Alzheimer’s Awareness teen scholarship entries due March 1

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering scholarships of up to $5,000 to college-bound high school seniors affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses as part of its annual Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship. Entries can be submitted at alzfdn.org/scholarship and must be received by 5 p.m., Sunday, March 1.

Eligible teens are invited to apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay, 1,500 words maximum, or a video, no more than four minutes long, describing how Alzheimer’s disease has shaped their lives, what they have learned about themselves, their family and/or their community through their experience with Alzheimer’s, and how they plan to advocate or raise awareness in the future.

The contest recognizes the emotional, academic and personal challenges young people often face when a loved one is living with the disease. By amplifying student voices, the program aims to raise awareness, foster empathy and support the next generation as they pursue higher education while honoring the resilience of families affected by Alzheimer’s.

Examples of ways that Alzheimer’s impacted a student’s life can include: having a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness; helping care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-related illness; volunteering or working in a care setting that serves individuals with dementia; raising Alzheimer’s awareness in their school or community; or conducting Alzheimer’s research.

The program is open to current high school seniors living in the United States who will be attending a U.S. college or university this fall. Students already attending college are not eligible to participate.

The top prize awarded is a $5,000 scholarship. Additional prizes are awarded for runners up and honorable mentions. More than $527,000 in college scholarships have been awarded since the program’s inception.