Epilepsy Foundation New England Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Epilepsy Foundation New England

Intro
Scholarships can provide important financial support to people living with epilepsy who are pursuing vocational training, undergraduate study, or graduate education. The following programs are available to eligible students, family members, and caregivers.

Joseph’s Hope Scholarship Program
Epilepsy Foundation New England administers the Joseph’s Hope Scholarship, which helps individuals with epilepsy pay for post-secondary education or vocational training. Each year the program awards a minimum of four scholarships of $2,500 each.

The scholarship fund was made possible largely through the generosity of Frank and Vicky Salituro, established in memory of their son Joseph, who died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in 2011 at age 27. Frank has led several bands over the years, most recently Almost the Cure (ATC). ATC — whose members work in the biopharmaceutical industry — has raised more than $250,000 for the Joseph’s Hope Scholarship Fund and a related Financial Assistance Fund. The band combines a love of music with a commitment to community and support for epilepsy research and care.

Matthew Siravo Memorial Scholarship
As part of the Joseph’s Hope application process, Epilepsy Foundation New England also awards the Matthew Siravo Memorial Scholarship. This award is for college-bound high school seniors who live in Rhode Island and have a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

CURE Scholarship Program
Funded by Lundbeck, the CURE Scholarship is a one-time award of up to $5,000 for people living with epilepsy, as well as for family members and caregivers. The grant can be used for coursework that expands knowledge in areas such as research, health education, advocacy, or public awareness related to epilepsy. More information: https://www.cureepilepsy.org/scholarship

UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program
The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship awards educational funding to people with epilepsy, their family members, and caregivers. Since the program began in 2005, UCB has distributed more than $2 million in scholarships to over 400 recipients for undergraduate and graduate study.

In 2018, UCB awarded 32 scholarships: thirty recipients received awards of up to $5,000, and two applicants were granted Epilepsy Leader Scholarships of up to $10,000 each. The Epilepsy Leader Scholarships honor the late Sandra Helmers, MD, MPH and John M. Pellock, MD, both of whom passed away in 2016. Recipients are selected for academic and personal achievements and for qualities such as advocacy, service to others, contributions to the epilepsy community, and perseverance. More information: https://ucbepilepsyscholarship.com/default.aspx

Heath (Post-Secondary Resources for Students with Disabilities)
HEATH Center provides guidance on post-secondary education for students with disabilities, including information on financial aid and other resources. Contact:
- Address: 2121 K Street, N.W., Suite 220, Washington, DC 20037
- Website: www.heath.gwu.edu
- Federal Student Aid Information Center (for FAFSA and federal aid questions): 1-800-433-3243, http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

If you’d like, I can help you determine which scholarships you may qualify for or walk through application requirements for any of these programs.