Alyssa Whitwell’s scholarship enabled her to continue studying math and economics at UCLA, despite a huge spike in tuition and fees. Ranieka Meadors’ scholarship helped her to return to California State University after dropping out for a year because of financial hardship and Daniel Dela Rosa, the son of Mexican immigrants, has used his scholarship to continue studying accounting at the University of Houston.

They are three of the 12 college students of color from across the country who last year won scholarships from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual).

Now, with the economy making it harder than ever for many Americans to realize the dream of a college education, MassMutual is expanding the scholarship program to more states, increasing the number of scholarships, and offering internships in the financial services field to winners. 

MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine metropolitan areas as part of the program, which is open to students of African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic descent.

Applicants for the 27 ($5,000) scholarships must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing, and sales.

Many of the students who have been awarded these scholarships count their impact in more than just dollars and cents. 

For example, Karen Perez, the daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first member of her family to graduate from high school and attend college, credits being selected for the scholarship with giving her a greater sense of confidence in her mathematics classes at California State University, where she is often one of only four or five young women. She takes very seriously the example she is setting for her two younger siblings.

Loren Hinkson says her scholarship enabled her to live on campus at the University of Southern California and hold leadership positions on three student executive boards instead of undertaking a grueling daily commute that would have precluded her participation in on-campus activities.

The scholarship program’s application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application, visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx.