Scholarships for students who have lost a parent is a boon to many who need financial help. Many young students have big dreams for their education. Some want to attend graduate school and earn a master’s degree. While, others hope to get a bachelor’s degree in the medical field.
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But continuing your studies can be tough if a parent passes away. This is especially hard if your parents did not have life insurance or savings for your education.
No matter your age, being a dependent child or young adult without parents can mean doing low-paying part-time jobs. This makes it difficult to afford even your basic education.
Also, as a single parent, providing financial help becomes tough. Sometimes that assistance is not enough. So, scholarships for students who have lost a parent are extremely important for those who genuinely need it. Let’s explore what these scholarships are, their eligibility criteria, amount and more.
Key Takeaways
- Losing a parent can make it hard to pay for college, but there are scholarships to help.
- These scholarships are for students whose parent has passed away.
- You may need to show proof of your parent’s death, good grades, and financial need.
- Some scholarships also ask for essays or letters of recommendation.
- There are many scholarships available, so you should research to find ones you qualify for.
Who Is Eligible For Scholarships for Students Who Have Lost a Parent?
Losing a parent can be very hard. It can also make it tough to pay for school. There are many scholarships for kids with deceased parents. These scholarships give money for college costs if the student cannot afford it on their own.
To get the scholarship, students must show proof that their parent passed away. The amount of money given depends on how much help the student needs. Many scholarships look at how well students do in school. But they also think about other things.
For example, some organizations care about community service and career goals. Students may need to write essays or get letters from teachers. They may also have to interview.
There are many ways scholarships choose who gets the money. The important thing is that they help students pay for college whose parent have passed away.
Can You Get a Scholarship for Losing a Parent?
Financial help is available to students whose mom or dad has passed away. But the rules for getting it differ. If a parent passed away, you may get money based on grades, test scores, or other things.
You can also look for special scholarships for kids who lost a parent. This could mean getting financial help for a kid with a disability after a parent died, or for kids of parents who served the community before passing.
There are various organizations that offer financial help after the loss of your parent. The financial help may be based on what your parent did in life. Please remember, you don’t need to face hardships alone if your mom or dad is no more in this world.
What Types of Scholarships Are Available For Students Who Have Lost a Parent?
Paying for tuition for school or college can be tough. But there are many ways to find help. Scholarships are one good choice. These give you money for school or college if you do well.
There are scholarships for all kinds of students. Some are for students who lost a parent. Colleges, groups, and schools all give out these awards. You can get scholarships from your college or from national programs.
To get one, you need to show your grades, skills, and why you need the money. Different scholarships look for different things. Some also look for your race, gender, or family’s financial situation. For example, there are some organizations who offer grants for disabled females.
What Criteria Are Used To Determine The Eligibility For Scholarships For Students Who Have Lost a Parent?
Scholarships for students who lost a parent have some rules. They are as follows:
- First, you need to show that one of your parents or guardians has died.
- The judges also look at your financial need and grades.
- Some scholarships want a high GPA or proof you did activities outside school.
- Sometimes you must write about how losing a parent was hard financially or emotionally.
It is important to read carefully about each scholarship program’s rules before applying. Make sure you meet all the requirements. Then you can apply by email or in person if allowed. You must follow the instructions well.
Different scholarships have different rules. So read them all closely. You must show you are eligible by providing what they ask for. This could include grades, activities, and essays. You must apply properly so they can consider you.
List of Top 10 Scholarships for Students Who Have Lost a Parent
Here are the list of best scholarships for students who have lost a parent. Let’s take a look at them:
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility |
| W. H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship | $1,000-$2,000 | High school students |
| James F. Byrnes Scholarship | $10,000 | Essay about experience after losing a parent, future plans |
| Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship | $2,500 | High school seniors planning to start college |
| Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship Award | $500-$2,500 | High school grads and college students |
| LIFE Lessons Scholarship | $2,500-$15,000 | Proof of parent’s death, good grades, essay about overcoming hardship |
| OFA/Casey Family Scholars Scholarship | $12,500 over four years | High school seniors |
| Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship | $2,500 | High school seniors |
| American Legion Legacy Scholarship | $20,000 | High school kids and college students |
| Levitt Comninos Carlotti Foundation Scholarship | Up to $10,000 per year | Students across the United States |
| Children’s Scholarship Fund | Varies | Kids between 5-25 years old, family income less than $100,000, specific states/counties |
1. W. H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship
The W. H. “Howie” McClennan scholarship helps students who lost a parent or guardian. Students must show their need for help, good grades, and service to the community. The scholarship gives $1,000-$2,000 per year and may continue for up to four years.
Students should send letters from people who know them well. They should also write about their goals and plans.
To get this scholarship, students must show leadership skills, personal growth, and ways they help society. The W. H. “Howie” McClennan scholarship helps students in reaching their college dreams after losing a loved one.
- Amount: $1000-$2000
2. James F. Byrnes Scholarship
The James F. Byrnes Scholarship helps students who lost a parent. It gives money to high school seniors and college students who need help paying for school. The scholarship can be used for tuition, fees, books, and living costs.
The scholarship offers up to $10,000 each year to cover school expenses. It also provides mentors who are successful professionals. These mentors can guide and support the students.
Students who apply for the scholarship must write an essay. The essay should talk about their experience after losing a parent. It should also discuss their future plans.
The program wants to empower students who have experienced loss of their parent. It does this by giving them financial aid and emotional support during college.
- Amount: $10,000
3. Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship
The Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship is a special award of $2,500. It helps students whose parent passed away. High school seniors planning to start college in the fall can apply. To apply, students must show they need money help and have grades of 3.0 or higher.
This scholarship can be renewed for up to four years if the student keeps doing well in school. Those who get the scholarship will also get mentoring and support help to succeed in college.
This scholarship honors Marilyn Yetso’s work in helping students go to college. By giving this scholarship, the university is grateful to students who lost a family member. It provides financial aid to help them.
- Amount: $2,500
4. Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship Award
The Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship helps kids whose mom or dad has passed away. It assists high school graduates and college students who have lost a parent. They get money to pay for college tuition.
To receive the scholarship, kids must show good grades, take part in the community, and struggle with costs. The award ranges from $500 to $2,500 and may continue for four years. It also covers books and supplies. This scholarship has supported many students facing money issues over the years and helped them reach their dreams.
- Amount: $500-$2,500
5. LIFE Lessons Scholarship
The LIFE Lessons Scholarship helps students pay for college after losing a parent. High school seniors going to an accredited college can apply. They must show proof that a parent died, like a death certificate or newspaper article.
The scholarship gives $2,500 to $15,000. The money can pay for tuition, books, fees, and living costs. You also get a mentor and other resources to support their education. The program assists students who faced tragedy in high school. It helps them reach their full potential after a loss.
- Amount: $2,500-$15,000
6. OFA/Casey Family Scholars Scholarship
Losing a parent while growing up is really hard. The OFA/Casey Family Scholars scholarship helps high school seniors who lost a parent. It gives money for college or other training schools. Students can get up to $12,500 over four years.
To apply, students must show they need money for school. They must also show they help others and do well in classes. Students need a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must prove their parent or guardian died. They will write an essay about overcoming hard times. This scholarship helps students whose parent passed away. It allows them to go to college or get job training.
The scholarship makes it easier for students to deal with losing a parent. It gives money so they can pay for college and other costs. Students can focus more on school without worrying about money. Overall, the OFA/Casey Family Scholars program is very important. It supports students who lost a parent and helps them succeed in life.
- Amount: $12,500
7. Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship
The Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship helps high school seniors who have lost a parent or guardian. It gives up to $2,500 for tuition, books, and other school expenses.
The scholarship supports students going through tough times in pursuing their education goals. You also get help from school counselors and college representatives.
To get the Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship, students must show financial need and have at least a 2.5 GPA. They must write an essay explaining their academic and career plans.
The essay should also describe how losing a parent impacted their life and future goals. This scholarship recognizes the major loss students face after a loved one dies. It helps them continue their education despite the hardship they are facing.
- Amount: $2,500
8. American Legion Legacy Scholarship
The American Legion awards money to help high school kids and college students. To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen under age 25. One of your parents must have died while serving in the U.S. Military after 9/11/2001.
You also need good grades, with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The scholarship can give you up to $20,000 to help pay for school costs if you show you need financial help. Other groups also offer college money for students who lost a parent in the military.
The Fisher House Foundation and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation have scholarships too. These are usually given based on your grades and how much money your family has. If you get one, you may receive funds for several years to assist with tuition and other expenses.
- Amount: $20,000
9. Levitt Comninos Carlotti Foundation Scholarship
Many kids lose a mom or dad to bad health. If that happened in your family, don’t worry. The Levitt Comninos Carlotti Foundation gives cash to students who lost a parent before finishing school. This aid is for students across the United States studying any topic.
Winners can get up to $5,000 each year, with a top award of $10,000 per year. People at the group will guide and advise you through college. More than just money, you will join groups with other kids who lost parents. These support groups also help those whose families faced cancer.
- Amount: $10,000
10. Children’s Scholarship Fund
The Children’s Scholarship Fund gives money help to kids who lost one or both parents. The program pays for school fees at different private elementary and secondary schools. It also gives help like mentors and groups to get ready for college.
Kids who apply must be between 5-25 years old. Their family’s yearly income must be less than $100,000. They also need to live in certain states or counties.
The scholarship program gives money to families who can’t pay the full school fees. This helps kids who may have money troubles after a parent dies.
- Amount: Full Tuition Fee
Are There Any Special Considerations For This Type Of Scholarship?
There are not many unique options for students who lost a parent when it comes to college scholarships. But the key is to do some homework and find the right scholarship that fit your needs.
You should look into scholarships that match your goals and interests. Please be sure that the scholarship money can help you pay for school classes and other associated costs. It is wise to search for all the options with proper care.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What scholarships are available for students who lost a parent to substance abuse?
The Hope for Addiction scholarship helps students who want to work with people dealing with addiction. It provides money for college or university programs. The Lisa Michelle Memorial Fund gives scholarships to students whose parent died from alcohol or substance abuse. These funds support education about substance issues.
2. Can I get a scholarship for my dad dying?
Sometimes, losing a parent makes it hard to pay for school. But many groups understand this struggle. There are scholarships that can lend a helping hand. Love to Know offers financial aid and scholarships. These can assist kids whose parent has passed away.
3. How does the death of a parent affect financial aid?
Relatives don’t have to pay back student loans for a borrower. A parent’s PLUS loan gets canceled if the parent passes away. You can learn more about loan discharge after death. Documents are needed to prove the demise and qualify for loan forgiveness.
4. How does the death of a parent impact college students?
When a student deals with grief and loss, it is very important to create a safe space. This makes them feel okay about sharing. College students who experience grief and loss often have problems. Their schoolwork, mental health, and physical health suffer.
5. Can I get financial aid if my parents are deceased?
Students who don’t have one or both parents may have trouble filling out the FAFSA. You only need to share money information for parents who are still alive. If both parents have passed away, you are considered independent.
Conclusion
Losing a parent is heartbreaking and extremely challenging at the same time. Financial crunch can exist in such harsh circumstances when paying for school or college. But, don’t worry. There are some scholarships for students who have lost a parent. These scholarships give money for tuition, fees, books, and living costs.
To get these scholarships, you must first prove that one of your parent has passed away. You also need to show you do not have much money but have good grades.
Some organizations can also ask for essays or letter of recommendations from teachers. To be honest, there are many ways to find these scholarships. But, you need to be active when finding these scholarships and should definitely not think about quitting your school or college.
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