Scholarship Program Spotlights Challenge of Paying for College After a Parent has Died

/PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit LIFE Foundation announced today that it is seeking submissions for its fifth annual LIFE Lessons College Scholarship Program, which recognizes the character and perseverance of college-age students who face financial adversity as a result of losing a parent or guardian.

LIFE will award $65,000 in scholarship money to students who submit either a 500-word essay or 3-minute video describing how the death of a parent or guardian has impacted their lives, both financially and emotionally. Qualified entrants are eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

"Paying for college is a challenge for most families, but it becomes infinitely more difficult when a parent dies at an early age," said Marvin Feldman, CLU, ChFC, RFC, president and CEO of the LIFE Foundation. "Through the LIFE Lessons scholarship program, the LIFE Foundation is able to help deserving young people in these difficult situations achieve their dream of higher education and realize their full potential."

The LIFE Lessons scholarship program is open to young people between ages 17 and 24 who have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian and are currently enrolled in, or been accepted to, a college, university or trade school. The deadline for all scholarship applications is April 17.

In all, 45 scholarships will be awarded, 39 in the essay category and 6 in the video category. LIFE will award four $5,000 grand prize scholarships. In the video category, one $5,000 grand prize scholarship will be determined by a public, online vote that will take place on LIFE's website beginning on or around June 15, 2009. The remaining $40,000 in scholarship money will be awarded in the form of 40, $1,000 runner-up scholarships.

More information about the LIFE Lessons scholarship program, including submission guidelines, rules and a listing of past winners, is available at www.lifehappens.org/scholarship. Questions regarding the LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program should be emailed to scholarship@lifehappens.org.

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