AIG Direct Scholarship Program

Life Lessons Scholarship ProgramLife Lessons Scholarship Program

A Future Within Reach

Since 2018, AIG Direct has been a proud supporter of the Life Happens “Life Lessons” Scholarship program. The program provides academic scholarships to college students who have been financially impacted by the loss of a parent, who either did not have a life insurance policy or lacked the adequate coverage needed to support their family following their passing.

Each year, AIG Direct reviews students’ compelling and heartfelt stories detailing how losing a parent personally affected their lives and how life insurance could have functioned as the financial support system needed during that time. The students’ determination despite facing adversity inspires us and reinforces the importance of protecting families through the products we offer.

AIG Direct’s President, Kevin Wilshusen, spearheads the annual scholarship review process with a committee of judges made up of AIG Direct colleagues. Both Kevin and the committee are directly involved in carefully reviewing each submission and selecting the scholarship recipients. To Kevin Wilshusen, these students serve as an inspiration. He explains,

Every day, at AIG Direct, we help families protect their loved ones in the event of an untimely death. Unfortunately, there are times when a child loses a parent or guardian who either didn’t have life insurance or the insurance they had wasn’t enough to cover the financial loss. To hear how these young adults have persevered and continue to be successful even after losing a loved one is inspirational. We are proud to be a part of this great program and help students further their education.

We help families protect

AIG Direct has awarded $75,000 in scholarships

to help students further their education. Learn about our current and past winners, hear their stories, and the value life insurance has on those that are left behind.

2020 Winners
Calli Dye
Calli Dye
The University of North Alabama

I often think about how different things would be if [my mother] had adequate life insurance and how much less we would have to worry. Because of the little preparation for things that we could have never imagined happened to us, it’s left up to me to figure it out on my own.

Maranda Miller
Maranda Miller
Texas A&M University

The security of having life insurance is the price of knowing not to take life for granted. That's a promise I have made myself.

Rebecca Mathis
Rebecca Mathis
Stephen F. Austin State University

What [a life insurance policy] could have done was provide financial stability that allowed us to move forward, rebuild our lives, and plan for a future… Be prepared because life comes at you whether you are ready or not.

Past Winners

2019 Winners
Justin Holston
Justin Holston
Mount San Antonio College

If we had adequate life insurance, we could still be in our home, and I would not be dealing with the possibility of not attending college due to our financial hardship. You do not realize how important life insurance is until you are in a situation like ours.

Curtis Garmon
Curtis Garmon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

When you’re a child, you don’t think of ‘reality’. You think about playing outside with your friends, eating ice cream with your brother and sister, and telling mom and dad about the bad dreams you had last night. Well, that is what I thought. We never expected to lose someone as strong and caring as my father.

Melissa Monaghan
Melissa Monaghan
Lee University

My mother’s death did teach me the importance of having life insurance… It’s a daily struggle trying to figure out how I’m going to fund my education and how we are going to move forward.

2018 Winners
Ashlin Wildun
Ashlin Wildun
Tennessee Technological University

No parents should ever be without life insurance. My dad failed to renew his policy…without my dad’s income we are facing the poverty level as my mom is trying to be both a mom and a dad and also working three jobs just to make ends meet.

Judson Richards
Judson Richards
Clemson University

If my father had life insurance, I would be able to accept any one of [my college] offers without hesitation. But for now, we are trying to acquire loans…I want to begin a new chapter of my life and share my story in hopes of giving others in my situation strength when they may be feeling weak.

To learn more about the Life Happens Scholarship Program and to find out how you can apply, Click here.
We See the Future in You