The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program™ offers educational scholarships to people living with epilepsy, family members and caregivers to help them fulfill their dreams. Since 2005, UCB has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 600 deserving people who have applied their awards to undergraduate and graduate studies.
UCB will award thirty scholarships to people living with epilepsy, their family members and caregivers pursuing higher education. 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.
Registration for the scholarship program opens in January.
Program Information and History
Outstanding accomplishments deserve recognition. The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program™ is celebrating 20 years of offering financial support to people living with epilepsy, their family members, and/or caregivers who demonstrate academic and personal excellence.
Visit Website for Eligibility Requirements
UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program™
c/o Summit Medical Communications
1421 E. Broad Street, Suite 340
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Fax: (919) 567-7591
Yes, the essay is a mandatory part of the application. Artistic presentations, which are optional, may include CDs, PowerPoint presentations, sketches, paintings, writing samples (e.g., poetry or short stories, etc.), or a scrapbook. Electronic files may be uploaded on the "My Essay" tab. Please note these items will not be returned.
School official: A school official is any employee of the school in which you are enrolled; this includes, but is not limited to, teachers, special-interest group instructors, or coaches.
Community member: A community member is someone whom the applicant knows well, such as an athletic instructor or coach, or a member of a community special-interest group, such as the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, etc.
Healthcare team member: A healthcare team member includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or any certified practitioner who is directly involved in the medical care of the patient with epilepsy. If the applicant is a family member and/or caregiver of someone with epilepsy, this section should be completed by the healthcare team member that cares for the patient with epilepsy.
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program™ in 2015, we asked previous winners to tell us what winning the scholarship meant to them