Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship

Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship

Paul Jackson served in Bravo Co, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment during WWII. As a paratrooper, Mr. Jackson made the jump into Normandy during Operation Overlord, the jump into Holland during Operation Market Garden, and was wounded on 12 January 1945 in Bastogne, Belgium. In honor of Mr. Jackson’s sacrifice, SDI is proud to present the semi-annual Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship. The annual scholarship provides full tuition and fees each semester to two recipients, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Initial Eligibility Requirements:

The Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship is a full academic scholarship for SDI’s Associate of Science in Firearms Technology degree program. All applicants must:

• Currently be serving in, or be retired from, the National Guard or military reserves, law enforcement, firefighter, or emergency medical technician.
• Be in good standing or have received an honorable release from their branch of service or field.
• Provide documentation verifying service.
• Submit a DD214 or NGB22 if post-military service.
• Demonstrate a commitment to, and passion for, the firearms industry and gunsmithing trade by answering essay questions.
• Submit a regular SDI application for enrollment, with all relevant supporting documentation.
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a non-family member.
• Begin studies at SDI within six months following the award of the scholarship.

Continuing Eligibility: The Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship is a full academic scholarship for SDI’s Associate of Science in Firearms Technology degree program.  All applying candidates must:

• Meet SDI’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements and be free of any financial holds on their accounts.
• Be continuously enrolled to retain scholarship eligibility.

Application: Applicants must meet SDI Enrollment & Admissions Requirements, submit an SDI Enrollment Application, complete the Paul Jackson First Responder Memorial Scholarship application in its entirety, by the deadline dates described below.

Deadline: To be considered for the award, SDI must be in receipt of all application documentation as noted above by the following deadlines:

• By Noon Mountain Standard Time on November 30 for the spring award.
• By Noon Mountain Standard Time on May 31 for the fall award.

Evaluation Process:  Applicants will be reviewed by a Scholarship Committee. The selected recipient will be identified based on a combination of factors, including:

• Essay Score
• Letter of recommendation

Award Procedures: Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision via email approximately 30 days after the scholarship application deadline. The chosen recipient must respond within 30 days indicating intent to accept the scholarship. Should the recipient opt out or fail to respond within 30 days, the scholarship will be awarded to the next highest qualifying applicant. Students that are awarded an SDI Scholarship while already attending SDI are responsible for the charges applied through the current semester. The SDI Scholarship will be applied at the beginning of the next semester following the date the scholarship is awarded.