Vantagepoint Scholarship Fund Accepting Applications

Applications will be accepted beginning December 15, 2007, for scholarships for students of public sector employees who have died in the line of duty.

Since 2001, the Vantagepoint Public Memorial Scholarship Fund has provided more than $430,000 in scholarships to 119 students. The Fund is a Section 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2001 by ICMA-RC to honor the lives, service, and dedication of those public sector employees who gave the ultimate sacrifice during their service to the community.

Scholarships up to $10,000 are offered each year for qualified students who plan to study full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school. To be eligible, students must be either the child or spouse of a public employee who died in the line of duty. A public employee is defined as a full- or part-time employee of any state or local government or entity created by a state or local government.

Students must also either be a high school senior or have a high school diploma to be eligible for the award. Awards can be applied toward vocational, undergraduate, or graduate study as long as the student is enrolled full-time for the entire upcoming academic year.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of goals and aspirations, unusual personal or family circumstances, at least one reference, and financial need. Students are also required to provide a letter from the deceased employee’s place of work to certify he or she died in the line of duty.

Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1 - March 31, 2007. Interested students can download and print the application from the scholarship fund Web site at www.vantagescholar.org, or request an application from Scholarship America at

Vantagepoint Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund
Scholarship Management Services
Scholarship America
One Scholarship Way
P. O. Box 297
St. Peter, MN 56082
Telephone: (507) 931-1682

The application must be mailed along with a current, complete official transcript to Scholarship America postmarked no later than March 31. Online transcripts and grade reports are not acceptable. Scholarship recipients are usually notified by mid-May. The number of awards granted each year varies depending on the number of qualified applications received. Applicants may reapply to the program each year that they meet eligibility requirements.