Jul 09, 2009
2009 Scholarship Winner Announced
Anne Handley
KENTUCKY CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2009 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Three students awarded $11,000 in scholarships to support educational goals
Louisville, KY— The Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the National MS Society has announced this year’s recipients of its annual Scholarship Program:
Joseph Falleri, Jr., 18, a graduate of Butler High School in Louisville, KY. Falleri has received $3,000 in college scholarship funds and will attend the University of Louisville.
Kelli Johnson, 19, a graduate of Ohio County High School in Hartford, KY. Johnson has received $2,000 in college scholarship funds and will attend Murray State University in Murray, KY.
Anna Palmer, 19, a graduate of Crittenden County High School in Marion, KY. Palmer has received $6,000 in college scholarship funds, including a 2-year award, and will attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Although MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited, both Falleri, and his mother, live with the disease. In his personal essay describing the effect of MS on his life, Falleri describes being a young boy and taking care of himself, as his mother’s MS symptoms, including fatigue and problems with memory, would affect her physical capabilities. He would aid in her health needs, often limiting his own time for extracurricular activities. Falleri cites his mom as his inspiration and says, “She gives me the confidence to keep striving.”
Johnson has lived with MS since age 15. In her personal essay describing the effect of MS on her life, Johnson states, “Although when I was first diagnosed I feared the future I might have. But now I have turned that fear into determination and now I pursue my goals with force.” She says with medication injections she feels closer to her goals in life, one which is to become a teacher and leave her mark on the world by educating children.
Palmer’s father was diagnosed with MS when she was 8 years old. She describes how the MS diagnosis changed her family’s life forever, stating, “Nothing is left untouched by the menacing specter of MS.” The various MS medications prescribed to her father to help with his symptoms have sparked her own interest in science. She wants to pursue a degree in pharmacy or epidemiology to better understand the causes and cures for MS.
Program Continues To Grow Across the Country
The Society established its scholarship program six years ago, and it immediately became a source of great encouragement for families concerned that MS might put college out of reach. The scholarship program helps students affected by multiple sclerosis pursue a college or technical school education. It is open to high school seniors who live with MS or have a parent who does; or anybody living with MS who has not yet been to a post-secondary school.
This year, 509 awards totaling $1,021,600 were presented nationwide. Applications are evaluated on financial need, academic record, leadership and volunteer activities, a statement of educational and career goals, and letters of recommendation. Applicants are also asked to provide a personal statement describing the impact MS has had on their life. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000 and typically cover one year.
In addition to the emotional toll, MS can have a substantial financial impact on a family. The direct and indirect costs of MS, including lost wages — even for those with health insurance — are estimated at more than $30,000 annually, or $2.2 million over a lifetime. This makes funding a college education that much harder.
“For the Falleri, Johnson and Palmer families and the hundreds of thousands diagnosed with MS across the country, there are very few known sources of scholarship assistance specially targeted for these families,” said Stacy Funk, President of the Kentucky-Southeast Indiana Chapter of the National MS Society. “MS shouldn’t stand in the way of an education, and we are hopeful this program will give families some relief.”
Information about scholarships for 2010-11 will be available on the National MS Society Web site beginning on Oct. 1, 2009, and applications will be due by mid-January 2010. For more information, call 1-800-344-4867 or visit www.nationalMSsociety.org.