“When my father died six years ago, I knew my life would never be the same. I would never feel the love and support that I received from him on a daily basis. I was only a freshman in high school at the time of his death, and the only thing I had on my mind was how I was going to live without my dad. As the shock subsided, I started thinking about my future and how I was going to afford to continue my education after high school. A few months later, we received a letter from an organization informing my mom and I about a scholarship that was offered to children whose parent had died on the job in Missouri. We felt that this was an answer to our prayers. That organization was KIDS’ CHANCE and without their help over these last few years, my goal to complete my education might never have been. Even though my father will not be here physically with me to celebrate my graduation next year, I feel in my heart that through KIDS’ CHANCE, my father is still providing me his everlasting love and support.”

“I received a KIDS’ CHANCE scholarship in 1997 and 1998. In 1988 my mother was forced to retire early due to a back injury sustained during employment with McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. My father was a firefighter and was thrown into providing the sole income for a family of six. When my mother was injured, I was in grade school and my oldest sister was a freshman in college. When I became a high school freshman my father explained to me that he could not afford to send me to college. While searching for scholarships I discovered KIDS’ CHANCE. I graduated with a B.S. degree in Socio-Political Communications from Southwest Missouri State University. I recently completed a clerkship with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office for Second Injury Fund. I plan on pursing a Masters degree in Public Administration, attend law school and run for public office in Missouri. A KIDS’ CHANCE scholarship has provided me the opportunity to achieve my goals.”

Amanda Forkum, whose father sustained an on the job injury resulting in multiple back surgeries and a spinal fusion, is in pharmacy school at the St. Louis School of Pharmacy. Amanda has earned a 3.89 overall grade point average. Amanda expressed her gratitude both for the scholarship monies she had already received from KIDS’ CHANCE and the opportunity to reapply. Amanda wrote, “it helps to know that there is someone out there to help people in my situation, whose father is disabled.”

Trisha Lana Loven’s father sustained a serious on the job back injury in 1997. Trisha, who is 20, is enrolled at Southwest Baptist University. She hopes to become an elementary school teacher in a Missouri public school. She has earned an overall grade point average after 36 credit hours of 3.250.

Brandon Lochstampfor is a sophomore at Wheaton College. Brandon’s father was killed in an on the job motor vehicle accident. In a letter accompanying his re-application for a KIDS’ CHANCE Scholarship, Brandon wrote that the scholarship he had been awarded had been “extremely helpful in paying tuition...and was greatly appreciated."

Carrie Whitworth is a sophomore at State Fair Community College in Sedalia Missouri. She plans to major in Secondary Education with a minor in history.

In her renewal application for a KIDS’ CHANCE Scholarship, Carrie wrote the following: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful gift you gave me.... I hope that everyone is as thankful as I am…without you and your support, I would probably not have been able to continue my education…After meeting with another KIDS’ CHANCE recipient in Jefferson City, I really understood how much your organization has helped others.”