Type 1 diabetes scholarships are among the thousands available for students seeking financial assistance before heading to college. Scholarships for those with type 1 diabetes are as varied as the students themselves.
There are ones focused on athletes, geographic location, area of study and many more and type 1 diabetes scholarships have made millions of dollars available for deserving students.
Want to see the diabetes scholarship list? Scroll down
The Diabetes Scholars Foundation is one of the leading organizations to offer scholarships. Since 2008 the foundation has awarded more than $1.6 million in college scholarships to students with type 1 diabetes. Recently, the foundation was brought under the umbrella of Beyond Type 1. A nonprofit, Beyond Type 1 was founded in 2015 with the goal of changing what it means to live with the chronic illness through education, advocacy, and philanthropy.
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In 2018, the two groups started working together, which was a welcome move, according to Mary Podjasek. One of the Diabetes Scholars Foundation’s co-founders, she now serves as program manager for the Diabetes Scholars.
“I could not have found a better organization than Beyond Type 1 to partner with. They are an organization like no other and the transition has been flawless,” she said. “What’s new for me is the unbelievable support that I receive from everyone at BT1. Their energy and positive atmosphere is so refreshing to see in an organization.”
This year, the Diabetes Scholars program awarded 56 type 1 diabetes scholarships.
Individuals and organizations/corporations are welcome to create their own scholarships for the 2020 Diabetes Scholars cycle. Scholarships given out through Diabetes Scholars are $1,000 – $5,000 each. Applications open the first week of January and type 1 diabetes scholarship recipients are notified each June.
“Every year when I call students to let them know that they are receiving a scholarship, it is one of the best days of the year for me. These scholarships have changed the lives of young adults living with Type 1 diabetes,” says Podjasek. “Each recipient is so grateful for the scholarship…Living with Type 1 diabetes is hard work, and we hope that this program helps ease some small piece of that burden.”
Type 1 diabetes scholarships from Beyond Type 1
Diabetes Scholars
Amount: $1,000 to $5,000
Deadline: Closed for 2019. 2019-2020 school year information not yet available
Eligibility: High school seniors headed to college/university in 2019 living with type 1 diabetes
Diabetes scholars offer general scholarships open to high school seniors headed to college/university in 2019 living with type 1 diabetes. They also offer a set of scholarships with unique parameters like prospective major, geographic location, or excellence in athletics or the arts.
There is one application to be considered for any and all of the type 1 diabetes scholarships – all students who fill out the application will be considered for those scholarships that match them.
Below is a list of type 1 diabetes scholarships awarded in 2019 by Diabetes Scholars. Click here for more information and applications from the Diabetes Scholars Foundation.
Dexcom Scholarships
Eligibility: STEM Majors
Amount: Ten $1,000 scholarships
Omnipod® System Dash to College Scholarships
Eligibility: Students with T1D provided by Insulet Corporation
Amount: Five $5,000 scholarships
The Medtronic Diabetes Future Leaders Scholarships
Eligibility: Young women pursuing a STEM major
Amount: Ten $5,000 scholarships
The JDRF Medical/Research Scholarship
Eligibility: Student majoring in Healthcare
Amount: $2,000 scholarship
The JDRF Advocacy Scholarship
Eligibility: Student majoring in Political Science
Amount: $2,000 scholarship
JDRF Outreach Scholarship
Eligibility: Student majoring in Mental Health (Psychology/Social Work)
Amount: $2,000 scholarship
JDRF Rising Star Scholarship
Eligibility: Incoming freshmen with type 1 diabetes
Amount: $2,000 scholarship
Bambi Northwood Blyth Scholarship
Eligibility: Young woman with type 1 diabetes
Amount: $2,000 scholarship
Family of Bradley Gendron Scholarship
Eligibility: Resident of Colorado
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Family of Josh Smith Scholarship
Eligibility: Resident of Ohio
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Family of Nicky Randazzo Scholarship
Eligibility: Business Major
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Type 1 for 70 years Scholarships
Eligibility: Students living with type 1 diabetes
Amount: Five $5,000 scholarships
Brzozowski Family Veterinary Scholarship
Eligibility: Students who are currently sophomores or juniors in veterinary school
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Henry Jensen Scholarship
Eligibility: Social Justice or Advocacy student living with type 1 diabetes
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Oldenburg Family Scholarship
Eligibility: Student attending a school in Georgia
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Beyond Type 1 Scholarships
Eligibility: Students living with type 1 diabetes
Amount: Ten $1,000 scholarships
Aibel Family Scholarship
Eligibility: Student living with type 1 diabetes
Amount: $1,000 scholarship
Type 1 Willpower Scholarship
Eligibility: Student who will be a Division I athlete
Amount: $2,500 scholarship
Type 1 Willpower Scholarship
Eligibility: Student from New Jersey
Amount: $2,500 scholarship
Additional type 1 diabetes scholarships
Scott And Kim Verplank Foundation
Amount: $10,000 (renewable for up to four years)
Deadline: April 15, 2020
Eligibility: High school senior, childhood diagnosis of T1D, 3.0 GPA or higher, participation on an organized athletic team, U.S. Citizen
The Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation provides annually, renewable college scholarships to undergraduate students of up to $10,000 to be used toward tuition, student fees, and books. Type 1 diabetes scholarships are renewable for up to a maximum of four years for any one recipient based on completing the renewal requirements.
Team Type 1 Scholarships
Amount: 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to 5,000 with two $10,000 scholarships
Deadline: March 31, 2020. Application opens in January
Eligibility: Students with Type 1 diabetes who are/will be attending an accredited NAIA & NCAA Institution and who compete in an NAIA & NCAA sport. Minimum GPA of 3.0.
Team Type 1 is funding scholarships in order to recognize young, talented athletes with type 1 diabetes who demonstrate an ability to balance both academic and sporting commitments, athletes who want to use their sport to educate, empower and inspire, and support families already burdened with additional expenses associated with diabetes care. The group’s goal is to develop the next generation of leaders who will stand and fight for people with diabetes around the world.
Novo Nordisk Donnelly Award
Amount: $2,500 – $5,000
Deadline: Must sign up for deadline information
Eligibility: Young tennis players suffering from diabetes
The awards provide college scholarships to young tennis players suffering from diabetes and are named after two long-time World Team Tennis executives and tennis champions, Diane Donnelly Stone and Tracey Donnelly Maltby. Students must demonstrate financial need.
Applications are available on the World Team Tennis Charities website in the ‘Events, Clubs, and Awards’ section.
Nightscout Foundation
Amount: N/A
Deadline: The Scholarship Application Period for 2019-2020 begins February 1, 2020. The application period ends on Sunday, March 31, 2020.
Eligibility: Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, admitted student to an accredited College or University, minimum GPA of 2.5,
One of the founding goals of the Nightscout Foundation was to provide resources for the next generation of hackers, citizen scientists, engineers, DIYers and do-gooders in the type 1 community. To that end, they have created the Nightscout Foundation Community Scholarship program. The purpose of the program is to award one-time merit based type 1 diabetes scholarship monies to students pursuing advanced degrees.
Aimee Melissa Davis Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: 2019-2020 school year information not yet available
Eligibility: High school seniors with type 1 diabetes from a Travis, Hays or Williamson County, Texas.
The Austin Community Foundation’s scholarship program provides additional opportunities to community members pursuing their educational goals. Since 1996, the Foundation has awarded $6.5 million in type 1 diabetes scholarships. Each year, they award approximately 400 scholarships totaling more than $600,000. A majority of the type 1 diabetes scholarships support students from Central Texas or students at local educational institutions. After completing the general application, each applicant is automatically matched to over 100 scholarship opportunities of which they qualify for.
Type 1 Champions Scholarship Program – Kids With Courage Foundation
Amount: $1,000 – $2,500
Deadline: 2019-2020 school year information not yet available
Eligibility: Graduating seniors and current college students with type 1 diabetes that live in Missouri or Kansas
Kids With Courage Foundation awards scholarships to young people with type 1 diabetes. The Type 1 Champions Scholarship program has been created to help students realize their college dreams.
