Scholarships for Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Comprehensive Guide
College is an exciting time, filled with new experiences, knowledge, and relationships. However, for cancer patients and survivors, the path to higher education can be fraught with unique challenges. Fortunately, many organizations provide scholarships to help these individuals achieve their academic goals. This article offers a comprehensive overview of scholarships specifically designed for cancer patients and survivors, along with resources to aid in the search for financial assistance.
Introduction
Many organizations provide scholarships for cancer patients and survivors. Some scholarships are available for family members of cancer patients. Every scholarship is different. Note the application deadline as well as contact information, application requirements, and ability to renew the scholarship each year. These scholarships are for childhood cancer survivors who have demonstrated the ability to overcome the difficult challenges of cancer with determination and motivation.
Scholarship Opportunities for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Here's a detailed look at various scholarship opportunities available to cancer patients and survivors:
National Organizations:
Cancer for College: Cancer for College provides one-time and recurring scholarships to current and former cancer patients. Applicants must be a US Citizen planning to enroll in an accredited four-year university, community college, or graduate school. Awards vary.
Cancer Survivors' Fund: The Cancer Survivors Fund provides scholarships for cancer survivors who are residents of the US. Candidates must be a cancer survivor or currently diagnosed with cancer, but do not need to be receiving treatment to qualify. Scholarships are awarded based on hardship and academic qualifications of the candidates.
Read also: Bright Futures for Survivors
Patient Advocate Foundation: The Patient Advocate Foundation awards eight Scholarships for Survivors of $5,000 per year for cancer survivors to initiate or complete a course of study that has been interrupted or delayed by a diagnosis of cancer or other life-threatening, chronic or debilitating disease. Recipients must be under the age of 25 and diagnosed within the past 5 years. Recipients are required to complete 20 hours of community service and maintain a 3.0 GPA during the school year.
The SAMFund: Surviving and Moving Forward: The SAMFund provides grants and scholarships for young adult survivors of cancer between the ages of 21 and 39. Must meet ONE of the following criteria: completed planned treatment with no evidence of disease, one year following the completion of planned treatment with stable disease, or in remission and on long-term hormonal therapy. Grants and scholarships provided by the Samfund cover a wide range of post-treatment financial needs, such as (but not limited to): rent and mortgage assistance; health insurance premiums; car payments, insurance, and repairs; continuing education and loans; gym memberships; and mental health expenses.
Simon Cancer Foundation: The Harvey Simon Memorial Scholarship is available to all applicants living in the US who are enrolled in a 4 year college and that have had any type of cancer during their lifetime. The mission of the Simon Cancer Foundation is to financially assist cancer patients by awarding scholarships and making charitable donations to camps and educational programs.
The Stephen Cancer Survivors’ Foundation: Scholarships for young cancer survivors, as well as additional resources.
My Hometown Heroes: My Hometown Heroes is a 501(c)3 organization designed to provide scholarships to young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 17 and 39. The mission is to financially assist and recognize these amazing individuals who are pursuing a college education. Through community outreach, collaboration, and creativity, they inspire the stories of hope and progress.
Read also: Empowering Childhood Cancer Survivors
Northwestern Mutual Foundation: The Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program awards 25 applicants $5000. There is also a sibling version of this scholarship.
Scholarships with Specific Criteria:
Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship: The Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to young men and women who have a fascination with technology and a love of music, and whose higher education course of study should include either music, some aspect of technology, or medicine. The maximum award for an individual scholarship is $1000. Applicants should be US citizens and a high school graduate.
Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope: The Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope provides $5000 grants to young adults age 18-28 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, including cancer. The “life grants” are intended to be used to fulfill a dream or pay for a project that will make a difference in the recipient’s life and the lives of others. This award is focused on community service. Diagnosis: Any life-threatening illness, including cancer; the "life grants" are intended to be used to fulfill a dream or pay for a project that will make a difference in the recipient's life and the lives of others.
CURE Cancer Support Scholarship: The Lep Foundation for Youth Education Cancer Support Scholarship. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship is designated for students who were diagnosed with cancer in childhood and whose disease and related treatments placed a significant financial burden on them and their families. Four scholarships up to $5000.
Deana’s Wish Memorial Scholarship: The Deana’s Wish Memorial Scholarship is a private scholarship program established by the DLH Foundation in memory of Deana LaRae Hamilton Hughes. The program annually grants scholarships up to $2000 to college students affected by gastro-esophageal cancers in their families.
Read also: Resources for Students Affected by Parental Cancer
Howard Honigfeld Scholarship Program: The Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation, with the support of the family of Howard Honigfeld, has established a scholarship fund to help children who are cancer survivors fund their dreams of achieving higher education. One scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $2500 for the college education of a cancer survivor.
Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation: Awards annual college scholarships to approximately 12 students annually ($3000 - $12000). Applicants are those affected by leukemia or lymphoma, either as survivors or related to leukemia or lymphoma patients. Usual time period for application submission is January-February of each year, with announcement of recipients in April. There is also a sibling version of this scholarship.
Kids-4-Kids: The Educational Aid for Survivors of Childhood Cancer is open to all applicants that have been diagnosed with cancer before their 18th birthday.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States: The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States (PBTFUS) provides scholarships for people who have been diagnosed with a childhood brain or spinal cord cancer at or before the age of 19.
The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund: The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund offers a $1000 scholarship for cancer survivors. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents, have been diagnosed with lymphoma between the ages of 13 and 20, and currently be age 25 or younger. Priority is given to students still undergoing treatment, students with a significant treatment history, students with substantial post-treatment side effects, and students just beginning their college education.
Textbook Scholarship Program: SurvivorVision presents the Textbook Scholarship Program to empower pediatric cancer patients/survivors. This program is available to patients/survivors who have received or are receiving treatment for a childhood cancer. Student must have been diagnosed before the age of 18. Scholarship offers $1000/year maximum towards textbook costs with students able to reapply every year for 5 years for a lifetime maximum of $5000. The Rebecca H. Application period is typically May of each year. Scholarship winner(s) will be awarded a total of $500.
External Resources and Databases:
Carolyn’s Compassionate Children (CCC): Scholarship program and database of financial resources for higher education.
College Scholarships: Provides information on federal and private sources of scholarships for cancer survivors.
FinAid: Provides information about scholarships for cancer patients, cancer survivors, children of a cancer patient or survivor, students who lost a parent to cancer, and students pursuing careers in cancer treatment.
Scholarships.com: Links to cancer foundations that have created scholarships for survivors. This scholarship awards $4,000 to students who have been impacted by any type of cancer.
T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation: Information about other scholarships for survivors is listed.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities:
Weiler Scholarship for Amputee College Students: is for college students with a major limb amputation who will be attending an accredited university as a full time student. A major limb amputation is defined as loss of limb beginning at or above the wrist or ankle.
This group is no longer accepting applications for undergraduate tuition, as they have in the past, but rather is focusing on other school-related expenses.
The Disability Programs and Resource Center at San Francisco State University has compiled a list of scholarships for students of various disabilities.
The University of Washington has put together a page with tips on searching for funding for students with disabilities. In addition to links to sites offering scholarships, it also discusses other ways students might find information on funding, such as vocational rehab and other state programs.
This organization offers scholarships to legally blind student going to technical, undergraduate, or graduate school. Scholarships range from $1,500-$7,500. The AFB offers multiple scholarships to legally blind students.
This program awards 3 students an individual prize of $3,000 to full-time college students with low vision. Applicants must meet visual acuity and academic guidelines. The scholarship application must be completed online. Selected finalists will be required to complete a phone interview with committee members.
The NFB offers 30 scholarships to legally blind students each year, worth from $3,000 to $12,000. The winner must participate in the NFB national convention in July and all its scheduled scholarship program activities. Assistance is available for convention needs.
The Anne Lowe Scholarship is awarded to blind students based on academic achievement and citizenship.
This group offers scholarships to individuals with hearing impairments and communicative disorders. Scholarships are available in $1,000 amounts.
Scholarships applicants must be 17 or older with hydrocephalus. The scholarship funds must be used for an educational purpose, including, but not limited to, a 2-year or 4-year college, a high school post-graduate year to prepare for college, technical or trade school, an accredited employment-training program, or a post-graduate program.
Additional Resources:
The National GRACE Foundation: Provides free college admissions and financial aid counseling to high-school and college-aged students and their families who are affected by pediatric cancer. The National GRACE Foundation presents college financial aid nights at cancer clinics and also provides families with one-on-one counseling. The National GRACE Foundation was founded by Anthony Gallonio, Direct of Financial Aid at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). His daughter, Grace, is a pediatric cancer survivor. The name of the foundation also stands for “Growing, Recovering and Achieving a College Education”.
Creating Options: A Resource on Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities: Produces Creating Options: A Resource on Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities. The 2003 edition features up-to-date information about federal financial aid programs, describes the relationship between state vocational rehabilitation agencies and the financial aid process, and lists organizations that offer disability-related grants and scholarships for postsecondary education. It also includes a list of 29 sponsors of scholarships specifically designated for students with disabilities.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): knows how challenging it can be to plan for your future during or after cancer treatment.
The Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC): was founded in an effort to support a high school friend battling cancer. This group of students empowered their peers to fight back against cancer alongside their friend. In the process, they all had a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer. SMAC is proud to announce that we will be awarding the Cancer Fighter Scholarship to up to ten graduating high school seniors who have been leaders in the fight against cancer.
Together by St.: College and trade schools can help you when you need accommodations for cancer-related problems. Cancer treatment and side effects will likely disrupt your regular school schedule. Cancer patients may qualify for accommodations on ACT and SAT tests.
General Scholarship Application Tips
Pay attention to deadlines: Note the application deadline as well as contact information, application requirements, and ability to renew the scholarship each year.
Prepare necessary documents: In general, applicants must provide a letter from a doctor stating the original diagnosis and the age the patient began treatment. Some applications may also request letters of reference from teachers, coaches, or employers. Ask these people in advance.
Craft a compelling essay: Many scholarship applications require an essay. Some will ask the same types of essay questions.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities Based on Location
Additional requirements: Must be a Texas resident and attending a college or university in the state of Texas.
Additional requirements: Helps cover tuition fees, academic supplies, or educational homebound equipment. Student must be enrolled or preparing to enroll in primary or secondary public education, two- or four-year college or university, specific trade school or homebound education. Must demonstrate need for financial assistance (annual household income should be less than $55,000).
Age: High school senior who is planning to continue his/ her education beyond high school. This may include 2-year college, 4-year college, or other professional/ trade school. The funds may be used toward tuition, books, or other necessary supplies (e.g.
General Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be childhood cancer survivor, under the age of 25, diagnosed before the age of 18, and a US citizen.
Additional requirements: Graduating high school senior, community college, or four-year university students.
Additional requirements: Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates or current postsecondary undergraduates who plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
Additional requirements: Must be enrolled in a 4-year university or college.
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