The Victoria Ovis Scholarship will be awarded annually to one exceptional student. The recipient of this award must be a student from or living, preferably, in the metro New York area or New York State and a dependent of any United States law enforcement officer or firefighter who was killed in the line of duty.

The National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children’s Foundation (NLEAFCF) established a scholarship fund in honor of one individual who dedicated her life to law enforcement. Victoria Ovis, who passed away suddenly on May 25, 2005, had over 30 years of law enforcement experience with the United States Customs Service and the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to her death she worked with Louis Vuitton on their criminal enforcement task force. In her honor, friends, family members and colleagues donated several thousand dollars in her name. As the Victoria Ovis Memorial Fund continues to grow, the NLEAFCF will honor one outstanding student each year in Victoria’s memory with at $2,000 scholarship.

This annual scholarship, awarded for the first time in 2007, is designed to reward personal character, academic excellence and to overall achievement.  This scholarship award is meant to recognize an outstanding individual and to assist that individual in meeting his/her education/career goals.

Award Categories:

• College-bound: College-bound high school seniors or recent high school graduates now planning to begin college.
• Undergraduate Award I: College students may apply at any time during their undergraduate studies.
• Undergraduate Award II: College students pursuing an undergraduate degree after an absence of ten years or more from high school or an accredited program may apply at any time immediately prior to, or during, their course of study with documentation.
• Graduate Award: College graduates or college seniors planning to pursue a graduate-level program with proper documentation.

College-bound, Undergraduate, Undergraduate II and Graduate students are all eligible for the same $2,000 scholarship.

Awards Criteria:

• Applicants must be children of law enforcement officers or firefighters who died in the line of duty. Click for eligibility details.
• Awards are based on scholastic and other achievements.
• Applicants must have grown up or currently reside and attend school, preferably, in the metro New York area or New York State.   
• Candidate must show evidence of enrollment or acceptance in an appropriate degree or certificate program for the current or following academic year before receiving the award.
• Candidate must show evidence that he/she is the child of a law enforcement officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty.   

Current NLEAFCF officers and employees, 4Kids Entertainment employees and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

Each candidate must submit the following items:

• Completed application form.
• Personal essay, not exceeding 500 words, summarizing their personal accomplishments, chosen course of study and personal and professional goals.
• Documentation verifying connection to law enforcement and firefighters decent; the statement may come from an agency representative.
• Copy of tuition bill or statement from school or degree program.
• Proof of US citizenship: birth certificate, naturalization papers or US passport.
• Documentation of academic record and current school status; include most recent transcripts and letter of acceptance into chosen school and study program.
• Letters of recommendation from two individuals other than family members, including one academic and one personal reference.

Decisions of the judges are final. The NLEAFCF reserves the right to withhold awards in the absence of qualified applicants. Please note that the award is considered taxable income. Candidates are judged by representatives from the academic and business communities, along with members of the NLEAFCF board of directors.

The application deadline is July 15, 2011.  It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all required documents are received by this date.  The winning candidate will be notified by September 1, 2011. 

Mail or fax application to:
             National Law Enforcement and Firefighter Children’s Foundation

 Attention: Alexandra Nigolian
 Victoria Ovis Memorial Scholarship Award
 53 W. 23rd Street, 11th Floor
 New York, NY 10010

 Fax #: 212-754-5481

Contact:

Alexandra Nigolian

646-822-4236

anigolian@nleafcf.org