Childhood Cancer Survivors Win Scholarships from The National Children's Cancer Society

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug. 31, 2012 - Thirty-eight students from across the United States have been awarded college scholarships totaling $125,000 from The National Children’s Cancer Society’s (NCCS) Beyond the Cure (BTC) Scholarship Program.The program provides financial assistance to young adults as they move forward with their lives after cancer. This support helps empower young survivors to achieve their educational, professional and personal goals.

Scholarship applicants must be childhood cancer survivors living in the United States, under the age of 25 and diagnosed before the age of 18. The program is open to all childhood cancer survivors who currently attend or plan to attend an institution of higher education in the US.

“The NCCS recipients serve as role models for all of us in how to turn a challenge into something positive,” said Mark Stolze, president and CEO of the NCCS. “The Beyond the Cure Scholarship Program is a vehicle to help these individuals move forward in life in a meaningful way.”

To date, the scholarship program has awarded over $366,000 in scholarship money to childhood cancer survivors across the country. The NCCS is deeply grateful to Sue and Irl Engelhardt, the Engelhardt Family Foundation, the Energizer Charitable Trust, and the Aflac Foundation for their generous support of the program.
The 2012-2013 scholarship winners span the country and plan on attending a diverse group of schools in the upcoming academic year.  

Engelhardt Scholars   Hometown      School attending in 2012-2013
Caitlin Adkins   Norton, VA      University of Virginia
Elizabeth Allen   Norfolk, MA      Brandeis University
Jackson Allison   Atascadero, CA   University of California - Berkeley
Rachael Avery   Columbia, SC   College of Charleston
Cassie Bess   Poteau, OK      Carl Albert State College
Cole Burke      Tulsa, OK      Oklahoma State University
Lexi Chopp      Grafton, WI      Butler University
Tyler Galvelis   Holland, PA   University of Pittsburgh
Kelsey Gillis   Scottsdale, AZ   Azusa Pacific University
Kayli Hostetler   Orrville, OH      Malone University
Hillary Husband   DeRidder, LA   Louisiana College
Hyrum Judd   Glendale, AZ   Midwestern University
Megan Ketterhagen   Whitewater, WI   University of Wisconsin - Madison
Kati Ledall      Fort Collins, CO   Colorado State University
Melinda Marchiano        Nipomo, CA   Pepperdine University
Jacob Martell   Stillwater, MN   University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Benjamin Melancon   Eunice, LA      Mississippi College
Phillip Ribbeck   Houston, TX   University of Texas at Austin
John Richey   Davidsonville, MD   Towson University
Adam Rose   Shelby Twp, MI   Kettering University
Shoshana Rudin   Madison, WI   University of Chicago
Clarissa Schilstra   Ellicott City, MD   Duke University
Casey Siljestron   Gainesville, FL   University of FL
Rachel Steele   Orem, UT      Utah Valley University
Megan Tapp   Dexter, MN      Wartburg College
Alexandra Timmer   Scottsdale, AZ   Truman State University
Jennifer Toth   Vienna, VA      University of Pennsylvania
Kane Weinberg   Trenton, IL      Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Aflac Scholars   Hometown      School attending in 2012-2013
Emmanuel Agyemang   Savannah, GA   University of GA
Nathash Bear   Marietta, GA   George Washington University
Allison Desoto   Marietta, GA   University of GA
Madison Merrifield   Auburn, GA      Johnson & Wales University
Tyler Shead   Temple, GA   Kennesaw State University
         
Energizer Scholars   Hometown                         School attending in 2012-2013
Sarah Fruendt   Charlotte, NC                   University of North Carolina
Ciera Jones   Wake Forest, NC   Liberty University
Mary McKee   Roxana, IL      Southeast Missouri State University
Chase Meacham   Columbus,, OH   Georgetown University
Brian Moore   Cincinnati, OH   Manhattan School of Music


Beyond the Cure (BTC) was established to help childhood cancer survivors integrate the cancer experience into their lives. This includes educating survivors on the challenges that lie ahead and most importantly, to celebrate survivorship.

The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to improving the quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer and their families worldwide. The NCCS serves as a financial, emotional and educational resource for those in need at every stage of illness and recovery. For more information or details, call 314-241-1600 or visit theNCCS.org.