Scholarships open for Louisiana students whose parents suffered workplace injury

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A scholarship for students whose parents died or are permanently and totally disabled due to a workplace injury is accepting applications.

Scholarships for Children of Injured Workers Kids Chance Scholarship is currently accepting applications. The program provides scholarships to the children of Louisiana workers who experienced workplace accidents compensable under a state or federal Worker’s Compensation Act or law.

Interested students must apply by February 14, 2025, and meet basic eligibility requirements.

Edmund Giering, Vice President of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, explained more about the scholarship, which has awarded 349 scholarships totaling more than $940,000 since it started in 2004.

“To not be able to work and so that industry related position that one was in would certainly have a financial impact on on the family and and the opportunities for their children to receive a great education,” Giering said. “So, you know, I’m no doctor and I’m certainly no insurance adjuster. But, you know, I would tell you that it it does it it carries the spectrum of one simply not being able to work in that industry again.”

Being unable to work again has ripple effects that can alter the future earning potential of the dependents of the injured worker, which is why the scholarship was born. To alleviate a little financial stress felt by parents who find themselves eligible for state or federal worke’rs compensation protection.

The scholarship allows flexibility in the educational paths that eligible students can take and the types of schools they attend. Giering explained they might pursue “That’s bachelor’s or associates or vocational education or training certificate from an accredited Louisiana University Community Technical or Vocational college and or a state-approved proprietary school.”

Students are required to pursue their degrees or certifications in Louisiana. However, Giering said there is an exception, “It may be made for attendance at an accredited out-of-state institution for extraordinary reasons. So, for instance, if we don’t offer something here in Louisiana that would be available and of interest to that student and they can they can apply for an exemption.”

Giering said students are not required to be recent high school graduates as long as they are within the 16 – 25 age range.

LBF Kids Chance Scholarship eligibility requirements:

• Must be a dependent of a worker killed or permanently and totally disabled in an accident compensable under a state or federal Worker’s Compensation Act or law.
• Must be a Louisiana resident between the ages of 16 and 25.
• Must maintain a “C” average or higher.
• Must demonstrate substantial financial need.
• Must be pursuing a primary college or university degree (bachelor’s or associate’s) or vocational education and training (certificate or license) from an accredited Louisiana (*) university, community, technical or vocational college, and/or state-approved proprietary school.

Giering said the Louisiana Bar Foundation often hears from scholarship recipients who keep them updated on their education progress and plans. He shared one they received in December 2024, thanking them for the scholarship and informing them that he achieved two degrees, a feat he could not have met without LBF Kids Chance. The student closed the letter, saying, “I will put these degrees to good use and make you all proud.”

Here is the application link to the LBF Kids Scholarship. For more information, visit raisingthebar.org.