The Black Chief Officer Committee is proud to partner with Waldorf University to present the Chief Michael O’Neal Randolph Scholarship Award to a deserving member of the BCOC. The Black Chief Officer Committee is dedicated to supporting BCOC members in pursuing their educational and professional development goals. Established in honor of Chief Michael O'Neal Randolph, this scholarship recognizes the courage, leadership, and dedication of Black fire and EMS officers who protect and serve their communities. By providing financial assistance for higher education, the BCOC Chief Michael O'Neal Randolph Scholarship honors his legacy and the commitment to excellence that BCOC members carry both on and off the job, empowering them to enhance their skills and knowledge to better serve the citizens and beyond.

The scholarship will be applied directly to the recipient’s tuition for up to 60 semester hours or 36 consecutive months in the selected online degree program, whichever comes first. The Michael O’Neal Randolph Scholarship will be awarded yearly.

 

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be a current members of the BCOC and hold a minimum of three consecutive years as a member in good standing.
  •  Applicant must be active in their community
  • To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be accepted to Waldorf University.
    •  Applicants must therefore meet all admissions criteria for Waldorf University, including having earned a high school transcript or equivalent (GED).
    • Apply to an online program, here. This scholarship is only awarded for online programs.
  • In addition to being accepted to Waldorf University, to be considered, scholarship applicants must also have a current year FAFSA on file. For more information about applying for FAFSA, visit: https://waldorf.edu/tuition-financing/federal-student-aid/applying/
  • Scholarship recipients must be able and are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in their degree program.
  • The scholarship recipient must complete enrollment within ninety (90) days from the award notification date. The recipient will lose the scholarship if not enrolled within this timeframe.
  • The scholarship recipient is required to maintain a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 graduate GPA. 

Amount of Award

  • Scholarship will cover up to 60 credit hours toward one online degree program offered by Waldorf University (recipient’s choice).
  • The scholarship will be applied directly to the recipient’s tuition for up to 36 consecutive months or until the selected online degree program is completed, whichever occurs first.
  • The scholarship covers tuition only. The student is responsible for any other applicable student fee(s).
  • An evaluation will be completed to evaluate potential transfer credits from past education and/or professional certifications (Fire, Emergency Management, etc.). Waldorf University will also evaluate military CCAF and JST transcripts, if applicable

Scholarship Recipients will be determined by the the Waldorf University Scholarship Committee in conjunction with the BCOC Scholarship Committee. 

Submissions will be accepted from August 5, 2026 through September 30, 2026 for the 2026 scholarship. The 2027 scholarship opens March 1, 2027 and closes May 31, 2027 with the award ceremony occurring at the BCOC annual summit.

For questions, please email onlinescholarships@waldorf.edu.

The scholarship application is located below.

 

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