Life Happens Life Lessons Scholarship Program
Offered by Life Happens
About this scholarship
The Life Happens Life Lessons Scholarship Program supports students whose parent or legal guardian died and whose educational plans were affected financially or emotionally by that loss. The 2027 competition has a total scholarship pool of $250,000; the current official rules do not guarantee the $15,000 individual amount shown by some directories. Applicants must be ages 17 through 24, legally reside in one of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico, and be enrolled in or accepted by a college, university, or trade school in one of those jurisdictions. The central submission is either an original essay of no more than 500 words or an original video of no more than three minutes. It should explain the impact of losing the parent or guardian, including how adequate or inadequate life insurance affected the family, and show how the student responded. The 2027 application opens February 1 at 9:01 a.m. Eastern and closes March 1 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Awards are paid directly to the educational institution rather than to the student.
Eligibility
- Be between 17 and 24 years old during the official entry period
- Be a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico
- Have experienced the death of a parent or legal guardian
- Be enrolled in or accepted to a college, university, or trade school in an eligible jurisdiction
- Submit an original English essay of no more than 500 words or video of no more than three minutes
- Address the loss, its financial or emotional impact, the role of life insurance, and the applicant's response
- Complete the online application between February 1 and March 1, 2027