As we approach Memorial Day, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) reminds families of military servicemen and women and first responders that New York State offers educational support through a number of dedicated scholarships created to recognize and thank those who valiantly served.

 “As New York honors its military service members and first responders who have made the supreme sacrifice this Memorial Day, we pay tribute to their families who have lost loved ones in service to our State and our country,” said Elsa Magee, Acting President of HESC. “As an expression of our profound gratitude, we remind these families that New York offers financial aid assistance to the dependents of those we have lost to pursue a college education.”

The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) administers four award programs providing college financial aid to veterans, children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces who died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities, or to dependents of deceased first responders who died in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. Since 2010-11, New York State has awarded over $24 million in educational grants, awards and scholarships to veterans, first responders and their family members through these dedicated scholarship and award programs.

The Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute Scholarship (MERIT), also known as Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS), provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the U.S. Armed Forces or state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.

NYS Memorial Scholarships are for children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers (including corrections officers) and emergency medical service workers who died in the line of duty serving New York State.

Students eligible for MERIT or Memorial Scholarships may receive up to the in-state tuition and non-tuition costs charged at a State University of New York (SUNY) for four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years in an approved five-year Bachelor’s degree program.

NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans provides financial aid to students whose parent(s) serviced in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified times of national emergency. Recipients may qualify for $450 per year.

Veterans Tuition Awards are available to eligible veterans matriculated in an approved undergraduate, graduate or vocation training program in New York State, either full or part-time. For full-time study, recipients may receive an award up to the full cost of in-state undergraduate tuition charged at SUNY.

Applications and full details about these scholarships are available at HESC.ny.gov.

About HESC: HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2012-13, HESC helped more than 342,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing more than $979.4 million in grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness benefits, including $931 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).