Advertisement
Cystic fibrosis presents extraordinary health burdens for patients andfinancial challenges for their families. Thanks to tremendous advances inmedical treatments, more young adults with CF are living longer, healthierlives than ever before, and many more are pursuing dreams of higher education.Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs anddigestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States.Today, more than 40 percent of people living with CF are aged 18 or older.(1)
Advertisement
For 16 years, Solvay Pharmaceuticals has awarded scholarships tohigh-achieving students with CF to encourage their pursuit of educationalgoals. The Scholarship is one aspect of the SolvayCARES program, which wascreated to address the specific needs of this patient population by providingsupport in a variety of formats throughout their lives as patients' needsevolve with age -- such as upon graduation from high school.
"The SolvayCARES Scholarship helped ease the financial responsibility ofmy higher education and allowed me to focus on what really matters -- earningmy doctoral degree in clinical psychology so that I can pursue my dream ofworking in clinical therapy with individuals affected by chronic illnesses andthose connected to them," said Samantha Pelican Monson, a 2007 SolvayCARESScholarship recipient and doctoral student at the University of Denver. "Witha little creativity, you can overcome any obstacle, health-related orotherwise, and achieve the goals and dreams you have always wished would cometrue."
This year's SolvayCARES Scholarship program offers a new opportunity withthe launch of the Thriving Student Achiever award. This winner will earn atotal of $10,000 in scholarship funding and will be determined through anonline voting process open to the general public atwww.SolvayCARESScholarship.com. This site will feature the profiles, winningessays and creative presentations of all Scholarship recipients who choose tobe considered for the Thriving Student Achiever award. Friends of the CFcommunity and the general public are encouraged to log on to learn more aboutthese students' remarkable accomplishments and vote for their favoritescholarship recipient. Online voting will be available from September 15 toOctober 15, at which time the Thriving Student Achiever will be determined.
"At Solvay Pharmaceuticals, we believe that reaching the milestone ofgraduation signifies tremendous victory for young people with CF and theirfamilies, and demonstrates courage and commitment," said Dr. Stephen Hill,president and chief executive officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Forthe sixteenth consecutive year, we are proud to support this deserving anddynamic group of young people in attaining their next academic success. Ourhope is that featuring winners' stories online will result in an increasedawareness of CF and a heightened appreciation of these students'accomplishments."
Winners of the SolvayCARES Scholarship and Thriving Student Achiever awardreceive a one-year scholarship for post-secondary study of any kind through anaccredited program; winners' courses of study can range from vocational schoolto undergraduate degrees to doctoral work. Winners are determined through anapplication process focusing on creativity, academic excellence, communityinvolvement, ability to serve as a role model in the CF com
