2026-2027 Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:  Deadline - March 20, 2026

This application is for high school graduates (including those who will graduate in 2026) who are interested in working as certified peace officers OR prior recipients who are renewing the scholarship.

Recipients may receive this scholarship for up to four academic years. Awards can cover up to the cost of tuition, fees, and books, and may also include assistance for the cost of POST training and certification. (Please note that a maximum award amount may be set annually.) Applicants must commit to working as a certified peace officer in Utah for five years after receiving POST certification to be eligible for funding. Repayment of the award may be required if the service requirement is not met.

The scholarship may be used at an eligible college or university, including public, degree-granting institutions and participating private institutions. The Utah Board of Higher Education administers the scholarship.

Key Application Requirements

All new applicants must:

1. Be a high school graduate (including 2026 high school graduates)
   • You are required to submit your high school transcript or diploma to complete this application.
2. Enroll in a qualifying, criminal justice-related postsecondary program at an eligible college or university starting Fall 2026 (or obtain an approved deferment). Continued enrollment is required for additional payments. Any break in enrollment (excluding during summer semesters) must be covered by an approved deferment or leave of absence. 
   • Criminal justice-related postsecondary programs may include behavioral science, criminal justice, criminology, emergency services management/administration, forensic science, psychology, sociology, and social work. Other programs may qualify if related. To have another program included, please include an explanation of its relevance to your criminal justice career objectives on page 4 of the application.
   • If you are deferring, you will be required to submit supporting documentation to complete this application. 
3. Complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA.*
4. Commit to working as a certified peace officer in Utah for five years after POST certification.
   • Applicants should review the qualifications and legal requirements to become a peace officer in Utah to ensure they can make this commitment.

All renewal applicants must:

1. Continue enrollment in a qualifying, criminal justice-related postsecondary program at an eligible Utah college or university for the 2026-2076 academic year or obtain an approved deferment. Continued enrollment is required for additional payments. Any break in enrollment, excluding summer semesters, must be covered by an approved deferment or leave of absence. 
   
   • If you are deferring, you will be required to submit supporting documentation to complete this application.
2. Complete a 2026-2027 FAFSA.*
3. Reaffirm their commitment to working as a certified peace officer in Utah for five years after POST certification.

A completed application does not guarantee funding.

Note: This application must be completed in a single session. Applicants will not be able to save their progress and complete the application later. Before starting the application, please ensure you have all the necessary information to complete it.

*Applicants may opt out of completing a FAFSA if they are financially ineligible for potential financial aid, have personal privacy concerns, or are advised by an institution not to complete the FAFSA. We strongly encourage all applicants to complete a FAFSA. The results of the FAFSA will not impact your eligibility or award amount for this scholarship but may allow you to qualify for other federal or state aid programs.

If you prefer not to answer these questions, you can simply click "Next" at the bottom of the page.

By signing below, you acknowledge the following:

• I certify that all statements and dates herein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
• I understand that submitting an application alone does not confirm my eligibility, and that additional documentation or information may be required. This information will be requested via the email provided. I will contact the scholarship team (see information below) if I need to update this information.
• I understand that if approved for a scholarship award for the 2026-2027 academic year, I will need to submit a renewal application by the deadline next year to be considered for continued funding. Additional information about renewal will be sent to all recipients, but prompt action will be required.
• I understand that if approved for a scholarship award, continued enrollment or an approved deferment is required to maintain scholarship eligibility. Any break in enrollment without an approved deferment (excluding summer semesters) will result in forfeiture of my scholarship eligibility. 
• The USHE scholarship office will communicate with me via the email address and/or phone number I have provided.
• I give permission for USHE scholarship employees to share information with the college/university I will attend for purposes of confirming eligibility, awarding, and administering the scholarship.
• The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education is committed to managing and protecting your personal information in accordance with Utah law and federal regulations. The office is legally required to retain certain records for defined periods of time. By submitting, you acknowledge and understand that the information you provide will be retained by the office as required by law.

If you have questions regarding any part of this application, the requirements for this program, or would like additional information, please contact scholarships@ushe.edu.