardous duties;
  3. an employee of a State, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an area, if those official duties—
    1. are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later, declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); and
    2. are determined by the head of the agency to be hazardous duties; or
  4. a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew who, as authorized or licensed by law and by the applicable agency or entity, is engaging in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services.

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