FBIAA Memorial College Fund

Helping the Children of Deceased FBI Agents Achieve their College Dreams

 

The FBIAA Memorial College Fund (MCF) was founded in 1985 in memory of FBI Special Agents Ernest Burchette, Robert Conners, Charles Ellington, Terry Hereford, and Michael Lynch, who lost their lives in two separate incidents in 1982.

Available to Children and Spouses

The FBIAA MCF provides college scholarships to the children and spouses of FBI Agent members who have passed away while actively employed by the FBI or within one year of retiring from active service. The cause of death of these agents can be line of duty, including those deaths from 9/11 certified illnesses, an accident, illness, or natural causes. The FBIAA MCF currently pays 75% of the student’s college tuition and expenses, including room, board, books and a one-time laptop allowance. Students attend the college or trade school of their choice and remain eligible as long as they maintain full-time status and continue in good standing.

As of early 2025, there are approximately 90 children of FBI Agents who will be eligible for the FBIAA MCF, but who are not yet of college age or who have not participated in the FBIAA MCF to date but are eligible should they decide to pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or attend a trade school.

Our Impact

The FBIAA Memorial College Fund (MCF) provides scholarships for the children and spouses of deceased FBI Agents. Since its inception, the MCF has provided over $14 million in support to approximately 315 students.

In the 2024-2025 school year, FBIAA provided funding to 37 students in 33 different colleges and universities, covering 75% of college expenses (including tuition, room, board and books). The average scholarship being awarded is over $27,000 a year.

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When my dad passed away unexpectedly, my world was completely upended. I had already lost so much, but because of the FBIAA I didn’t have to also lose my college education and my plans for the future. My family and I will forever be grateful for this scholarship; it provided hope and much-needed financial support in an extremely difficult time in my life.
Gabrielle M

The History of the FBIAA Memorial College Fund

In December 1982, five Special Agents – Ernest C. Burchette, Robert W. Conners, Charles L. Ellington, Terry Burnett Hereford and Michael J. Lynch were killed in the line of duty as a result of two separate accidents. Craig L. Dotlo, then President of the FBIAA, proposed that their deaths be memorialized with a college education Fund to benefit the survivors of deceased FBI Agents.

The Fund, originally called the Children’s Education Fund, was endowed by sales of the “First FBI Commemorative Revolver.” Approximately $186,000 formed the corpus of the new college education Fund.

Since the inception, donations have been added to the Fund from a variety of sources. FBIAA sponsored golf tournaments in many regions of the country provide much needed contributions. Additionally, donations from active Agents, retired Agents, citizens and corporations contribute to the core of the Fund.

The original purpose of the Fund was to provide interest-free college loans to qualified children of deceased FBI Agents. The terms of the trust include natural children, step-children and legally adopted children of FBI Agents who (1) died (from any cause) while so employed; or (2) retired from the FBI, whether by Law Enforcement Retirement Plan or by Disability Retirement, and died within one year of separation from the FBI. In February, 1996, the terms of the trust were amended to offer scholarships instead of loans to children of deceased Agents. Spouses of deceased Agents were now also eligible.

The FBIAA MCF currently offers scholarships to qualified individuals for use in paying the cost of obtaining an Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree or Trade Certification. Recipients may attend any college, public or private, anywhere in the world. Contact your office FBIAA representative for additional details regarding this Fund.

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