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Description

Eligibility

The Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust Scholarships are available to children of members in good standing who are killed or permanently disable, by hostile action, while serving in the armed forces in a combat zone designated as such by the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors; as well as the children of fulltime firefighters and law enforcement officers, who while in the lawful performance of their duties, died as a result of criminal violence directed at them.

In either event, applications must be filled within two (2) years of the date of death or official determination of disability.

Scholarship candidates must have applied to and been admitted to a Catholic college in a bachelor's degree program, in the country of the member's domicile at the time of death or disability, with approval of the Board, prior to his/her 26th birthday.

Requirements

Benefits for which eligible children qualify shall be limited to tuition only, up to maximum of $25,000 per year, but not room, board, books, fees, transportation, dues, computers or supplies. Benefits should be applied for on a timely basis, for a four-year (4) undergraduate degree.

Evidence of the cause of a member's death or disability including a death certificate and official medical records of the appropriate military or veteran's authority substantiating the death or disability, or law enforcement or fire department authority substantiating the death must be provided to the Boards of Governors of Knights of Columbus Charities USA, Inc. (hereinafter called the Board). In addition to the aforementioned documents, copies of the member's marriage certificate and birth certificate of children being considered for eligibility are to be submitted to the Board. The decision of the Board on the edibility of any candidate shall be final.

The term "child" shall include natural or adopted children of the Deceased member who were born within nine (9) months after the member died or, in the case of adoption, were adopted by the member before he suffered the permanently and totally disabling injury.

"Conflicts and war zones" shall mean the periods of WWII and of subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Please contact the Scholarship Division for more information and an application:

Knights of Columbus, Scholarship Division PO Box 1670/One Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06507-0901 Phone: (203) 752-4332

Deadline dates are subject to change; please check website to verify.