The Pinnacol Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2020-21 school year from youths whose parents have been injured or killed in work-related accidents.

Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15. Learn more at pinnacolfoundation.org or call 303-361-4775.

The Pinnacol Foundation has awarded nearly $5.5 million to more than 550 students in Colorado since it began in 2000. The average scholarship is $4,700 per year. Money can be used for four-year, two-year or trade programs at accredited colleges, universities, community colleges and vocational schools in the United States. The foundation awarded $474,890 in 100 scholarships in 2019.

In 2019, the foundation awarded Brooke Woods the Suzi Stolte Hope scholarship. Brooke’s mother, who was a nurse, was killed while transporting a patient when the ambulance they were riding in crashed. Brooke was 5 years old.

She recently graduated from Elizabeth High School and is attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Inspired by her mother’s work, she plans on earning her degree in nursing and starting a career in health care management.

To be eligible to apply for a foundation scholarship, a student must be the natural child, adopted child, stepchild or full dependent of a worker who was injured or killed in a compensable work-related accident during the course and scope of employment with a Colorado-based employer.

The foundation evaluates the severity of the injury sustained by each student’s parent or guardian as well as the student’s academic achievement, financial need, civic involvement and strength of an essay. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and be between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of application.