Grandfathered Educational Assistance

Program Overview for Grandfathered Scholars

Scholars who were considered active in their current level of education prior to the 2013-2014 Fall Term may choose to continue with the guidelines and amounts of award used prior to those established in the 2013-2014 Fall Term. Details of these program guidelines are provided below. Please complete the online grant application and return a verified Financial Aid Form along with all education-related expense receipts to the 100 Club office postmarked no later than the appropriate application deadline.

Welcome back! The 100 Club of Chicago Educational Assistance Grant Program guidelines have recently been adjusted. You will find details of the new program on the Current Scholars page. To ensure your application is processed according to the appropriate program, please confirm the guidelines you choose to use as you complete your online application form.

Each year the 100 Club will provide a number of grants to the biological, adopted and stepchildren of those law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS providers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This includes all federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Cook County. Grants may also be made to the surviving spouse of a 100 Club Hero however separate rules govern these grants. The information provided on this page is intended to cover grants made to dependent children. A surviving spouse desiring educational assistance should address a separate inquiry to the Club. Please utilize the information and resources below when embarking on your grant application process. Contact Caitlyn Brennan with questions at 312.992.0302 or [email protected]

Eligibility

All grant application packages are reviewed by 100 Club staff and approved by the Board Directors sitting on our Program Services Committee. Grants will be made for post-secondary education, whether a college, university, trade or vocational school. To be eligible for a 100 Club of Chicago Educational Assistance Grant, dependents of a 100 Club Hero must meet the criteria detailed below.

For purposes of this program a “100 Club Hero” refers to a Cook County First Responder who has died as a direct and proximate result of personal injury sustained in the line of duty and whose dependent family members were declared eligible to receive 100 Club assistance as a result of that fatality.

Undergraduate Scholars must…

Have been an active Undergraduate Scholar during or prior to the 2012-2013 school year
Be the biological, adopted or stepchild of a 100 Club Hero
Have been dependent upon that Hero at the time of LODD
Be at least 16 years of age
Have earned a High School Diploma or GED
Be enrolled in an officially accredited institution as a full-time student
Maintain a GPA of or above 2.0

Scholars are eligible for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate assistance. If you wish for funding to be temporarily suspended, a written explanation is required and must be reviewed and approved by the Program Services Committee. If approved, Educational Assistance may be suspended for a maximum of two terms. All circumstances of hardship will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Graduate Scholars must…

Have been an active Graduate Scholar during or prior to the 2012-2013 school year
Be the biological, adopted or stepchild of a 100 Club Hero
Have been dependent upon that hero at the time of LODD
Apply immediately after successfully earning an undergraduate degree
Be at least 16 years of age
Be enrolled in an officially accredited institution as a full-time student
Maintain a GPA of or above 2.0

Scholars will remain eligible for up to two consecutive years of graduate assistance. If you wish for funding to be temporarily suspended, a written explanation is required and must be reviewed and approved by the Program Services Committee. If approved, Educational Assistance may be suspended for a maximum of two terms. All circumstances of hardship will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Spouse Scholars must…

Have been an active scholar in the level of education for which you are seeking funding
Have been legally married to a 100 Club Hero at the time of LODD
Have been dependent upon that hero at that time
Have earned a High School Diploma or GED
Be enrolled in an officially accredited institution as a full-time student
Maintain a GPA of or above 2.0

Please note there is no age restriction for Spouse Scholars. Spouses will remain eligible for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate and two consecutive years of graduate assistance. If you wish for funding to be temporarily suspended, a written explanation is required and must be reviewed and approved by the Program Services Committee. If approved, Educational Assistance may be suspended for a maximum of two terms. All circumstances of hardship will be reviewed on a case by case basis. In all cases, special consideration will be given to Spouse Scholars and their schedules.

There are no funds allocated for Doctorate Programs

Information & Instructions

A new application package must be submitted for every term; all required application attachments not submitted with the online grant application must be postmarked on or prior to the deadline corresponding to that term.

*The 2014-2015 Fall submission deadline is September 30, 2014*

Application Package Checklist for Grandfathered Scholars

Complete the online grant application for the appropriate term.
A Financial Aid Form must be completed and verified by your school Financial Aid Office. This form may be returned by you or directly by your school.
Submit a one page essay setting forth your academic and professional goals, your goals specific to this school year and any additional information you wish to include. Please recount achievements and provide updates on progress made toward goals already established. In no way will you be penalized if your goals are adjusted or not reached during your academic career. You may turn in this essay as an attachment to your online grant application, email to [email protected], fax to 312.537.6882 or mail to the 100 Club office located at 135 S. LaSalle St., #1162, Chicago, IL 60603 ensuring it is postmarked by the appropriate submission deadline.
We encourage grandfathered scholars to apply for assistance through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Scholars may apply for the State’s Dependents of Police or Fire Officers Grant Program or the Grant Program Dependents of Correctional Officers which are available to both to surviving children and spouses. When obtaining your application, be sure to select the form appropriate to your situation. It is recommended that you make the effort to apply for funding opportunities in addition to the 100 Club Grant. We have provided you with basic resources however it is encouraged that you seek further assistance from your school financial aid department.
When delivering the 100 Club Grant Financial Aid Form to your school to be completed, please ensure they are aware of all pending awards in addition to the funding already approved. Your form must be signed by a person at the school who has the authority to certify your enrollment and full-time status. If an ISAC grant has been awarded, the total amount must be listed on this form.
Please supply an official and sealed transcript (or certified electronic version) of courses, grades and credit hours earned during your most recent term. This serves as your proof of earning a GPA of or above a 2.0 during the previous term. Cumulative GPA is not included in standard application review however it may be considered in cases of hardship or probation.

University Scholarships

Over the past few years the 100 Club has formed relationships with 13 area Universities. These relationships have grown into partnerships that now offer a variety of support from assistance toward books to undergraduate and graduate tuition scholarships. As of September 2013 our University Partners include Concordia University, DePaul University, Dominican University, Illinois Institute of Technology, John Marshall Law School, Lewis University, Loras College, Loyola University Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, St. Xavier University and University of Chicago.

The financial support these Universities are willing to provide makes an amazing difference on the stretch of support we are able to offer. Prior to these partnerships, our Educational Assistance Grant was the only financial support we were able to give toward the many expenses higher education gathers. Unfortunately, in many cases this award was unable to cover the full financial demand leaving a gap to be covered independently. But now with some University Scholarships covering full tuition, it is possible for you to use the 100 Club Grant for additional education-related expenses such as books or room and board.

Grants from the 100 Club are separate and apart from any grant, scholarship or other funding you may receive from another source. Scholarships awarded through our University Partnerships, although made possible through the 100 Club, are presented directly by the University.

If you are interested in one of our University Partner Scholarships contact Caitlyn Brennan at [email protected]

Review & Reward

100 Club staff reviews all components of your application package taking special note for returning scholars, credit hours earned and a GPA of or above 2.0. If all components of your package are not provided, you run the risk of funding being denied.

If your GPA falls below 2.0 or your enrollment status drops from full-time, you will be placed on probation for the next term during which no funding is awarded. If you become eligible during that probationary term, we encourage you to reapply for funding the following term. If minimum requirements are again unmet, assistance may be terminated. This protocol is repeated each term.

Following the review and approval process, grants may be made directly to you, the scholar, allowing you the opportunity to manage and apply grant funds to your educational pursuits as you see fit. Should you prefer your grant check be made directly to your school or university, current contact information for your school financial aid office and your school identification number must be provided on your online application form. It is your responsibility to notify the 100 Club in writing of any contact or academic adjustments that occur throughout the school year.

The availability of funds is a controlling factor in the amount of award granted during each academic year. There is no guarantee that amounts will not change from year to year. For the school year 2013-14 grants for Grandfathered Scholars will made in the following amounts:

Up to $5,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a community college or a two-year college who qualify for assistance from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)

Up to $10,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a community college or a two-year college who do not qualify for assistance from the ISAC

Up to $10,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a four-year public school who qualify for assistance from the ISAC

Up to $15,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a four-year public school who do not qualify for assistance from the ISAC

Up to $15,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a four-year private school who qualify for assistance from the ISAC

Up to $20,000.00 per school year for scholars attending a four-year private school who do not qualify for assistance from the ISAC

Up to $20,000.00 per school year for scholars attending graduate school

Grants are distributed per academic term and intended to cover a standard four-year educational program for undergraduate studies and two-year graduate program. For those scholars attending schools with special academic calendars, consideration will be given in determining the details of grant distribution. Any special circumstances will be considered and reviewed on a case by case basis by the Program Services Committee.

Every grant program – including those funded by the federal or state government, colleges, or other organizations – has its own unique processing and award cycle. If you plan to use funds from any grant to pay a balance owed to your school, but funds will not received by the scheduled due date(s), it is your responsibility to work with the appropriate office within your school to schedule or adjust your payment plan accordingly.

Scholar Resources

Online Grant Application

Financial Aid Form

Federal Student Aid

Illinois Student Assistance Commission(ISAC) – Grant Programs for the dependents of Policeman/Fireman or Correctional Officer

These grants provide payment toward tuition and mandatory fees for spouses and children of Illinois police/fire/correctional officers killed or at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty. Recipients must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis and may receive up to 8 semesters/12 quarters of payment for undergraduate or graduate study. Scholars must be attending an approved Illinois public and private, two- and four- year colleges, universities, hospital schools, and certain other degree-granting institutions.

Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Educational Assistance Benefits (PSOEA)
The Public Safety Officers’ Education Assistance (PSOEA) Program provides financial assistance, for the purpose of seeking higher education, to the spouses and eligible children of local police, fire, and emergency public safety officers who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Educational assistance through the PSOEA Program is available after the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) death or disability claim process has been completed and benefits have been awarded. The spouse of a public safety officer is eligible to receive PSOEA funds for educational expenses at any time during his or her lifetime. However, for a child of the deceased or disabled officer, eligibility is limited to educational expenses that occur prior to his or her 27^th birthday. Also, a spouse or child is eligible to receive PSOEA funds for a period no greater than 45 months of full-time education or a proportionate period of a part-time program.

Federal Work-Study (FEWS)
This program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. The program encourages community service work and work related to the recipient’s course of study. Benefits range from $100 to $4,000 a year, depending on when application is made, financial need, funding at the school and policies of the financial aid office at your school.

Federal Pell Grant Program
This program provides need-based grants to low-income students. The maximum grant amount is adjusted each year. The maximum about in recent years has been close to $5,500. The grants, which do not have to be repaid, are awarded through approximately 5,400 participating institutions either by crediting the funds to the student’s account or by paying the student directly.

Monetary Award Program (MAP)
MAP grants cover tuition and mandatory fees with a maximum award determined each year. Eligibility for MAP is based on financial need. Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to have eligibility determined. Scholars must attend approved Illinois public and private, two- and four-year colleges, universities, hospital schools, and certain other degree-granting institutions.

Questions and application materials may be directed to:
Caitlyn Brennan – Program & Outreach Coordinator
135 South LaSalle Street, #1162 – Chicago, IL 60603
Phone 312.992.0302 – 312.537.6882 Fax
[email protected]