Two students in the Ohio Buckeye Chapter area were awarded college scholarships from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Megan Molnar - Kathryn Dailey Tribute Fund Scholarship Recipient
Megan Molnar graduated first in her class from Springfield High School, located in New Middletown, OH . She plans to attend Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA to major in physical therapy.

"I have seen how beneficial physical therapy can be for a person with a physical handicap," Molnar said about her choice of study. "I want to have the chance to be a part of making someone's life easier."

Molnar's mother, Jill, was diagnosed with secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis about 14 years ago so she grew up knowing the full impact of life with a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. At a very young age, she learned how to help around the house by cleaning, doing the laundry, going grocery shopping, making dinner and running errands. She also grew up knowing the benefits of hard wok by doing daily chores on her family's farm. Under the direction of her father, Richard, the family runs Molnar Farms, a grain and produce farm known for its farmer's market.

Besides her mother, Molnar has been inspired by her uncle who also lived with MS and several other family members including Megan's great-grandmother lived with the disease.

Megan received the Kathryn Daily Tribute Fund Scholarship, in memory of Kathryn Dailey, Vice President of Programs and Services. Over the course of 20 years, Daily developed many national programs to benefit people living with MS and was instrumental in the growth of the Society's Scholarship Program.

Cassandra Shull - National MS Society Scholarship Recipient
Cassandra graduated from Ramstein High School in Germany, where is is living with her father, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Shull of the United States Air Force, who is the Director of Operations for the 21st Operational Weather Squadron at the Sembach Air Base. The Shulls will be returning to the United States in July and Cassandra will be attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha to study secondary education.

Shull was 15-years-old when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At a very young age, she learned to adapt to giving herself injections of a disease-modifying drug that slows the progression of MS. While there is no cure for MS, she has kept an open mind and a positive attitude.

"I think multiple sclerosis has not affected me that much in a negative way because I do not let it, " Cassandra said. "I keep looking positively into the future when someday there will be no such thing as an incurable multiple sclerosis patient. Until that day, I am going to keep living my life like I normally would with or without the disease."

"For the Shull family, the Molnar family and other families who deal with emotional and financial hardships of living with multiple sclerosis, we are grateful to be able to supply scholarship assistance," said Janet Kramer, president of the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National MS Society. "We are hopeful the scholarship program will give families some relief."

The Society established the Scholarship Program in 2003 for people living with MS or their children who were pursuing a college or technical school education. Applications are evaluated based on financial need, academic record, leadership and volunteer activities, a statement of educational and career goals, a personal statement about MS and letters of recommendation.

Scholarship applications for 2010 will be available on the Society's website beginning October 15, 2009. The 2010 application process will close on January 15, 2010. To receive an application, please call 800-537-4180 ext. 471 or visit the National MS Society's Scholarship page.