Epilepsy Foundation New England Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Epilepsy Foundation New England

Intro
Scholarships can provide important financial support for people living with epilepsy who are pursuing vocational training, college, or graduate studies. Below are scholarships administered or promoted by Epilepsy Foundation New England and additional national opportunities.

Joseph’s Hope Scholarship Program
Epilepsy Foundation New England administers the Joseph’s Hope Scholarship Program, which helps individuals with epilepsy who are pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training. Each year the Foundation awards a minimum of four scholarships of $2,500 each.

The program is supported primarily by Frank and Vicky Salituro in memory of their son Joseph, who died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in 2011 at age 27. Frank has started several bands over the years; his current group, Almost the Cure (ATC), has raised more than $250,000 for the Joseph’s Hope Scholarship Fund and the Foundation’s Financial Assistance Fund. Members of ATC, who work in the biopharmaceutical industry at various companies, bring the same enthusiasm to their music as they do to advancing medical research. The band aims to be a high-energy, edgy, and fun rock-and-roll act while building community and supporting epilepsy causes.

Matthew Siravo Memorial Scholarship
As part of the Joseph’s Hope application process, Epilepsy Foundation New England also awards the Matthew Siravo Memorial Scholarship. This award is intended for college-bound high school seniors who live in Rhode Island and have a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Other Scholarship Opportunities
In addition to the programs above, students and families affected by epilepsy may qualify for other scholarships and educational resources:

CURE Scholarship Program
Funded by Lundbeck, the CURE Scholarship offers a one-time award of up to $5,000. It is available to people living with epilepsy as well as family members and caregivers, and is intended to support coursework that increases knowledge in research, health education, advocacy, or awareness related to epilepsy. More details: https://www.cureepilepsy.org/scholarship

UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program
Since 2005, the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program has provided over $2 million in awards to more than 400 recipients, including people with epilepsy, family members, and caregivers pursuing undergraduate and graduate education. In 2018, UCB granted 32 scholarships: thirty awards of up to $5,000 each to applicants demonstrating academic and personal achievement, plus two Epilepsy Leader Scholarships of up to $10,000 each. The Leader Scholarships honor the late Sandra Helmers, MD, MPH, and the late John M. Pellock, MD, both leaders in the epilepsy community who passed away in 2016. Recipients are selected for academic success, personal achievement, and qualities such as a commitment to advocacy, service to others, contributions to the epilepsy community, and perseverance. More information: https://ucbepilepsyscholarship.com/default.aspx

HEATH (Higher Education and Disability) Resources
HEATH provides information on post-secondary education for students with disabilities, including guidance on financial aid options. Contact or write:
HEATH Resource Center
2121 K Street, N.W., Suite 220
Washington, DC 20037
Website: www.heath.gwu.edu

For federal student aid information and FAFSA assistance, contact:
Federal Student Aid Information Center, Washington, DC
Tel: 1-800-433-3243
FAFSA website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

If you’d like, I can help you determine which scholarships you might qualify for or assist with application tips.