Scholar Stories

Our scholarship recipients are insightful and inspiring. Read their award-winning essays to learn more about them and their individual journey.

Scholar Stories

Our scholarship recipients are insightful and inspiring. Read their award-winning essays to learn more about them and their individual journey.

Scholarships Awarded

million awarded

childhood cancer recipients

meet sydney

Survivorship to me is living your own truth. Living your life without any model, actor, or tv s…

meet sophia

My diagnosis does not define who I am, but it has changed my outlook on life and turned me into…

meet tyler

Cancer, paradoxically, strengthened a young man in love with life who aspires to conquer challe…

meet nataleigh

I cannot say what my life would be like now if I had not battled cancer, but I can certainly sa…

meet gabriela

I want to show other kids battling cancer they can still live life to the fullest and be normal…

meet sangita

Looking back, my experiences with childhood cancer have taught me to always be inclusive and em…

meet trey

I know from experience my goals and dreams can change based on life's surprises. As long as I p…

meet emily

Due to cancer, I gained closer bonds with my family and friends, I gained a love for leadership…

meet malia

The tragedy that some viewed as catastrophic, I saw as a basis for my purpose in life.

meet max

By using my own experience as a survivor and advocate, I hope to make a positive impact and bri…

meet troy

As I look towards the future, the impact that cancer left on me will forever fuel my motivation…

meet nina

I am on a new path now, healthy, and surrounded by new friends, some old friends, and new exper…

meet natalie

My experiences and my family's experiences with my cancer treatment have inspired me to seek a …

But now I have an opportunity to not only keep growing as a student and an engineer but as a pe…

My journey as a survivor has exposed me to the importance of understanding not only the broken …

Because of my difficult experience, and the people that helped me through my illness, my ultima…

When I doubted whether I could be stronger than this disease, the voice would cry out, "Fight i…

Each hole now represents what my successful cancer treatment afforded me - the opportunity to a…

My disease was nothing but a reminder that there is no fear as long as you don't show it.

We cannot always control the obstacles in our path, but we can control the new direction we tak…

Surviving cancer has changed the goals I have for my education and my future career. More impor…

From accepting seemingly incandescent burns from vaccines to making friends with the looming po…

My encounter with cancer ceased to be a negative experience as soon as I shifted my perspective…

If there is anything cancer has taught me, it is that our purpose here on earth is bigger than …

Cancer helped me to see that I want to help people who are like me, and I have created my caree…

I don't want to see others held back by their health challenges either. I can use my health set…

meet david

This world can take you, and any potential legacy, without any warning. What matters is how you…

Forever grateful for the endless support I received, I made it my mission to reciprocate it by …

As many challenges come my way, I've seemed to create an increasingly picturesque mosaic throug…

In the future, I want to help anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis. I didn't let cancer stop …

The perspective cancer gave me is life is wonderful, and to care for others, because we aren't …

"Perspective" is a word always present in my home. We see things differently than most. We don'…

I have been forever changed, and I appreciate the smallest triumphs because of these overwhelmi…

I realize that I matured through my treatment and as I moved through survivorship. My eyes were…

"I want to use my skills with art to make the world a better place. To inspire good and allow p…

I want to teach others how to believe in conquering "the impossible," how to move past their li…

At center court seeing the faces of all of those I know that have been touched by cancer chanti…

I will do all that is in my power to help those that now suffer from cancer. If I can keep one …

Survivorship means never forgetting, forever being grateful, and giving back to those in need.<…

As a survivor myself, I see my job is to be an ambassador for those who can't speak to reach mo…

For me survivorship means living my life to the fullest unapologetically. Other children like C…

No matter where I am, I think back to that Wednesday, and it reminds me of my purpose each and …

So, what does survivorship mean to me? It is invaluable. Through my solitude I learned more abo…

But survivorship is acknowledging the scars and pain cancer caused me, and then making a daily …

Being a survivor does not mean that you have beat cancer; being a survivor means that you live …

Being a survivor is finding the joy in the smell of rain on the pavement, the peace in the dram…

This is what survivorship means to me; all of the lessons that cancer has taught me so that I c…

Survivorship means I get a first chance at seeing something that I was missing before.

The mindset around mental health in our society must adapt, so that we can help those who need …

Survivorship is not only the way one gets through their cancer, but also the way they help othe…

The true weight of survivorship is defined by the "how" and "what," of the journey. How did you…

Survivorship is moving past staying alive and truly living...Survivorship is appreciating the w…

There is no one meaning to "Survivorship" in the process of living through cancer. It is a flui…

The truth is that pain, hurt and fear all have their place in survivorship as much as joy, fun …

From the mountain of cancer I hope to remember my perseverance, the people who helped me on the…

Survivorship allows me appreciate the storms in my life and to be even more thankful for the ra…

I realized that I needed to separate my mind from my body. If I kept treating the two as one, I…

Survivorship meant becoming a better, stronger me.

Because of the strengths that surviving cancer gave me, my freshman year was the greatest year …

Surviving cancer means to me that you have stood up to the biggest bully on the block and you w…

Survivorship is an act of endurance-- no matter what the final outcome may be. I resolutely bel…

Survivorship is fighting through something so terrible and being able to make an impact on othe…

Survivorship means that you get to push the restart button on your life so that you can experie…

As a survivor, I have refused to allow cancer to keep me from prospering in my young adult life…

"Cancer taught me that nothing in life, even survivorship and cancer, are permanent."

"If I had never gone through the experience of battling leukemia, I would have never been given…

"The responsibility of survivorship is a sense of selflessness and a sense of purpose."

"So if you ask me 'What does survivorship mean to you?'… it means living and sharing! It mean…

"Survivorship may mean different things depending on who you ask, but I think what’s really i…

"Survivorship is a new life. New life is not something to take for granted."

"I survived, and that means I now have the potential to not only live, but to truly thrive. Iâ€â€¦

"Looking back on my experiences, I feel that I have been given a unique opportunity to help kid…

"Survivorship is the memory of hunger. The hunger for life, for one more day, one more smile, o…

"If it weren’t for others helping me conquer my battle with leukemia when I was a young child…

"Survivorship should not be based on living or dying. Survivorship should be based on how hard …

"I am embracing my life whole-heartedly, and chasing my survivorship with both hands, holding o…

"While it is true that not all cancer patients overcome the disease, it is true that we are all…

"Now my idea of survivorship is to take the experiences developed during my cancer battle and t…

"Cancer survivorship has blessed me in many ways. I have the ability to enjoy the little things…

"Survivorship means I am a warrior; I am courageous; I am strong; I am a lionheart."

"The moment I became a survivor, I took the initiative to heal, and educate myself about cancer…

"Life is too short to sit around waiting, and if I can inspire others with my story to take lif…

"I'm not sure how yet, but I want to use my light to brighten the world."

"Survivorship means living and fighting every day for myself, those who have lost the fight, an…

"I realized that this was what survivorship meant: working for not only your survival and quali…

"Surviving cancer taught me that I am stronger and able to accomplish much more than I realize.…

"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You cannot withstand the storm,' and the warrior whispers back,…

"I may not have many memories of being in the hospital, but I do deserve the title 'cancer surv…

"Survivorship to me is using my story to inspire others, remembering that my courage is bigger …

"Survivorship means living every single day with the primary outlook of gratitude."

"My undying adventure in a hospital bed has given me a critical life lesson: it is not how long…

"Having been the recipient of tremendous compassion and being touched by numerous incredible fo…

"My entire world view today is directly due to the personal growth I experienced throughout tre…

"I am not a survivor just because the cancer is no longer visible on computer images; I am a su…

"What does survivorship really mean to me? It means a second chance at life."

"To be a survivor means so much more than surviving the battle and claiming victory. "

"To me survivorship means that you have weathered a storm and come out a different person. Some…

"Surviving is living beyond cancer and enjoying life again."

"Survivorship means that I will live in the moment, be confident in my contribution and intenti…

"Currently, I am living as a survivor which I now understand is an immense gift not to be taken…

"Survival is not simply merely existing , it is living your life every day fully and completely…

"Survivorship is a privilege, and I am grateful every single day for how lucky I am. I am proud…

"Survivorship is much more than a word that explains my success, it embodies the journey that I…

"Survivorship is something that you earn, whether it be during or after your experience."

"Life is far too fragile to waste by pursuing comfort and hunting safety"

"I don't go a single day without thinking the phrase, I may have had Cancer, but Cancer never h…

"This is the calling of survivorship. It is embracing your experience to inspire others to keep…

"Survivorship means always keeping courage close to your heart and to show others how it is pos…

"You can either focus on the disease, the sickness, and the possibility of dying or you can rea…

"Survivorship is grasping onto your life with clenched hands, not allowing one more second to b…

"I have learned to be resilient in the face of challenges that come my way."

"All that I do is survive because surviving is my only option..."

"Being a survivor... has taught me what is important, and showed me how vital it is to live eve…

"To me, its learning that survivorship is not a title but rather a state of being."

"Life is a fragile thing, and we never know the moment it will end, but I want to live all of t…

"Someday, I hope I will be the one that allows a patient and their family to breathe a sigh of …

"Cancer has helped me discover what I love doing."

"Cancer does not define me, but it has contributed tremendously to the person that I am today."…

"My cancer experience is essential to me; it has taught me that the light at the end of the tun…

"I had cancer. This fact alone does not define me. However, it is an important part of my journ…

"Survivorship does last a lifetime. I am able to appreciate the opportunities I am given and I …

"My experience taught me that we are measured by how we handle life's adversities."

"I am more focused on what I want to achieve in life and the direction I am headed. I fought th…

"I am a survivor and I will make something from it."

"Today I am cancer-free, empowered by the lessons I learned, and thankful for my life."

"Childhood is defined by the development of character, built on moments of discovery, success, …

"Looking back now, I can say that I'm actually glad that I had cancer."

"It is much more freeing to put the disease out in the open instead or trying to forget it."

"It is much more freeing to put the disease out in the open instead or trying to forget it."

"I am a 19-year-old cancer survivor; there is nothing that I can't do!"

"The most important thing we can do as a cancer survivor is share our experience."

"Cancer ATTACKED...Cancer TOOK...Cancer LOST...Cassie SURVIVED!!!"

"Because of cancer I could see the world, and I loved what I saw."

"I built mental strength and determination to do whatever it took to face these challenges."

"I don't think I'll ever stop trying to make an impact or changes for the better. This is what …

"My mom said that without The National Children's Cancer Society, she honestly has no idea how …

"Challenges continue with my vision but I have tools under my sleeve to combat their moves."

"My diagnosis and treatment also instilled in me the importance of living a healthy lifestyle."…

"As cancer survivor, I am not a 'one size fits all' kind of person so finding a place where I f…

"No cancer survivor is truly cancer-free. I will carry it with me for the rest of my life."

…

"Through my survivorship I have finally understood life is sacred"

"When fighting my battle against cancer I was challenged physically, socially and spiritually."…

"anyone on treatment should focus on the positives and look toward the future when things aren'…

"Life is hard, fun, sad and very unpredictable, but I believe cancer has given me the drive to …

"Cancer was the worst thing that happened to me. I lost my hair, my friends, and my freedom...y…

"What an amazing gift to receive...life. Better yet, what an incredible gift to give."

"I think about cancer every day. It gives me the drive and the passion to do everything that I …

"I will do whatever it takes to prove that cancer has not conquered me"

"I became a believer that we are only given the challenges that we will be able to handle."

…

"Cancer is merely one of my stories. The subject is not a sensitive one for me because my goal …

"At the age of fourteen, my life changed forever. I went on a journey that most teenagers would…

"I know I have been given a gift and cannot waste my life just waiting for the cancer to return…