Scholarships for Students Affected by Cancer
Navigating higher education can be challenging, especially for students who have faced or are currently facing cancer. The financial strain, interruptions to education, and long-lasting effects of treatment can create significant hurdles. Fortunately, numerous organizations and foundations offer scholarships and grants specifically designed to support these students in achieving their academic goals. This article provides a comprehensive overview of scholarships available for cancer patients, survivors, and their families, offering a beacon of hope and financial assistance.
Understanding the Financial Challenges
Families facing cancer often experience severe physical, psychological, and financial strain. Students undergoing cancer treatment may have to interrupt their education and are often unable to work to save money for college or participate in extracurricular activities, which are crucial for college applications. These challenges highlight the critical need for financial aid and scholarships tailored to their unique circumstances.
General Scholarship Resources and Information
Several organizations provide comprehensive resources and information on financial aid for students affected by cancer. FinAidSite and College Scholarships offer extensive listings of scholarships for cancer patients, survivors, children of cancer patients, and those pursuing careers in cancer treatment. These resources can be invaluable in navigating the complex landscape of financial aid.
Creating Options: A Resource on Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
This resource 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 sponsors of scholarships specifically designated for students with disabilities.
The National GRACE Foundation
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. Founded by Anthony Gallonio, Director of Financial Aid at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), whose daughter is a pediatric cancer survivor, the foundation also stands for “Growing, Recovering, and Achieving a College Education”.
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Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com provides links to cancer foundations that have created scholarships for survivors. To apply, students must be cancer patients or survivors and may need to provide tax forms, a letter from their university, transcripts, a diagnosis letter, and letters of recommendation.
Scholarships for Cancer Survivors
Many scholarships are exclusively for cancer survivors who have demonstrated resilience and determination in overcoming the challenges of their illness.
The PCRF Survivor Scholarship Award
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) offers the PCRF Survivor Scholarship Award to full-time students who have been treated for pediatric cancer. Award amounts vary and may be up to $5,000, based on the funds available in the PCRF Survivor Scholarship Fund each year. The PCRF Scholarship Committee reviews applications based on the quality of the essay, the scholar's intentions, and the completeness of the application. Since 2017, PCRF has awarded 527 scholarships, amounting to over $685,000.
Robert J. Zimmer Ph.D. insights
Robert J. Zimmer Ph.D. shared, “Since 2017, I have been reading the personal stories of these young applicants. I have been humbled and touched deeply by their strength, courage, perseverance, resilience, compassion, and faith. Little did I know that childhood cancer can have lasting effects on children’s memory and attention, creating academic challenges to higher learning.”
Cancer for College
Cancer for College provides one-time and recurring scholarships to current and former cancer patients. Applicants must be U.S. citizens planning to enroll in an accredited four-year university, community college, or graduate school. Award amounts vary.
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Cancer Survivors’ Fund
The Cancer Survivors’ Fund provides scholarships for cancer survivors who are residents of the U.S. Candidates must be cancer survivors or currently diagnosed with cancer, but do not need to be receiving treatment to qualify. Scholarships are awarded based on hardship and academic qualifications.
My Hometown Heroes
My Hometown Heroes is a 501(c)3 organization that provides scholarships to young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 17 and 39. The organization aims to financially assist and recognize these individuals who are pursuing a college education.
Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program
The Northwestern Mutual Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program awards 25 applicants $5,000 each.
Patient Advocate Foundation Scholarships for Survivors
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.
The SAMFund
The SAMFund provides grants for young adult survivors of cancer between the ages of 21 and 39. Grants cover a wide range of post-treatment financial needs, including health insurance premiums, rent/mortgage assistance, car payments, continuing education, and mental health expenses. The average grant amount is typically in the $1,500 - $2,000 range.
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The Stephen T. Marchello Foundation Scholarship
The Stephen T. Marchello Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are survivors of childhood cancer and residents of Colorado or Montana.
The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship
The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship is available to students under the age of 25 who were diagnosed with cancer or a high-grade or anaplastic brain tumor before the age of 18.
TRCF Scholarship
The TRCF Scholarship is available to full-time students who are cancer survivors or are currently receiving cancer treatment.
The Sophie Malaviya Memorial Scholarship
The Sophie Malaviya Memorial Scholarship is available to female high school seniors who are cancer survivors or currently diagnosed with cancer.
The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund
The Ryan Mullaly Second Chance Fund offers a $1,000 scholarship for cancer survivors diagnosed with lymphoma between the ages of 13 and 20, who are 25 or younger.
Scott J. Hunter Memorial Scholarship
The Scott J. Hunter Memorial Scholarship is for graduating high school seniors, community college, and four-year university students who are Leukemia/Lymphoma patients and/or are children of non-surviving Leukemia/Lymphoma patients.
Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation
The Jackie Spellman Scholarship Foundation awards annual college scholarships to students affected by leukemia or lymphoma, either as survivors or related to leukemia or lymphoma patients.
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.
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.
Scholarships for Specific Types of Cancer or Conditions
Some scholarships target students affected by specific types of cancer or related conditions.
The Harvey Simon Memorial Scholarship
The Harvey Simon Memorial Scholarship is available to undergraduate students who have had any type of cancer during their lifetime.
Ram Scholarship for the Arts
The Ram Scholarship for the Arts is available to students who were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 17 and 35. Special consideration is given to glioblastoma multiforme survivors.
Deana’s Wish Memorial Scholarship
The Deana’s Wish Memorial Scholarship grants scholarships to college students affected by gastro-esophageal cancers in their families.
Weiler Scholarship for Amputee College Students
The 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.
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.
Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship
The Brian Morden Memorial Scholarship is 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.
Scholarships for Siblings and Family Members
Recognizing the impact of cancer on the entire family, some scholarships are available for siblings and children of cancer patients.
The Gabriela Blanco College Scholarship
The Gabriela Blanco College Scholarship is available to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students who are siblings of childhood cancer survivors or patients currently being treated for childhood cancer.
The CancerCare YPC Scholarship
The CancerCare YPC Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who have lost a parent or guardian to cancer in the last two years.
Northwestern Mutual Foundation Sibling Scholarship
There is also a sibling version of this scholarship.
Scholarships Based on Location
Certain scholarships are restricted to residents of specific states or regions.
The Stephen T. Marchello Foundation Scholarship
The Stephen T. Marchello Foundation Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are survivors of childhood cancer and residents of Colorado or Montana.
Scott J. Hunter Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship awards may be used for post-high school training program or education and are open to residents of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Karen Baker Scholarship Fund
Applicant must graduate from a Chester County high school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, with a plan to attend a four-year accredited college.
Sandra M. Hunter Memorial Scholarship
Student must be graduating from a high school in either Ocean or Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Simon Cancer Foundation
Applicants must reside within specific coverage areas in NY, NJ, FL, and GA. Applicants must be a permanent resident of one of specified counties in each state.
Community Service Focused Scholarships
Some scholarships emphasize community service as part of their criteria.
Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope
The Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope provides grants to young adults age 18-28 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, including cancer. The 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, with a focus on community service.
Unique Scholarship Opportunities
Several scholarships offer unique opportunities or focus on specific areas of study.
The Come Together Scholarship
The Come Together Scholarship is available to full-time students who are undergoing cancer treatment.
Tom Olen Memorial Fund Scholarship
The Tom Olen Memorial Fund Scholarship is available to high school seniors who have been affected by cancer.
Mesothelioma Help Scholarship Essay Contest
This essay contest is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are 18-years-old or older and are currently enrolled in a college or university located within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.
Additional Financial Aid Resources
Beyond specific scholarships, students affected by cancer can explore other avenues for financial aid.
College and Trade Schools
College and trade schools can help with accommodations for cancer-related problems. Cancer treatment and side effects will likely disrupt a regular school schedule.
Accommodations on Standardized Tests
Cancer patients may qualify for accommodations on ACT and SAT tests.
Student Financial Aid
Students who are first diagnosed with cancer while in college should talk with the dean of students and the director of student financial aid at their school. Many colleges and universities have contingency funds to provide additional assistance to students who are suddenly faced with a serious illness.
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