Daniel A. Terry Scholarship
Offered by California Fire Foundation
About this scholarship
The Daniel A. Terry Scholarship helps children of California firefighters who died in the line of duty pursue higher education. Each initial award is $3,000 and may be renewed for as many as four years, creating a total package of up to $12,000. The applicant must be the natural or legally adopted child of a fallen California firefighter whose name appears, or has been approved to appear, on the California Firefighters Memorial Wall. Candidates must be under age 27 on the closing date and either hold a high-school diploma or equivalent or be in their final high-school year. Funding may support a university or another certificate- or degree-granting postsecondary institution after enrollment is verified. The direct 2026 PDF requires the completed application, certification of enrollment or a class schedule, a family photo, a typed essay of no more than 500 words about growing up as the child of a fallen firefighter and the scholarship’s future impact, a two-page maximum autobiography, and a completed W-9. Applicants may mail or email the packet, but the California Fire Foundation must receive every item by September 1, 2026.
Eligibility
- Be the natural or legally adopted child of a California firefighter who died in the line of duty
- Have the firefighter parent listed or approved for listing on the California Firefighters Memorial Wall
- Be under age 27 on September 1, 2026
- Hold a high-school diploma or equivalent, or be in the final year of high school
- Plan to attend a certificate- or degree-granting university or postsecondary institution
- Submit enrollment certification or a class schedule, a family photo, a W-9, a two-page autobiography, and the completed form
- Write the required typed essay of no more than 500 words
- Ensure the full packet is received by September 1, 2026