Application Package Instructions:

How to apply:

• Check to be sure you meet the Eligibility Criteria (coming soon)
• Fill out the attached Scholarship Application Form and submit it online (coming soon)
• You can submit from a phone or a computer. As long as you have the documents uploaded to the form.
• Attach your typed, double spaced essay (500-1000 words) on the following prompt

Describe why you want to continue your education to become a first responder and why you feel that this is your calling.  Also please include, if possible, a meaningful volunteer experience that you have been involved in and how that experience has impacted your community in a positive way.  Please do not include your name in the essay.

•  Attach letters of recommendation- up to two from a community leader (such as a High School principal, elected official, teacher, coach or executive director of a non-profit organization that has benefited from your volunteerism and service.
• Attach a letter of acceptance from college or university.

Questions:  Contact:  Email Us (make it click through where they can email instantly)

Officer Tyler Avery Herndon Community And Leadership Award

Description of Scholarship Award

This scholarship is given in honor of Officer Tyler Avery Herndon, who was killed in the line of duty on December 11, 2020. Tyler loved serving and protecting his community, as well as being a public servant, both on and off of the job.  This annual award is given to an eligible High School Seniors from Cleveland County Schools and Gaston County Schools who has made a difference and inspired countless others to consider how they contribute to their communities to make our world a brighter place.

Eligibility Requirements (must meet all of the following criteria) In order to be eligible for this award, the applicant must:

• Be a legal resident of the United States
• Be a legal resident of Cleveland or Gaston County
• Be a High School Senior in one of the following School Districts: Cleveland County Schools or Gaston County Schools
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Be a leader in their communities who have participated in community service and/or volunteer activities (emphasis will be placed on this part of the application)
• Must have been accepted at an accredited community college or a 4-year university for a full-time status of 12 or more credit hours and plan to start school in the fall of the award year and pursue a career as a first responder.

Review Criteria 

• Leadership experience, community service, volunteer activities
• Academic GPA
• Participation in school-related activities
• Letters of reference
• Essay
• Interview (for semi-finalists only)

Submission Requirements

• Complete the online application by Friday, April 21, 2023.
• Additional Requirement for Semi-Finalists: Semi-finalists will be contacted to be interviewed by members of the selection committee

Judging:

There will be two rounds of judging.  Round 1 is based strictly on the scholarship application.  Judging is completed by the appointed scholarship committee.  Round 1 is anonymous.  The highest scoring applicants will be invited to an interview for Round 2 of the scholarship selection process. 

Judging will be done by The Tyler Herndon Memorial Foundation Scholarship Committee.  The decision of the committee is final.

Distribution of Scholarships:

Scholarships will be presented to the winning senior in Cleveland and Gaston counties at the awards program at their high school in May.  The Tyler Herndon Memorial Scholarship Foundation will issue a press release and publicize the award via Facebook, local papers, television stations, radio stations, as well as other relevant publications.  Scholarship recipients will be expected to participate in the Officer Tyler Herndon Memorial Foundation Run which will be held in October as a participant or a volunteer.

Payment of the scholarship funds will be made directly to the school the student is attending.

Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, books, or other school-related expenses as approved by the committee.