Scholarship Opportunities

There are many options available but some research may be required to find scholarships for which you qualify. Don’t limit your search to “Epilepsy Scholarships.” Consider searching large database websites like www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org, www.scholarships.com, and https://study.com/resources/scholarship-for-students-with-disabilities#0115. Check out informational websites like https://study.com/resources/college-resource-for-students-with-disabilities , publicservicedegree.com , or https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/financial-aid/scholarships/students-with-disabilities/. Think about anything that may be unique to you. Talk to the admissions offices at the schools to which you are applying. Utilize the guidance department at your high school.

To learn more about the listed scholarships below, click the provided links.

Lorna Myers PNES Scholarship Fund

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Lorma Myers, Epilepsy Alliance America has a scholarship program for students with a diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).

In 2024, Epilepsy Alliance America will award a select number of scholarships. Awards will be based on the quality of applications through a competitive scoring system that balances need with achievement. Epilepsy Alliance America reserves the right to determine the number of scholarships given. This is a one-time award.

The McCann Epilepsy Higher Education Scholarship

Applicants must be residents of Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Applications should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “McCann Epilepsy Higher Education Scholarship”

College and high school students who are diagnosed with epilepsy OR have lost a loved one to SUDEP and are pursuing higher education. This includes community, technical, and junior colleges as well as four-year colleges and universities. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 grade point average.

Applicants must provide a one-page typed, single-spaced essay describing:

Who you are
Your passions and goals in life
What you would like to do in the future in terms of your education and future career
How this scholarship would help you pursue higher education

Charles L. Shor Epilepsy Empowerment Fund

The Charles L. Shor Epilepsy Empowerment Fund provides direct educational assistance to individuals diagnosed with epilepsy including scholarships to universities, colleges, technical training and certification programs, and financial assistance for students enabling them to attend and complete educational program.

Mr. Shor was the CEO and President of Duro-Bag. Thanks to an innovative outlook on the industry, Duro-Bag provided materials to major retailers and grew to be the largest paper bag company in the world. Mr. Shor built his business while battling epilepsy and is now a dedicated philanthropist, providing funding to support charitable efforts surrounding epilepsy and other non-medical fields.

Visit the link if you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, are furthering your education, a resident of the United States, and are interesting in applying for support from the Charles L. Shor Epilepsy Empowerment Fund.

KaplunMarx- Living With Epilepsy Scholarship

The Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorneys at KaplunMarx are thrilled to continue their Living with Epilepsy Scholarship for a second year! They want to support those whose lives are affected by epilepsy and help spread awareness about this disease. It’s important to further the conversation around epilepsy and get involved in supporting those whose lives are impacted. The fight against epilepsy is something everyone at our firm cares very deeply about. Like many families, Jon Marx, a founding partner of our law firm, deals with the epilepsy of a loved one on a daily basis. Seeing this disease first hand motivates us to continue working towards a cure. This is why the team at KaplunMarx want to give back to the epilepsy warriors out there.

This $1,000 scholarship is available to a student who has been diagnosed or whose family member, friend, or other individual they are close to has been diagnosed with epilepsy or another seizure disorder. They want to hear how your diagnosis has affected your life, whether that is having the responsibility to care for someone with epilepsy or how you’ve had to learn to take care of yourself. Have there been instances where the disease has pushed you to succeed rather than hindered you? What obstacles have you overcome? Are there any important moments in your life that have occurred because of your diagnosis? Tell them your story.

CURE Epilepsy Education Enrichment Fund Scholarship

Are you ready to change the field of epilepsy research? You could receive up to $5,000 toward your education through the CURE Epilepsy Education Enrichment Fund Scholarship, funded by the generous support of Greenwich Biosciences.

These one-time scholarships are awarded to individuals with epilepsy or family members and caregivers of those impacted by epilepsy. These scholarships support coursework in scholars’ chosen fields, so they can use their knowledge and skills to become agents of change in the epilepsy community.

Heumann-Armstrong Awards

Applications for the third annual Heumann-Armstrong Awards are now open! The American Association of People with Disabilities will be awarding $1,000 prizes to six students, in 6th grade or higher, who demonstrate their commitment to fighting against ableism in education. Students in middle school, high school and higher education (community college, college, university, and graduate and professional degree programs) are eligible for this award. Awardees will be interviewed about their educational experiences and their interviews will be published on The Coelho Center and Equal Opportunities for Students webpages and other social media platforms.

Ableism is discriminating against someone because of their disability, much like racism is discriminating against someone based on race, or sexism is discriminating against someone based on gender. Ableism can take many forms. As an extreme example, Judy Heumann wasn’t allowed to attend her local elementary school as a child, because the school said her wheelchair made her a fire hazard. Ableism can also be bullying, isolation, or refusal to provide a student with disability accommodations. Like other forms of discrimination, ableism is very common and shows up in many ways that are blatant and subtle. All ableism is bad, and all experiences are valid! Don’t think your experience is too small to be worth listing. Email [email protected] with any questions.

Arthur O. And Clara M. Schlegel Memorial Fund

(Follow prompts on page to apply)

The Arthur O. & Clara M. Schlegel Memorial Fund provides grants that support the medical costs of physical differences in Berks County children whose guardians are unable to meet such expenses.

Expenses that may be covered include direct and indirect medical expenses, such as travel costs associated with treatment.

Thirty applicants who demonstrate academic and personal achievement will receive scholarships of up to $5,000 each. Two applicants will receive Epilepsy Leader Scholarships of up to $10,000 each honoring the late Sandra Helmers, MD, MPH, and the late John M. Pellock, MD, two prominent figures in the epilepsy community who passed away in 2016. Additionally, UCB will award one applicant the Joe D’Souza Memorial Scholarship of up to $10,000. This scholarship was created in 2019 in memory of UCB’s global medical director.

The recipients of the Epilepsy Leader Scholarships and the Joe D’Souza Memorial Scholarship will demonstrate academic and personal achievement and will also exemplify some of the qualities that Drs. Helmers and Pellock were best known for, including a desire to advocate for and serve others, an interest in positively contributing to the epilepsy community, and a persevering spirit.