USA Scholarships
911 Fresh Start Scholarship 2027 - $1,500 Award
The 911 Restoration Fresh Start Scholarship 2027 is a biannual $1,500 award for students who want careers in disaster response, environmental remediation, and community rebuilding. 911 Restoration, a nationwide franchise network that handles water, fire, mold, and sewage emergencies, sponsors the program through a community foundation partner that reviews applications and sends money straight to accredited schools. You qualify if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with at least a 3.0 GPA, enrolled or accepted at a two-year, four-year, or trade program in emergency management, environmental science, construction management, civil engineering, public safety, disaster preparedness, or a related major. The spring 2027 cycle accepts materials from 15 July 2026 through 30 September 2026, and the selection committee announces winners on 1 November 2026 with disbursement targeted for January 2027.
What is the 911 Restoration Fresh Start Scholarship 2027?
911 Restoration built its brand around emergency property work, and the Fresh Start Scholarship extends that idea to the people who will do the work ten years from now. The company runs hundreds of franchise locations that respond to water damage, fires, mold, sewage backups, and storm losses, so it sees daily how communities stall when trained responders are scarce. Twice a year the sponsor offers $1,500 to students who are training for that pipeline: emergency managers, environmental scientists, construction managers, civil engineers, public safety professionals, and others who help families get back into safe buildings.
The money does not land in your personal bank account. A community foundation partner, described on the official page as a 501(c)(3) public charity, reviews applications, picks winners, and sends checks to accredited institutions. That structure keeps selection independent from franchise sales staff and makes the tax handling cleaner for a national program. For you as an applicant, it means your enrollment letter matters as much as your essay, because disbursement is tied to a real seat in a qualifying program.
The spring 2027 cycle is the one to watch if you are reading this in late 2026. Applications open 15 July 2026, close 30 September 2026, and the sponsor lists 1 November 2026 for winner announcements with school disbursement targeted for January 2027. The fall cycle follows a parallel calendar with a March deadline and summer payout. You may apply in both cycles across the year if you are not selected the first time, which is unusual for small corporate awards and worth remembering if your essay needs another draft.
Your file is straightforward but easy to botch on formatting. You need a 3.0 cumulative GPA on your unofficial transcript, proof that you are enrolled or accepted, and a 500-to-700-word essay about disaster impact and professional recovery. Email everything to [email protected] with the subject line Fresh Start Scholarship Spring 2027 - [Your Full Name]. Strong essays name the field tools you will use, not just sympathy for victims. If you want other STEM-adjacent awards with essay components, the Supporting STEM Scholarship guide and the Horatio Alger Scholarship guide cover different funding models worth comparing before you invest an evening in drafting.
Eligibility
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✓U.S. citizen or permanent residentOnly U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply. International students on F-1 or J-1 visas, DACA recipients without permanent residency, and applicants living outside the United States are not eligible under the published rules.
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✓Enrolled or accepted at an accredited institutionYou must be currently enrolled in, or formally accepted to, an accredited two-year college, four-year university, or trade school. The award is tied to active enrollment documentation, so a generic intent to study later without acceptance will not pass review.
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✓Major in an eligible disaster-recovery fieldYour degree or certification should align with emergency management, environmental science, construction management, civil engineering, public safety, disaster preparedness, or a closely related discipline named on the sponsor page. If your program sits on the edge of that list, explain the connection clearly in your essay.
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✓Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPAYou need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The unofficial transcript you submit must show that figure. Pass-fail terms without a computed GPA may require a registrar note if the committee cannot verify the threshold.
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✓Original essay within the word limitEvery applicant writes a 500-to-700-word essay responding to the Fresh Start prompt about disaster impact and professional recovery work. The piece must be your own work. Submissions outside the word range or off prompt are easy for the independent committee to set aside.
Benefits
- Cash scholarship $1,500 per cycle
- Payment route Paid directly to your accredited institution
- Use of funds Tuition, fees, or qualified educational expenses
- Reapplication You may apply again in a later cycle if not selected
- Direct payment to student Not offered
- Room and board Not specified as covered
- International students Not eligible
- Renewable automatic award Each cycle is independent
Document checklist
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✓500–700 word application essayAnswer the published prompt about a community affected by disaster and how professionals in your field can help residents rebuild with more resilience. Stay inside the word window and keep the focus on field-specific recovery, not generic volunteer stories.
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✓Unofficial academic transcriptUpload or attach a transcript that shows your cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. A screenshot from your student portal is fine if it includes your name, institution, and GPA.
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✓Letter of enrollment or acceptanceProvide formal proof that you are enrolled for the upcoming term or accepted for admission. Admissions letters, enrollment verification forms, or registrar emails on letterhead all work.
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✓Contact information in the emailInclude your full legal name and the email address where you want status updates. The sponsor asks you to use a specific subject line format with the cycle, year, and your name so applications do not get lost in a shared inbox.
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✓Email submission to [email protected]Send all materials in one message to [email protected] before the cycle deadline. Use the subject line format Fresh Start Scholarship [Spring/Fall] [Year] - [Your Full Name] exactly as listed on the official page.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the 911 Restoration Fresh Start Scholarship?
It is a biannual $1,500 scholarship sponsored by 911 Restoration for students pursuing careers in disaster response and community rebuilding fields. Two awards of $1,500 run each year on spring and fall cycles, for $3,000 in total annual value. A community foundation partner handles review and sends money directly to schools.
How much is the Fresh Start Scholarship worth?
Each cycle pays $1,500 to one or more selected students, with spring and fall cycles listed separately on the official page. The total published annual value is $3,000 when both cycles award the full amount.
When is the 911 Restoration scholarship deadline for 2027?
For the spring 2027 award, applications open 15 July 2026 and close 30 September 2026. The fall 2027 cycle opens 15 January 2027 and closes 31 March 2027. Each cycle is reviewed on its own, and you may reapply if you were not selected earlier.
Who is eligible for the Fresh Start Scholarship?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled or accepted at an accredited two-year, four-year, or trade institution, hold at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and study emergency management, environmental science, construction management, civil engineering, public safety, disaster preparedness, or a closely related field.
Can international students apply for the 911 Restoration scholarship?
No. The published eligibility list is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. If you are an international student, look at campus aid or awards that explicitly include non-citizens, such as the guides for major university merit programs on this site.
Does the Fresh Start Scholarship pay students directly?
No. Funds are sent to your accredited institution and applied toward tuition, fees, or other qualified educational expenses. The sponsor states clearly that no money is paid directly to individual applicants.
What should the Fresh Start Scholarship essay cover?
You write 500 to 700 words describing a community affected by a natural or man-made disaster and explaining how professionals in your field can help residents recover and rebuild more resiliently. The committee scores understanding of recovery work and alignment with eligible majors, not generic community service.
Can you apply to both spring and fall cycles?
Yes. Students who were not selected in one cycle may apply again when the next cycle opens. Each application is reviewed independently, so update your transcript and enrollment proof before you resubmit.
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