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    MATTHEWS & SWIFT SCHOLARSHIP

    The Matthews & Swift Educational Trust Scholarship originated in 1944 as a living memorial to Knights who gave their lives for their country during World War II, or who became totally and permanently disabled through service incurred injuries. Official eligibility rules are included on the application.

    MATTHEWS & SWIFT SCHOLARSHIP

    The Matthews & Swift Educational Trust Scholarship originated in 1944 as a living memorial to Knights who gave their lives for their country during World War II, or who became totally and permanently disabled through service incurred injuries. Official eligibility rules are included on the application.

    ELIGIBILITY AND HISTORY

    APPLICATION AND FORMS

    NEXT STEPS

    ELIGIBILITY

    The Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust Scholarships are available to children of members in good standing who are killed or permanently disabled, by hostile action, while serving in the armed forces in a combat zone designated as such by the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors; as well as the children of fulltime firefighters and law enforcement officers, who while in the lawful performance of their duties, died as a result of criminal violence directed at them.

    In either event, applications must be filed within two years of the date of death or official determination of disability.

    Scholarship candidates must have applied to and been admitted to a Catholic college in a bachelor’s degree program, in the country of the member’s domicile at the time of death or disability, with approval of the Board, prior to his/her 26th birthday.


    REQUIREMENTS

    Benefits for which eligible children qualify shall be limited to tuition only, up to a maximum of $25,000 per year, but not room, board, books, fees, transportation, dues, computers or supplies. Benefits should be applied for on a timely basis, for a four-year undergraduate degree.

    Evidence of the cause of a member’s death or disability including a death certificate and official medical records of the appropriate military or veterans’ authority substantiating the death or disability, or law enforcement or fire department authority substantiating the death must be provided to the Board of Governors of Knights of Columbus Charities USA, Inc. (hereinafter called the Board). In addition to the aforementioned documents, copies of the member’s marriage certificate and birth certificates of children being considered for eligibility are to be submitted to the Board. The decision of the Board on the eligibility of any candidate shall be final.

    The term “child” shall include natural or adopted children of the deceased member who were born within nine months after the member died or, in the case of adoption, were adopted by the member before he suffered the fatal injury, or in the case of a member in the military, before he suffered the permanently and totally disabling injury.

    “Conflicts and war zones” shall mean the periods of World War II and of subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

    The scholarship will be awarded at a Catholic college selected by the candidate in the country of the member’s domicile at the time of death or disability, with the approval of the Board, after the college certifies that the candidate has complied with college entrance or admission requirements and is deemed worthy of the scholarship and after the candidate has signed an agreement accepting the scholarship subject to the conditions of the Terms of Award .


    SCHOLARSHIP HISTORY

    Delegates to the 62nd Supreme Council Meeting in August 1944 voted to establish an Educational Trust Fund by the raising of $1,000,000 through a special per capita tax on the members of the Order. Scholarships provided from the income of this Fund would become a living memorial to Knights who gave their lives for their country during World War II, or who became totally and permanently disabled through service incurred injuries. Originally these scholarships included tuition, room, board, books and fees.

    These benefits were then extended in 1956, 1964, 1991 and 2004 to include other combat zones throughout the world (Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Delegates to the 1970 and 1971 Supreme Council Meetings also authorized additional changes.

    APPLICATION

    The Knights of Columbus Scholarship Division will inform the applicant of supporting documentation and official records to be included with an application.

    Please contact the Scholarship Division for more information and an application:
    Knights of Columbus, Scholarship Division
    PO Box 1670/One Columbus Plaza
    New Haven, CT 06507-0901
    Phone (203) 752-4332
    Fax: (203) 752-4113
    Email: scholarships@kofc.org

    NOTIFICATION PROCESS

    • Please contact us to discuss what documents, unique to your situation, will be required.
    • The Board of Governors of the Knights of Columbus Charities decisions are made on a case by case basis and you will be notified, in writing, of their determination.

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Department of Scholarships
    Knights of Columbus
    1 Columbus Plaza
    New Haven, Connecticut 06510-3326
    USA
    Telephone: (203) 752-4332 • Fax: (203) 752-4113 • E-mail: Scholarships@kofc.org

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Applications must be filed within two years of the death or determination of total and permanent disability of the member.

    ELIGIBILITY AND HISTORY

    ELIGIBILITY

    The Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust Scholarships are available to children of members in good standing who are killed or permanently disabled, by hostile action, while serving in the armed forces in a combat zone designated as such by the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors; as well as the children of fulltime firefighters and law enforcement officers, who while in the lawful performance of their duties, died as a result of criminal violence directed at them.

    In either event, applications must be filed within two years of the date of death or official determination of disability.

    Scholarship candidates must have applied to and been admitted to a Catholic college in a bachelor’s degree program, in the country of the member’s domicile at the time of death or disability, with approval of the Board, prior to his/her 26th birthday.


    REQUIREMENTS

    Benefits for which eligible children qualify shall be limited to tuition only, up to a maximum of $25,000 per year, but not room, board, books, fees, transportation, dues, computers or supplies. Benefits should be applied for on a timely basis, for a four-year undergraduate degree.

    Evidence of the cause of a member’s death or disability including a death certificate and official medical records of the appropriate military or veterans’ authority substantiating the death or disability, or law enforcement or fire department authority substantiating the death must be provided to the Board of Governors of Knights of Columbus Charities USA, Inc. (hereinafter called the Board). In addition to the aforementioned documents, copies of the member’s marriage certificate and birth certificates of children being considered for eligibility are to be submitted to the Board. The decision of the Board on the eligibility of any candidate shall be final.

    The term “child” shall include natural or adopted children of the deceased member who were born within nine months after the member died or, in the case of adoption, were adopted by the member before he suffered the fatal injury, or in the case of a member in the military, before he suffered the permanently and totally disabling injury.

    “Conflicts and war zones” shall mean the periods of World War II and of subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

    The scholarship will be awarded at a Catholic college selected by the candidate in the country of the member’s domicile at the time of death or disability, with the approval of the Board, after the college certifies that the candidate has complied with college entrance or admission requirements and is deemed worthy of the scholarship and after the candidate has signed an agreement accepting the scholarship subject to the conditions of the Terms of Award .


    SCHOLARSHIP HISTORY

    Delegates to the 62nd Supreme Council Meeting in August 1944 voted to establish an Educational Trust Fund by the raising of $1,000,000 through a special per capita tax on the members of the Order. Scholarships provided from the income of this Fund would become a living memorial to Knights who gave their lives for their country during World War II, or who became totally and permanently disabled through service incurred injuries. Originally these scholarships included tuition, room, board, books and fees.

    These benefits were then extended in 1956, 1964, 1991 and 2004 to include other combat zones throughout the world (Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Delegates to the 1970 and 1971 Supreme Council Meetings also authorized additional changes.

    APPLICATION AND FORMS

    APPLICATION

    The Knights of Columbus Scholarship Division will inform the applicant of supporting documentation and official records to be included with an application.

    Please contact the Scholarship Division for more information and an application:
    Knights of Columbus, Scholarship Division
    PO Box 1670/One Columbus Plaza
    New Haven, CT 06507-0901
    Phone (203) 752-4332
    Fax: (203) 752-4113
    Email: scholarships@kofc.org

    NEXT STEPS

    NOTIFICATION PROCESS

    • Please contact us to discuss what documents, unique to your situation, will be required.
    • The Board of Governors of the Knights of Columbus Charities decisions are made on a case by case basis and you will be notified, in writing, of their determination.

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Department of Scholarships
    Knights of Columbus
    1 Columbus Plaza
    New Haven, Connecticut 06510-3326
    USA
    Telephone: (203) 752-4332 • Fax: (203) 752-4113 • E-mail: Scholarships@kofc.org

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Applications must be filed within two years of the death or determination of total and permanent disability of the member.

    Knights of Columbus 1 Columbus Plaza New Haven, CT 06510 203-752-4000

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