Call for Applications: LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program Highlights Challenge of Paying for College After a Parent Has Died

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit LIFE Foundation announced today that it is seeking submissions for its seventh annual LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program, which recognizes the character and perseverance of college-age students who face financial adversity as a result of having lost a parent or guardian.

LIFE will award $105,000 in scholarship money to select 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. Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 are available to eligible students.

"Paying for college is a major financial challenge for most families, but it becomes infinitely more difficult for young people when they lose a parent at an early age," said Marvin Feldman, CLU, ChFC, president and CEO of the LIFE Foundation. "Through the LIFE Lessons Scholarship Program, we're able to help deserving young people in these difficult situations fulfill 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 to submit an application is March 14, 2011.

In all, 59 scholarships will be awarded, 49 in the essay category and nine in the video category. LIFE will award one $10,000 grand prize scholarship, which will be chosen from the pool of first runners-up from the essay and video categories. In addition to the grand prize scholarship, five first runners-up in the essay category and two first runners-up in the video category will be selected and awarded $5,000.  The remaining $60,000 in scholarship money will be awarded in the form of six $2,500 and 45 $1,000 runner-up scholarships.  

This is the second consecutive year that LIFE will award more than $100,000 in scholarships due in large part to generous financial support from the NAILBA Charitable Foundation and the MDRT Foundation, which made grants to LIFE's scholarship fund in the amount of $30,000 and $25,000 respectively.  LIFE also accepts contributions from individual donors.  For information about making a donation visit: http://www.lifehappens.org/donate.  

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 [email protected].  

About LIFE

The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) was founded in 1994 in response to the public's growing need for information and education on life, health, disability and long-term care insurance.  LIFE also seeks to remind people of the important role insurance professionals perform in helping families, businesses and individuals find the insurance products that best fit their needs.  To learn more about these topics, please visit www.lifehappens.org.

SOURCE LIFE Foundation