How to Get Scholarship For Students With Deceased Parents – Every year it becomes challenging for young students with deceased parents to attend college or university and fulfill their educational goals. There are around 2 million high school dropouts in America as per the U.S. Department of Education, and National Center For Education Statistics and a major factor contributing to this problem is the death of a parent.
Finding a scholarship for students with a deceased parent is a viable step to make education affordable. Fortunately, there are a lot of organizations that recognize the need for financial assistance for students who have lost a parent and how the loss can have a detrimental impact on their ability to afford education. This guide will throw light on different scholarships for students with deceased parents and how you can be eligible to secure a prominent scholarship for yourself.
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What Are The Eligibility Criteria And Documents Required To Be Eligible For Scholarship For Students With Deceased Parents?
Financial assistance is available to students with deceased parents however their eligibility criteria may vary depending on the scholarship program you are applying for. There are scholarships for students with a disability due to the death of a parent, scholarships for students who have lost one parent or both, scholarships for students of special needs children of deceased parents and so on.
Following are the general eligibility criteria that you need to fulfill to secure a scholarship program.
- Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
- Must get enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited high school or college
- Has no disciplinary academic or criminal records
- Must meet the household income criteria of the scholarship program. In other words applicants should have family income within the threshold set by the program
- Maintain a certain GPA and showcase excellent academic results
- Must fulfill the academic history, extracurricular activities, test scores and other criteria
- Demonstration of community service or volunteer service
- Demonstrate personal growth, a positive contribution to society and leadership skills.
Following is the list of documents that you need to submit to demonstrate your eligibility and secure a scholarship program geared towards students with deceased parents.
- Proof of robust financial hardship and inability to pay the full cost of tuition and fees
- Parents’ death certificate
- Proof of citizenship and permanent residency
- An organized essay on a topic of less than 1000 words
- Proof of GPA and academic records
- Government-issued photo ID, passport, original birth certificate and school registration
- Proof of household income in the form of bank statements, W2 forms and household financial documents
- Social Security number and most recent tax return
- An updated CV or resume showcasing your extracurricular activities, skills, accomplishments, community service, plans and academic goals
- School code and other relevant information about your enrollment in US college or plan to attend a college or university in America
- Recommendation letters from family members, supervisors, friends
- Veteran or military service records and valid documents if your parent has served the US military or military DD24 form, if applicable
- Official high school and college transcripts.
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What Are The Available Scholarships For Students With Deceased Parents?
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship provides a scholarship award of up to $20,000 for qualified high school seniors or college students with a deceased parent. Students need to prove their parental guardian died after 9/11/2001 while serving in the United States Military.
To qualify students need to have a high school or college transcript and earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher with robust financial need. Students are required to be below 25 years at the time of application and also be a citizen of the United States.
Few more scholarships for deceased veteran parents include the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation Scholarship Program and Fisher House Foundation Heroes Legacy Scholarship Program.
Financial assistance is provided by the Children’s Scholarship Fund to students who have lost one or both parents and help them with tuition expenses at any private elementary or secondary school including other services like college preparation workshops and mentoring.
Students must have a household income of less than $100,000 annually and be in the age between 5 to 25 years old. This scholarship fund is designed for children belonging to families who are unable to cover the full tuition cost and help to offset the financial burden that is caused due to a parent’s death.
The Families of Freedoms Scholarship Fund has been designed to assist children of people killed in the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack. The scholarship award is used at trade schools, technical schools or two to four-year college institutions.
The eligibility criteria require applicants to register with the Families of Freedom scholarship fund and be less than 24 years of age to qualify. You are also required to mail the documents to prove your eligibility.
High school senior students who have lost a guardian or parent are eligible to receive a scholarship award worth $2500 through this scholarship program and can contribute towards books, tuition and other important educational expenses.
The objective of this scholarship is to assist students who are facing financial constraints to pursue higher education due to the death of their parents. To be eligible applicants need to demonstrate a strong financial need, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and write an essay outlining their academic plans and how the death of their guardian has impacted their future and life goals.
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Full-time students who have lost a parent and have enrolled in the University of North Texas are eligible to receive financial support to pursue higher education.
The scholarship award may vary depending on the availability of funds; however, the application procedure requires applicants to get 2 letters of recommendation, Oregon college transcripts, a copy of the FAFSA report and a two-page essay explaining why they need a scholarship.
Students who have enrolled in the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign College of Aces and have lost one or both parents are eligible to receive a scholarship award through the Aretta J. Graham Scholarship Program. Even students belonging to single-parent households are also eligible to receive this scholarship fund.
The Casey Family Scholar Scholarship offers financial assistance to needy high school seniors who have lost a parent and are willing to attend a technical school or college. The program offers scholarship awards up to $12500 over the course of four years.
Applicants are required to have a GPA of 3.0 or above, showcase dedication to academic achievement and community service, have a robust financial need and provide proof of the death of their parents.
It is a vital program that supports students who have experienced the loss of a parent in their lives and enables them to focus on their academics instead of financial constraints that are hampering their education.
Financial assistance is provided to children of deceased parents through the Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship Award. The scholarship program covers high school seniors as well as college students who have lost one parent or both and end up in need of assistance to pay for their college.
The criteria of this scholarship program require students to demonstrate robust financial need, community involvement and academic achievements. The scholarship amount is in the range between $500 to $2500 and is renewable for up to four years.
With the help of this scholarship award, you can cover your living expenses and the cost of books and supplies. It is a vital program that has assisted countless students to overcome financial barriers and attain their educational goals.
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Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship
A one-time scholarship award of $2500 is provided to students whose parents have passed away through the Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship award is renewable for up to four years and is available to eligible high school seniors who are planning to attend college in the fall.
The eligibility criteria require students to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher with robust financial need. By providing this scholarship the The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults shows gratitude to students who have lost a family member and or parent and provides them with financial assistance.
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WH Howie McClennan Scholarship program is awarded to students who have lost their guardian or parent due to death. Qualified students are required to demonstrate academic achievements and confidential needs under commitment to community service to get this scholarship award.
By becoming eligible you get assistance in a range of $1000 to $2000 per year which is renewable for up to four years. This scholarship is a valuable aid program that assists students in attaining their college goals after the death of a loved one. Students are required to showcase leadership skills to contribute to society positively and demonstrate strong personal growth.
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Life Lesson Program
Life Lesson Program is accessible to college-bound high school seniors and current college students, Over the course of this year, this Program awards $200,000 to students who lost a parent.
Life Lesson Scholarship Program is available to high school seniors who are college-bound and school students who are currently pursuing in schools.
Financial assistance is provided to students who have lost a parent or guardian through the James F.Byrnes Scholarship Program. The program covers high school seniors and qualified undergraduate college students who can showcase excellent academic merits and financial need.
The scholarship award is up to $10,000 per year and helps students to cover educational expenses like fees, competition, living expenses and books. The program also offers mentorship opportunities so that students can become successful professionals in different fields.
The PinkRose Foundation Inc. offers financial awards worth $1000 to individuals who have lost a legal guardian or parent due to breast cancer and are below 25 years of age.
Applicants should have a high school diploma or equivalent degree, be legal residents of the United States of America and must pursue post-secondary education or certificate training.
The Macy’s Emergency Scholarship Fund is open to deserving candidates who are going through financial hardship due to the death of a legal guardian and are unable to complete a degree program or classes.
The scholarship fund covers emergency financial needs that result from a change in family support or income, death of an immediate family member, loss of job, eviction or foreclosure, natural disaster, fire or burglary etc. Applicants should be a resident of Florida, California, Ohio, New York, New Mexico, Missouri, Texas or Puerto Rico to get assistance up to $500.
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Financial assistance is provided by the Strong Arm Leukaemia Scholarship Program to students who are suffering from leukemia or have lost a legal guardian or parent due to any illness the scholarship is designed to support children of deceased parents who are financially struggling to pay their college fees.
Eligibility criteria require applicants to be undergraduate or graduate students in a recognized college or university in America and must give proof that they are affected by leukemia in any way. The scholarship award is up to $1000.
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Educational Benefits For Children Of Deceased Veterans And Others
The Delaware Department of Education sponsors Educational Benefits For Children of Deceased Veterans and Others to cover tuition and fees of eligible college students who have lost a parent. The program is open to Delaware residents who are in age between 16 to 24 years and must prove the residency criteria.
Hoggatt Injury Law Children of Injured Workers sponsors the Children of Injured Workers Scholarship Program that offers assistance up to $1000 and is open for incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students who have recently lost a parent due to a work-related injury. Candidates are required to be citizens of the United States and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for this program.
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American Police Hall Of Fame Educational Scholarship
The American Police Hall of Fame & Museum sponsors the American Police Hall of Fame Educational Scholarship Program through which it offers assistance of up to $1000 to graduating high school seniors as well as current college students provided there is a surviving child of a law enforcement officer who has been killed in the line of duty.
Another program designed for the surviving son or daughter of a law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty is the AFP&CC Scholarship sponsored by the American Federation Of Police And Concerned Citizens which assists in up to $1000 for eligible students.
Full-time students who have enrolled in two or four-year educational institutions are eligible to receive financial assistance through the MaryEllen Locher Foundation Scholarship Program. The scholarship award is designed to assist students whose mothers have died due to breast cancer or survived breast cancer.
Applicants are required to be a resident of Tennessee and give proof of financial need, academic achievement and an essay about how they are making progress towards their educational degree. You can contact the foundation by mail or visit the official website to learn more details.
The Rezvan Foundation Scholarship aims to provide financial support to students who have lost their parents due to death. Students are required to live in foster care to be eligible for this scholarship program. The program offers coverage for tuition fees to the beneficiaries.
The eligibility criteria require applicants to have a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0, must submit a FAFSA application, be a high school student in an accredited school and be citizens of the United States. The foundation offers ongoing mentorship and scholarship opportunities for full tuition up to $100,000 over the course of four years per recipient.
One of the best scholarship opportunities designed for students with a deceased parent is the Foster Care to Success Scholarship.
This program is open for children in foster care for 12 successive months, children whose parents died a year before they turned 18 and were not adopted, adopted children who are 16 years or above in age.
The scholarship offers assistance up to $5000 if applicants are below 25 years of age. Students must enroll in undergraduate studies in a Pell approved college.
MedEvac Foundation International Children’s Scholarship is designed for children whose parents have died. The deceased person may be an air or ground medical carrier team member or may be a victim who got injured or killed. Applicants can get an amount of $5000 for this scholarship program.
They are also required to submit valid documents like an essay about their aspirations and goals, recommendation letters, proof of dependency, parents’ death certificate, ACT or SAT scores, school or college transcripts, acceptance letter etc.
Few more scholarship programs designed for students with a deceased parent or guardian are as follows
- SFM Foundation Scholarship
- ICMA RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Regis El Mullen Accident Injury Scholarship
- Kelly Lynn Lutz Memorial Scholarship
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Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is working for children who are from Virginia. They help the children whose parents are members of the military or who are killed on duty time. This foundation tries to help those children by providing them financial aid as well as supporting them with the college fees, so they continue their studies. They offer assistance up to $6,250.
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Survivors and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program
There is an education assistance program which is organized by the Veteran Affairs. They organized the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program. This program helps with the fund for the various students. They help the college or graduate school, along with the other benefits, they also help the children whose parents are members of the military and meet their certain criteria.
They also help the students whose parents were killed on duty while serving the nation. If a student wants to receive this fund, then the students have to enroll in a program that is organized or held for the VA benefits. The students must be between the age of 18 and 26.
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Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship
Apart from this, there is one more education program, which is the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship. This scholarship program is provided to the students who are eligible for the Pell Grant. This is given to children for low-income families. The scholarship is given to the children for their higher studies and help them.
Conclusion
Education is the right of every child and so students who are willing to learn and get educated must be encouraged. However unfortunate life challenges and accidents may happen that can cause the death of a legal guardian or parent. Fortunately, there are organizations, governmental assistance programs and generous donors who fund sponsorship programs for children with a deceased parent. If you want to acquire higher education but have lost one or both parents you can apply for the aforementioned scholarships and reduce your financial burden.
If you’re a child of a veteran looking for scholarships, check out our Scholarships for Children of Veterans for low-income families. Our resources at Get Government Grants’ will help you in times of your need and assist you with the right programs and assistance programs.