A work accident that results in disability or death can change the trajectory of a child’s life. By reducing the family’s income, it may force a young person to delay starting college or forego college altogether. The person’s lifetime earning potential may be permanently reduced.
But fortunately there is a program that provides scholarships for children of Colorado workers who have been injured or killed on the job. The Pinnacol Foundation provides scholarships averaging $3,500 per year to students attending colleges, universities, community colleges and vocational schools. Students can use the scholarships to pay the costs of tuition, school fees, and books at any educational institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education or other accrediting agencies.
How the program works
The Pinnacol Foundation is a non-profit organization. It is associated with Pinnacol Assurance, one of the largest providers of workers’ compensation insurance in Colorado.
The organization provided $390,000 to 109 students in the 2016-2017 academic year. Since the launch of the program in 2000, the Foundation has provided more than $4 million to over 450 students in Colorado. Scholarship funds are sent directly to the school where the student is enrolled.
The Pinnacol Foundation’s website notes that its scholarships are awarded in a competitive process and that total funds are limited. It encourages applicants to get started as soon as possible. For an initial application to be successful, the website says that it must be complete, the applicant must be between the age of 16 and 25, and meet certain other requirements. You can read these requirements and start the application process here.
If you or a family member has suffered an on-the-job injury, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Seek help from a workers’ compensation attorney if your claim has been denied or your benefits have been prematurely terminated.
