Nov

Scholarships for Kids with Deceased Parents

Author: Sally Croft

When it comes to paying for an education, students who have lost at least one parent are often at a disadvantage. Some students find it extremely difficult to attend college due to the financial hardship that is left on a single parent.

Types of Scholarships

There are different types of scholarships available to kids with deceased parents. There are scholarships specific to the cause of the parent’s death, such as breast cancer or work-related death. Other scholarships are need-based or for dependents of service members or dependents of the 9/11 attacks, and much more. You can speak to the Financial Aid officer of the school you plan to attend to get help finding a scholarship that is right for your situation.

Top 5 Scholarships Available to Kids with Deceased Parents

1. LIFE Lessons Scholarships – LIFE Foundation is a non-profit foundation which helps college-bound high school seniors and college students pay for college expenses through the Life Lessons Scholarship Program. This program will award 45 scholarships to eligible students who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a trade school, college or university. Applicants must be between 17 and 24 years of age and, must be a legal resident of the United States or the District of Colombia. A 500 words essay or 3-minute video describing how the death of a parent has affected their lives financially and personally is also required. The timeframe to apply is from mid-March to mid-April and winners are notified at the beginning of the summer. This scholarship is awarded only once a year and paid directly to the school of choice.

2. Forgotten Dependents Scholarships – Forgotten Dependents, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization that has reached out to help students who have lost a parent finance their education. Scholarships are awarded to students to help pay for college expenses and to advance higher educational.

3. Kids’ Chance Scholarships – Helping children overcome obstacles, Kids’ Chance is committed to providing education assistance to the families of a parent who has passed away due to work-related injuries or killed in the workplace. Applicants for this scholarship must submit transcripts, family financial documents and a description of the death or accident.

4. Mary Ellen Locher Foundation Breast Cancer Survivor College Scholarship – If you lost a parent to breast cancer, you may be eligible for a scholarship from Mary Ellen Locher Foundation. This scholarship is awarded to students to honor the memory of a deceased parent by lifting the financial burden students are faced with after losing a parent to breast cancer.

5. Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund – The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund is designed to provide education to financially needy dependents and families suffering, due to the attacks on September 11, 2001. This scholarship is available for children, including those born after September 11, 2001, who have enrolled in a postsecondary program by age 24. Scholarships will be awarded only to universities, two or four-year colleges, trade school or accredited vocational technical school, located in the United States.

In addition to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, there are many scholarships are all related to the September 11, 2001 attack. The following are just a few: