Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program
Application & Eligibility Checklist
Printable version of Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Application & Eligibility Checklist

Who can apply?

All current spouses of fallen law enforcement officers whose deaths were determined to have been "in the line of duty" and occurred between January 1, 2001 and the present are eligible. The divorced spouse of an officer that meets the above criteria, who is the parent or legal guardian of the dependent, minor children of the fallen officer, also qualifies to apply. Divorced spouses, who are the parent or guardian of a child of a fallen officer that is over the age of 18, but is non-self-supportive due to physical or mental disability, may also be eligible for the scholarship.

Eligibility Checklist

Eligible applications for the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship must meet the following criteria:
  1. Applicant was the spouse of the deceased.

    "Spouse" is defined as a U.S. citizen that fulfills one of the following criteria:
    1. Legally married to officer at time of death.
    2. Legally separated or divorced from officer at time of death, if they have one or more dependent children who are:
      1. Under the age of 18;
      2. Under the age of 25, currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student;
      3. Over the age of 18 but incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental disability; or
      4. Legal dependents of the fallen officer.

    No other non-marital unions will be considered, regardless of whether the couple shared children. No other children (step-children, foster children) will be considered for purposes of eligibility.

  2. Applicant's deceased spouse was a "law enforcement officer."

    "Law enforcement officer" means:
    1. An individual employed full-time by a local, county, State or Federal law enforcement agency, rail carrier or private institution of higher education in an official capacity, with or without compensation, who is sworn, licensed or certified under the laws of a State and is involved in crime control or reduction, or the investigation, apprehension or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of violations of criminal law; and
    2. Includes, but is not limited to, police officers, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, correctional officers, probation and parole officers, and judicial officers.

  3. Applicant's deceased spouse "died in the line of duty."

    "Died in the line of duty" means:
    1. While engaged in any action which the officer was obligated or authorized by law, rule, regulation, written condition of employment or service to perform;
    2. As a direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, including victim law enforcement officers who, while in an off-duty capacity, act in response to a violation of law;
    3. While in an off-duty capacity, was on route to or from a specific emergency or responding to a particular request for assistance;
    4. While driving his employer's vehicle to or from work, as required or authorized by law or condition of employment;
    5. While driving his own personal vehicle, was killed while in route to or from work as required by law, or condition of employment;
    6. As the direct and proximate result of a heart attack or stroke suffered while, or not later than 24 hours after, participating in a training exercise or engaging in any action which the officer was obligated or authorized by law, rule, regulation, written condition of employment or service to perform; or during a continuous period of hospitalization immediately following such engagement or participation;
    7. Died as a result of heart, lung, hypertension, respiratory, or other employment-related diseases while still employed as a law enforcement officer; and/or
    8. Not included under this definition are deaths attributed to voluntary alcohol or controlled substance abuse, deaths caused by the intentional misconduct of the officer, deaths caused by the officer's intention to bring about his/her own death, or those attributed to an officer performing his/her duty in a grossly negligent manner at time of death.

  4. Applicant has not remarried since his/her spouse's death.

  5. Applicant did not contribute in any way to the death of the deceased.