Emerging Hero Scholarship

The PWC Emerging Hero Scholarship encourages high school seniors interested in the first responder field to further their education while learning about the importance of good mental health.

Scholarship Funding:

Three $500 scholarships will be available to one senior from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The recipient must be enrolled in an accredited high school. Priority Wellness Campaign reserves the right to cancel the calendar year scholarship opportunity without prior notification.

Scholarship Qualifications:

  • Have demonstrated a financial need and a good attitude in dealing with others.

  • Must be a high school senior or a home school senior in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence county.

  • You have aspirations of becoming an Emergency Medical Technician, Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, 9-1-1 Dispatcher, or Corrections Officer.

  • Explain how the $500 scholarship will be used to further career goals.

In a 500-word essay or a 3-5 minute recorded video, high school seniors passionate about becoming a first responder are invited to delve into the crucial topic of first responder mental health. Applicants are encouraged to explore the challenges and stressors faced by those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving their communities. The essay should analyze the importance of mental well-being in this demanding profession and offer insights into strategies, initiatives, or support systems that can be implemented to ensure the psychological health of first responders. Applicants are encouraged to draw upon real-life examples, research, and personal experiences to showcase their understanding of the issue and provide innovative solutions.

Application Procedure:

  1. Applications shall be submitted to PWC no later than March 1 of the year in which they would like to apply.

  2. Applications shall be reviewed by the scholarship committee.

  3. Applicants must submit a transcript of their grades and attendance along with a letter explaining what their career goals are and examples of volunteer work to the community in the past year.

  4. Applications should be submitted electronically to PWC via email at scholarships@pwcnny.org. Questions may be submitted to the same email address.

  5. The scholarship committee will then select five applicants that will be reviewed by the Board of Directors of PWC. The full PWC board will choose one applicant (one from each county, three total) from the five at their regular monthly meeting for approval. All other applicants shall remain anonymous. If there is no finalist for one or more counties, a runner-up shall be selected regardless of their home county.

PWC does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.