Life Happens Seeks Applications for 2017 Life Lessons Scholarship for Inspirational Students Who Have Experienced Loss

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Happens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating Americans about the importance of life insurance, is now accepting applications for its annual Life Lessons Scholarship Program. Now in its 13^th year, the scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing their dreams of a college education despite having experienced the tremendous loss of a parent or legal guardian who passed away without life insurance.

Life Happens will award $150,000 in scholarship money to 18 students, ranging from $5,000 – $15,000. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit a 500-word written essay or a 3-minute video that explains how their lives have been both emotionally and financially affected by the death of a parent or guardian.

Through the Life Lessons Scholarship Program, Life Happens seeks to alleviate part of the financial burden that comes with the pursuit of a college degree by providing financial footing for hardworking students who are otherwise left without sufficient resources.

"The loss of a parent or guardian is one of the most difficult hardships anyone must endure. This, paired with the financial burden of no life insurance coverage, adds insurmountable stress on young students who dream of one day becoming a college graduate," said Marvin H. Feldman, CLU, ChFC, President and CEO of Life Happens. "Our scholarship recipients and their stories remind us of the critical role life insurance plays in providing financial security to help families' future dreams become a reality.

Applications for the Life Lessons Scholarship Program will be considered for students between the ages of 17 and 24 who have been accepted to, or are currently enrolled in, a college, university, or trade school, and who have suffered the loss of a parent or legal guardian. This year, Life Happens will award 18 total scholarships, with four of the recipients receiving grand scholarships amounting to $15,000. Interested candidates must submit an application online at www.lifehappens.org/scholarship. Applications will be accepted between now and March 1, 2017 at 4 pm Eastern Time.

Last year, James Clodfelter was awarded a $15,000 scholarship through the Life Lessons Scholarship Program after submitting a heartfelt essay, which described his experience after losing both of his parents within six years. The years following his parents' deaths were not easy, as James and his siblings were forced to survive on their own with limited financial assistance.

"I have seen firsthand the hardships faced from losing one's parent; unfortunately, I have had to undergo this hardship not once, but twice," James noted.  "The financial 'life lessons' learned by my mother after my father's death were passed along to my siblings and me were: perseverance, diligence, honesty, hard work, and sound financial planning."

With the Life Lessons Scholarship, James is sophomore at Wingate University. James said the scholarship provided a positive impact on his life. "It gave me new hope when I had no where to go or turn to. I use this opportunity to start something new for myself. This is a happy ending to a new beginning."

This is the eighth consecutive year that Life Happens will award more than $100,000 in scholarships through the Life Lessons program. Since its establishment in 2005, the Life Lessons Scholarship program has awarded over 500 scholarships and over a million dollars in scholarship funds. The program is made possible through the generous financial support of the MDRT Foundation and the NAILBA Charitable Foundation, in addition to donations from Life Happens' board of directors and company organizations, including State Farm^®, American Family Insurance, MIB Group Inc., Swiss Re, OneAmerica and others. Individual donors can also make contributions. To learn more about making a tax-deductible donation, visit: www.lifehappens.org/donate.

For more information about the Life Lessons Scholarship Program, including information on submission guidelines, rules, and the stories of past winners, visit: www.lifehappens.org/lifelessons. All questions regarding the Life Lessons Scholarship Program should be directed to scholarship@lifehappens.org.

About Life Happens
Life Happens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products. The organization does not endorse any product, company or insurance advisor. Since its inception in 1994, Life Happens has provided the highest quality, independent and objective information for people seeking help with their insurance buying decisions. The organization supports the insurance industry by providing marketing tools and resources and convening the industry each September for Life Insurance Awareness Month. Life Happens is supported by more than 150 of the nation's leading insurance company and financial services organizations. To learn more, visit www.lifehappens.org.

Contact:
Julie Holsinger
Life Happens
703-888-4446
jholsinger(at)lifehappens(dot)org

Mollie Young
Weber Shandwick
212-445-8482
myoung(at)webershandwick(dot)com

SOURCE Life Happens