Scholarships

If you are interested in pursuing a career in EMS and are looking to further your education, scholarships can open up that possibility! There are a variety of scholarships available specifically for EMS students in the state of Wisconsin and nationally. Some are provided through associations and grants, and others can be found through specific EMS departments.  When applying for scholarships, be sure to read the eligibility requirements carefully and submit your application on time. Below is a compiled list of some of the scholarships that are available to you in 2024.


WEMSA Foundation Scholarship

Every year, the Wisconsin EMS Association (WEMSA) Foundation provides $1,000 scholarships to eligible students pursuing licensure in EMS through an approved Wisconsin training center. Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 academic year!

LEARN MORE


For Active & Prospective
First Responders

 

Support to Communities Grant Program

$2,000     Apply

The Support to Communities Program is meant to assist workers who are or have been affected by opioid misuse or other substance disorder either personally or through family and friends. The program is also meant to assist workers who seek to transition to professions that support individuals with a substance use disorder or occupations that address the opioid recovery efforts in the local service area. This includes individuals who need new or upgraded skills to better serve struggling or at-risk individuals. Lastly, the program works to serve dislocated workers, new entrants to the workforce, individuals with barriers to employment, and incumbent workers. This is open to anyone who wants to go into the listed fields and has experienced significant barriers to employment such as dislocated workers, single parents, new entrants to the workforce, long-term unemployment, incarceration,homelessness, etc.

There is no application deadline and assistance is awarded on a rolling basis. Additionally, there is no limit on how many can be awarded. 

Fitch EMS Foundation - EMS Specific Leadership Training

Deadline: Mar 15, 2024
Apply

Fitch & Associates will provide scholarships for the following programs: Ambulance Service Manager (ASM) and Communications Center Manager (CCM) certificate programs and the 2024 Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum.

Fitch EMS Foundation -American College of Paramedic Executives

Deadline: Mar 15, 2024
$1,000     Apply

The American College of Paramedic Executives (ACPE), is the credentialing body that offers voluntary professional certifications to qualified EMS leaders.The ACPE will provide a waiver of certification fees for the Foundation’s award winner for an applicant that meets the certification criteria in each of the following categories:

  • Supervising Paramedic Officer (SPO)
  • Managing Paramedic Officer (MPO)
  • Executive Paramedic Officer (FACPE – Fellow of the College of Paramedic Executives)

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Scholarship

Deadline: April 15, 2024
$5,000     Apply

Community applicants to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Scholarship Program must:

  • Be high school seniors or graduates, or current college undergraduates, and
  • Plan to enroll in a part-time or full-time firefighter, law enforcement, or an emergency medical (paramedic or EMT) program at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year and
  • Plan to pursue a career as a first responder; firefighter, police officer, paramedic or EMT.

NAEMT

Deadline: April 30, 2024
$1,000     Apply

Applicant must submit a letter of request, in 1,000 words or less, that describes why he or she is pursuing educational scholarship, his or her educational and employment goals, and how the scholarship would be of benefit.
The following criteria will be used in the scholarship selection process:

  • Commitment to entering the EMS profession
  • Financial need
  • Dedication to the community
  • Ability to serve as a positive ambassador to the EMS profession

The Richard Garner Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 30, 2024
$2,500     Apply

***TWO AVAILABLE***
The Richard Garner Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the life of City of Madison Firefighter/Paramedic Richard Garner Jr. who died in the line of duty on April 1, 2018. Richard was not only a great Firefighter/Paramedic and a dear friend to many, but he was a constant fixture within the Madison community, helping and serving in any way he could. The scholarship was put in place to help those who are entering the Fire and EMS fields. Must provide a copy of High School or College Transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and an essay on why you are applying for the scholarship and what qualities/attributes may set you apart from other applicants.

Bound Tree

$2,000     Apply

Applicants must submit a single page typewritten essay explaining why they wish to pursue an EMT career or to further their training. Applicants must be the son or daughter of a career or volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Paramedic, or Firefighter (active, formerly active, retired or deceased) who is interested in a career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Bryant Gladney Paramedic Education Scholarship

Deadline: May 17, 2024
$1,500     Apply

The Bryant Gladney Paramedic Education Scholarship is for students who are attending a program to become a Paramedic. They are looking for students who display a strong passion for serving their community and who plan to pursue a life-long career in emergency medicine. They award four $1,500 scholarships per semester. Applications for fall programs (Aug.-Dec.) are due July 1. Applications for spring programs (Jan.-May) are due December 1. Applications for the fall open in May, and applications for spring open in October.

Applicants must be 18 years or older and live in the United States. Applicants must have completed high school or received a GED and must be accepted into a Paramedic program at a college or university, or a program as part of a non-profit organization, which must be in the United States. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,500. Scholarships are for tuition only, and will be paid directly to the Bursar at the program. Approved scholarships cannot be used for fees outside of tuition, including but not limited to books, supplies, lab fees or registration fees. 

Annuvia’s Public Safety Scholarship

Deadline: July 31, 2024
$500     Apply

The scholarship is open to legal residents of the United States of America, who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of enrollment at his or her educational institution, who are not employees or direct relatives of employees of Annuvia and who are attending a college or other post-secondary educational institution on a full-time basis.Essay: You must submit an original 500+ word essay. Write an essay about how you propose the emergency medical services industry improve public safety, emergency response, or general public safety. Your essay should incorporate facts and details and, where possible, accurate industry research and information.

Gold Cross

Deadline: August 31, 2024
$1,000     Apply

Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a paramedic training program at Fox Valley Technical College, Lakeshore Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College or Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Preference may be given to students enrolled in an associate degree paramedic program.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

  • A minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Volunteer or other experience in health-related fields
  • Community service
  • Financial need

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to two students. It must be used for tuition and is non-renewable. The award is payable after successful completion of the first semester.

Kelmann Cares Foundation Grants & Scholarship Program

Deadline: December 1, 2024
$1,000     Apply

Grants are considered on a bi-annual basis by the Foundation’s board of directors. Please note that the maximum amount to be awarded per winning applicant is $1,000. All applicants will be notified of the board’s final decision two weeks after the close of the grant deadline.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2024
Applicants will be notified of the board’s decision by December 15, 2024.


For Children of First Responders

 

November 1, 2024

Study.com Scholarship

$1000     Apply

Any student who is a child of a first responder and is pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degree can apply to the Study.com Scholarship for Children of First Responders and be offered a $1,000 academic award. Study.com’s mission is to make education accessible, and we hope to bring this group of students access to a quality education with this scholarship.

March 15, 2024

9/11 Promise Run

$5,000     Apply

The 9/11 Promise Run provides scholarships to qualified children of first responders and military service members who have been killed or injured and are unable to hold employment. Starting in 2019, participants of the 9/11 Promise events fundraise for scholarships that positively impact the lives of children and families impacted by the loss of their loved one. Scholarship amounts range from a minimum award of $5,000 to a max award of $15,000.

 

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list, but if you are aware of any scholarships related to first responders and people interested in EMS that are not currently listed, contact us HERE to have it added.