Scholarships for Kids That Have Parents With Cancer

There are many resources for college students whose parents either have cancer or have battled it in the past. Families faced with cancer undergo severe physical, psychological and financial hardships, and students whose parents are fighting cancer must often interrupt their education, do not have time to hold down a part-time job to earn money for college and often cannot participate in extracurricular activities to enhance their opportunities for other scholarships. The entire experience is draining both emotionally and financially for the parent suffering from cancer as well as the child, who is pursuing a college education.

Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarship

The $1,000 Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarship is awarded to a college-bound high school senior who resides with a terminally ill parent. According to the scholarship's website, an applicant for the Inheritance of Hope Legacy Scholarship must demonstrate "a compelling personal and financial need, a strong sense of family, and collegiate promise." The three-part application for the one-time scholarship includes a video submission, a doctor's note verifying the parent's illness and completion of an online form.

Champion of Life College Scholarship

The Champion of Life College Scholarship is a $1,000 award given to two high school senior athletes—one award for a student with a parent battling cancer (or who has battled cancer within the last four years) and the other award for a student athlete who has battled cancer himself. To receive the scholarship, the student athletes must commit to play their sport at the college they attend. Applicants must be nominated by their high school coaches who send a nomination letter electronically via their school email addresses.

Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship

The $2,500 Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship is awarded to college students who have either lost a parent to cancer or have a parent currently battling cancer. The parent must have received his or her diagnosis while the student applicant was between the ages of 15 and 35. Applicants must be 35 years old or younger and be currently enrolled (or accepted) in a two-year or four-year college, university or vocational program, including graduate and professional school. Scholarship awards are made on the basis of need, hardship as a result of cancer, community service, goals and an illustration of how the applicant has her cancer experience to help other young adults affected by the illness. Recipients of the Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship must complete 25 hours of community service.