Scholarships for Students Impacted by Parental Cancer

A cancer diagnosis and treatment can place immense strain on a family, leading to significant medical bills, increased insurance costs, and potential loss of income. For students with a parent battling cancer or those who have lost a parent to the disease, the dream of attending college may seem financially unattainable. Fortunately, numerous organizations offer scholarships and grants to support these resilient individuals in their pursuit of higher education.

Understanding the Financial Impact of Cancer

The National Cancer Institute highlights the significant impact of cancer, noting that millions of families are affected every year. While the overall cancer death rate in the United States has declined since the early 1990s and the number of cancer survivors has increased, the financial burden remains a major concern. Scholarships can provide a crucial lifeline, helping to alleviate the financial strain and make college a reality for students impacted by cancer.

Finding Scholarship Opportunities

If you are a student who has had a cancer diagnosis, have a parent with a diagnosis, or have lost a parent to cancer, there are resources available to help you find scholarships to pursue your educational goals.

Treatment Centers

Start by asking at your treatment center for referrals to local scholarship funds and grants. Many individuals establish these funds to honor a cancer patient, and they are often available to others in the same geographic community. Don't hesitate to ask your social worker for help in identifying potential local resources.

University Financial Aid Offices

The university you plan to attend may also have designated scholarship funds for students with disabilities, including cancer. Inquire with the financial aid office about these opportunities.

Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide

Online Resources and Scholarship Search Engines

Several websites and organizations offer comprehensive scholarship search tools and resources specifically for students impacted by cancer:

Going Merry: This platform helps students find and apply for scholarships by matching them with eligible opportunities and auto-filling application information.
FinAid: A comprehensive source of student financial aid information.

Featured Scholarship Programs

Here are some notable scholarship programs designed to support students affected by cancer:

The Mesothelioma.com Scholarship: Awards $4,000 annually to a student impacted by cancer, whether they have battled the disease themselves or have a parent, sibling, immediate family member, or close friend who has.

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships
The Cindy Kimbrell Scholarship: Offered by Sweetgrass Pediatrics to high school seniors.
Cancer Pathways Teen Writing Contest: Open to high school students between 13 and 19 years of age.
The Kyla Jo Burridge Memorial Scholarship for Brain Cancer Awareness and Support: Honors the memory of Kyla Jo Burridge.
The Ryan R. Lusso Memorial Scholarship: Open to high school, undergraduate, or graduate students with a parent diagnosed with cancer, in honor of Ryan R.
The Brad Hinshaw Memorial Scholarship: Supports high school seniors or undergraduate students who have lost a parent to cancer, honoring the memory of Brad Hinshaw.

Read also: Scholarship Guide
The Jessica’s Journey Brain Tumor Survivor Scholarship: Supports other people who have made it through cancer, honoring Jessica, a brain tumor survivor.
The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship: Awards scholarships to childhood cancer survivors. Fifty-eight (58) $3,500 scholarships are awarded each academic year. Scholarship application period is November 1-January 31 each year.
The Samfund: Grants and scholarships provided by the Samfund cover a wide range of post-treatment financial needs, such as rent and mortgage assistance; health insurance premiums; car payments, insurance, and repairs; continuing education and loans; gym memberships; and mental health expenses.
The Dillon Wolford Memorial Scholarship: The Hoffen Foundation offers this $1000 scholarship to college-bound students in the USA with a history of medical treatments to inspire recipients to pursue their education despite medical hardships. Applications are due by April 30 each year, with awards announced by June 1.
Sofia’s Hope Scholarships: Sofia’s Hope offers scholarships to childhood cancer survivors and siblings of children affected by cancer in the USA. These scholarships help cover up to $2000 in costs related to higher education, including tuition, room and board, and other academic expenses. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and submit required documentation by the annual deadline.
Teen Cancer America Scholarship Program: This teen-led organization provides $500.00 scholarships to cancer patients in the USA who are in active treatment and have demonstrated financial need. Applicants must meet income guidelines, minimum GPA, and provide proof of diagnosis. Award based on the applicant’s needs and current funding.
Northwestern Mutual Foundation Scholarship Program: Northwestern Mutual Foundation offers a national scholarship program for siblings of cancer patients. This program awards $5,000 to undergraduate students in the USA under the age of 25 with a GPA of at least 2.5. The grant is renewable for one year for a total of $10,000. This program has awarded over 2.5 million dollars to students in the USA since its inception. Awards vary based on financial need.
The Ortlieb Foundation Scholarship: The Ortlieb Foundation Scholarship is available to full-time students at four-year colleges or universities in the USA. All applicants must have been diagnosed with cancer and had (or are having) treatment for this disease and meet income requirements. Applicants must be residents of the USA, be between the ages of 17 and 35, and have unmet financial need to qualify for this $1000 scholarship.
John Foy & Associates “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship: A $1,000 scholarship awarded annually to one USA college student who has battled leukemia or whose life has been affected by it. Graduate and undergraduates eligible to apply. Essay (500-1000 words) required with submission.
The National Collegiate Cancer Foundation Scholarship: The National Collegiate Cancer Foundation sponsors an annual nonrenewable $1,000 scholarship for college students whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who are seeking to continue their higher education while still undergoing treatment. Applicants must be college students between the ages of 18 and 35. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, an essay, recommendations, cancer story, and demonstrating a “Will Win” attitude. The deadline is October 1.

Scholarships for Specific Situations

Scholarships for Siblings: The Northwestern Mutual Foundation offers a scholarship program specifically for siblings of cancer patients.
Scholarships for Cancer Survivors: Many scholarships, such as the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship and the Ortlieb Foundation Scholarship, are exclusively for cancer survivors.
Scholarships for Students Who Have Lost a Parent: The Brad Hinshaw Memorial Scholarship is specifically for students who have lost a parent to cancer. Dream Hope Believe Foundation offers financial assistance to children and young people under 17 who have lost a parent to cancer through a variety of grants and scholarships.

Tips for Applying

Note Deadlines: Pay close attention to application deadlines, as they vary for each scholarship.
Review Requirements: Carefully review the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and renewal policies for each scholarship.
Obtain Documentation: Gather necessary documentation, such as a letter from a doctor stating the original diagnosis and age of the patient at the beginning of treatment.
Request Letters of Recommendation: Ask teachers, coaches, or employers for letters of reference well in advance of the application deadline.
Craft a Compelling Essay: Many scholarship applications require an essay. Use this opportunity to share your story and demonstrate your resilience, determination, and motivation.

Additional Resources

Disability Programs and Resource Centers: Check with disability programs and resource centers at colleges and universities for additional scholarship opportunities. For example, the Disability Programs and Resource Center at San Francisco State University has compiled a list of scholarships for students of various disabilities.
Vocational Rehabilitation and State Programs: Explore vocational rehabilitation and other state programs for potential funding assistance. 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.

Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Educational Goals

Cancer treatment and its side effects can disrupt a student's school schedule. However, college and trade schools can provide accommodations to help students manage cancer-related challenges. Cancer patients may also qualify for accommodations on standardized tests like the ACT and SAT.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): This organization offers scholarships to legally blind students going to technical, undergraduate, or graduate school. Scholarships range from $1,500-$7,500. The AFB offers multiple scholarships to legally blind students.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB): 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.
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: This group offers scholarships to individuals with hearing impairments and communicative disorders. Scholarships are available in $1,000 amounts.

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