Cystic Fibrosis Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Emily's Light Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Description

**What the scholarship is:** The Emily’s Light scholarships honor Emily Inin Burnett by supporting post-secondary students in the cystic fibrosis (CF) community who demonstrate the positive attitude, energy, and achievements Emily exemplified. The awards are intended to recognize academic and personal accomplishment and to encourage continued educational pursuit among people with CF. The program emphasizes inspiration and community connection rather than need-based financial criteria.

Key takeaways:
- Honors Emily Inin Burnett and her legacy.
- Targets students in the cystic fibrosis community.
- Focuses on educational and personal achievement.
- Awards celebrate inspirational qualities as well as scholastic success.

History of the Award

**Origin and intent:** The scholarship was founded to preserve Emily’s legacy of optimism, drive, and achievement and to extend those values to others facing CF. Organizers created the awards to spotlight students who mirror Emily’s spirit in both school and life. The program has been structured to maintain personal ties to Emily’s circle while connecting to the broader CF treatment and research community.

Key takeaways:
- Created to preserve Emily’s legacy of inspiration.
- Emphasizes character traits as well as academic success.
- Built with connections to Emily’s family, friends, and the CF community.

Eligibility

**Who may apply:** Applicants must have a confirmed diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and be accepted into, and registered to attend, an accredited post-secondary institution for the fall term. The educational institution must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. No other eligibility qualifiers (such as geographic residency or financial need) are specified in the program description.

Key takeaways:
- Applicant must be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
- Must be accepted and registered for fall enrollment at a post-secondary institution.
- Institution must be accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
- No additional qualification criteria are listed in the basic program description.

Award Value

**Amount and frequency:** Awards are one-time grants with amounts determined by the funding cycle and applicant pool; individual awards are capped at $3,000. The program dispenses no more than ten scholarships in any single funding cycle. Exact award amounts may vary from cycle to cycle depending on the number of qualified applicants and available funds.

Key takeaways:
- Awards are one-time payments.
- Individual award capped at $3,000.
- Maximum of 10 awards per funding cycle.
- Award size varies with applicant volume and available funding.

Selection and Review Process

**How recipients are chosen:** An independent review committee — primarily composed of people who knew Emily and professionals connected to CF treatment or research — assesses all applications. Evaluations focus on essay responses, school and extracurricular achievements, and writing quality; the awards are merit-based. The committee scores applications and selects recipients based on those merit criteria.

Key takeaways:
- Independent committee reviews applications.
- Committee membership includes people who knew Emily and CF professionals.
- Evaluation criteria: essays, academic and extracurricular achievements, writing quality.
- Awards are merit-based.

Application Timeline and Disbursement

**Notification and payment schedule:** Selected applicants are notified in late August. Once selections are made, funds are sent directly to the recipient’s educational institution, typically within ten business days of notification. Applicants should plan their enrollment and financial schedules with these timelines in mind.

Key takeaways:
- Recipients are notified in late August.
- Funds are sent directly to the institution, usually within ~10 business days of notification.
- Applicants should align enrollment and billing expectations with this schedule.

Public Recognition

**Acknowledgment of recipients:** Scholarship recipients are publicly acknowledged on the Emily’s Light website and in the program newsletter. This recognition highlights awardees to the community and helps raise awareness of Emily’s legacy and the achievements of those receiving support. Public acknowledgment is part of the program’s commitment to community-building.

Key takeaways:
- Recipients listed on the Emily’s Light website.
- Recipients announced in the program newsletter.
- Public recognition aims to celebrate awardees and promote community awareness.