Scholarships for Students Who Are Caregivers

Amount: $1,000

Description:  180 Medical offers a scholarship program to ease the financial burden of attending an institution of higher education by helping students pay for tuition and education-related expenses.  

Applicant Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a college or university full time in the fall with the intent to pursue an associate’s, undergraduate, or graduate degree. Medical school students do not qualify. Proof of enrollment (current transcript or acceptance letter) is required. 

Application Requirements: To be considered for the 2024 180 Medical Ron Howell Caregiver Scholarship, applicants can apply online or download and submit an application via email or mail. Written responses to application questions, an essay or video, a current official transcript, and a copy of a college acceptance letter or other proof of enrollment are required.

All essays and videos must be the applicant’s original work. Essays must be a maximum of 750 words and videos cannot exceed 5 minutes. Your essay or video should describe who you are caring for, your responsibilities, and how being a caregiver has influenced your life and career goals.

All essays and videos must be the applicant’s original work. Essays must be a maximum of 750 words and videos cannot exceed 5 minutes. Your essay or video should describe who you are caring for, your responsibilities, and how being a caregiver has influenced your life and career goals.

Please do not contact 180 Medical to check on the status of your scholarship application. 

Where to Apply: 180 Medical website

Deadline: June 1, 2024

Amount: Varies based on scholarship.

Description: Hope for the Warriors sponsors several scholarships for the spouses and caregivers of post-9/11 war veterans. Awards are available for spouses and caregivers seeking to continue their education at reputable, accredited universities, colleges or trade schools in the U.S.

Applicant Eligibility: Eligibility is based on a spouse or caregiver’s ability to show their post-9/11 service member or veteran sustained a combat-related injury and/or has a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating to include Individual Unemployability.

Application Requirements: Applicants must submit an application form, proof of service and injury or death, an original essay, a two-page questionnaire, and one letter of recommendation.

Where to Apply: Hope for the Warriors Scholarship page

Deadline: Fall and Spring applications are offered. All 2024 spring scholarships have been awarded. The application deadline for the 2024 fall award cycle is April 30.

Amount: Up to $1,500

Description: The Road Scholar’s Caregiver Grants award up to $1,500 to caregivers to apply towards the cost of any Road Scholar program that costs up to $2,000.

Applicant Eligibility: All unpaid primary caregivers over the age of 50 who provide daily care and support for an ill or disabled family member are eligible for the grant. Eligible applicants must live in the United States.

Application Requirements: Interested caregivers must complete an online application, including a 250-500 word personal statement describing why the applicant wants to participate in a Road Scholar program and how the experience will affect them as a caregiver.

Where to Apply: Road Scholar website

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply approximately 3 months before their selected program start date. Applications submitted less than 6 weeks before a program begins will not be reviewed.

Amount: Two $5,000 grand prizes, two $2,500 second-place awards, two $1,250 third-place awards, and several other awards ranging from $400 to $750.

Description: The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America holds a yearly teen scholarship essay contest that asks high school seniors who have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease to write an essay or submit a video about their experience and how it impacted their lives and/or community. In total, AFA typically awards tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarships to contest winners each year.

Applicant Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens and living in the U.S. They must currently be a senior in high school and plan to attend a U.S. college or university in the fall following graduation.

Application Requirements: Students must submit an essay (1,500 word max) or submit a video no more than 4 minutes long describing their experience with Alzheimer’s disease, how it impacted their lives, and what they have learned about themselves, their family, and/or their community.

Where to Apply: AFA Teens website

Deadline: The application deadline for the 2024 award cycle is 5:00 pm ET on April 1, 2024

Amount: Thirty applicants receive scholarships of up to $5,000 each, and three applicants receive scholarships of up to $10,000 each. Amounts may vary in subsequent years.

Description: The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship is available to those diagnosed with epilepsy, as well as their immediate family members and/or caregivers, pursuing higher education.

Applicant Eligibility: Applicants must be high school graduates or graduating in the award year, and be seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate-level degree or be enrolled in a trade school program at a United States-based institution.

Application Requirements: The application includes a one-page personal essay, three letters of recommendation, a medical history form for the person with epilepsy, and a copy of the applicant’s most recent academic transcript.

Where to Apply: UCB scholarship website

Deadline: The deadline for the 2024 scholarship cycle is Friday, March 15.

Justin is studying cognitive science at the University of California, Davis and is a caregiver for his grandfather. He hopes to use his education to create technology that helps improve others’ quality of life.

This is his caregiving story, submitted with his scholarship application.

In 1971, my grandfather, whom I call Ong Ngoai, came to the University of Oklahoma to study Air Traffic Control. Since then, Ong Ngoai struggles to find that same independence that took him 8243 miles alone from home in Vietnam. His next birthday will be his 79th, and his old age coupled with various health problems often leaves him relying on me — an 18 year old freshman student going into the University of California, Davis.

My grandfather requires care in nearly all aspects of his life. Ong Ngoai suffers from both smoking and gambling addictions, and is hard of hearing since his fall in 2019. He has also been generally weak and even forgetful after his fall, sometimes having trouble walking longer distances. As a family we agreed that it would be best for him to move into senior housing in 2020. Amidst writing my college applications, I found time to make Ong Ngoai’s transition into senior housing one of my most immediate priorities. I spent days packing his belongings in between essay writing, accompanying Ong Ngoai to frequent hearing aid appointments while going to my own college interviews, and even moving money from my savings account to help pay for the first month’s rent. While supporting my grandfather’s transition into old age and confronting his mortality can be a challenge, it has helped me realize the strong presences we have in each other’s lives.

A part of me is torn to confront Ong Ngoai’s mortality — the fact that I will likely outlive one of my best friends. I visit my grandfather nearly everyday after school and athletic practices to care for him. I have spent so much time and shown so much love to him that he often calls me his son, an honor in our culture. I make sure he eats, I clean the house and himself, and I am there to provide him the emotional support he needs. On 3 separate occasions, Ong Ngoai has called me crying to ask me to be by his side while he feels that he is dying. These are heartbreaking moments. Though I am emotional each time, I never fault Ong Ngoai for his “false alarms.” I am only relieved to be by his side when he overcomes his weaker moments. As parts of my grandfather’s life change, I am happy to be the reassuring support he needs.

Although I have wanted to help people like how I help my grandfather, choosing my major was not always clear. I am a Cognitive Science major — a study that intersects computer programming, human relationships, with mechanical and biological cognition. By helping my grandfather and volunteering in hospice care, I began to understand how machines truly help people. For my Ong Ngoai, hearing aids have made a world of difference for him. He can communicate with his family, share stories that need to be kept alive, and articulate the love that he has in him. Spending my summer volunteering in hospice care at Vitas Healthcare also confirmed to me the impact that passionate healthcare professionals and computers can have together. I was fortunate to work with patients to order technology that dramatically altered their qualities of life or to see linguists use artificial intelligence to reteach syntaxes and morphemes. My experiences confirmed that AI has an incredibly bright future in helping people.

At UC Davis, I plan to continue studying artificial intelligence in health/senior care, so that I may further research on machine learning in my professional career. I think of subjects like computer-assisted surgical systems, enhanced prosthetics, and much more. Coupled with the endless possibilities for AI, I aim to find ways to improve others’ qualities of life, and would be honored if the Caring.com Scholarship Committee chose to help me pursue this study. This scholarship would greatly help my family afford an education at UC Davis, while also alleviating the costs and pressures of senior care. In short, this scholarship would help me continue on a path of helping others.

Kalkidan is a nursing student at Georgetown University and plans to become an acute care adult –gerontology nurse practitioner. She has worked as a professional caregiver and is a caregiver to her mother.

This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

At an early age, helping my mother with her illness gave me exposure to the healthcare field. Through her medical journey, I have noticed the difficulty of communication between patients and doctors from different cultures. My first experience was when my mother was misheard by her doctor, which caused a mishap with her diabetes medication. What surprised me more was that my mother was not alone; many of my relatives and friends experienced the same issue. This motivated me to step in and be the bridge between my mother and her doctor. While being the bridge, I had to communicate with the doctors about my mother’s health issues and provide her healthcare support. Through my communication with doctors, I noticed that the nurses were more patient with my mother and were aware of the cultural differences that influenced her treatment care. I realized that my work experiences as a caregiver and awareness of culture dealing with my mother‘s medical care would be helpful to many others if I too became a nurse.

I always had a passion for helping others and assisting with my mother’s recovery guided me into the field of nursing. I valued nurse’s dedication and attentiveness to patients. My work experience as a patient care technician and caregiver exposes me to clinical settings. I have taken care of other patients besides my mother as I wanted to gain more experience in the nursing field. I have assisted patients with their medication and implement treatment plans that doctors assisted to patients. I coordinated their daily activities and made sure the patients were on a schedule. The experiences with my mother’s care caused me to see the lack of resources available for people of color and become part of the solution by working in my community. As a caregiver I have worked in low socioeconomic clinical settings such as Esparanza Clinic and Jefferson Magee Rehabilitation Center so that I can provide the best care for patients who are like my mother. I can help my community by providing quality care to minorities in DC low-income areas. My inspiration to manage a clinic that would advocate for patients derives from my sensitivity for multicultural populations. Coming from a different culture pushed me to be more open-minded, attentive, and versatile which will make me an excellent nurse.

The caregiver scholarship is important to me because it will help me continue my education as a nurse and allow my skills as a caregiver become useful in my journey as a nurse. The scholarship will help pay tuition for school and continue my work on helping others. My personal experience of helping elders with physical disabilities including my mother inspired me to become an acute care adult –gerontology nurse practitioner. I want to work in this population because I want to help elders as they been neglected by others due to their age and other barriers.

I understand that my mother’s socioeconomic status, age, and culture influenced her interaction with her doctor. This motivated me to enter the nursing field and work with doctors to successfully treat patients. Nurses are important in the health field because they are the bridge between the doctor and patient. Since I was the bridge for my mother and her doctor, I want to provide the same connection with future patients.

Michelle Lam is a nursing student at San Jose State University. She has been a caregiver for both her grandpa and grandma, and her caregiving experience inspired her to pursue her career path.

This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as their caregiver?   

In 2014, my mother and I moved back to my childhood home to care for my grandparents. My grandpa was the one who would take my grandma and himself to doctor appointments and grocery shopping. He took care of household chores and cooked for the whole family. When my grandpa contracted pneumonia, his health took a turn for the worse. He was admitted to the hospital for over a month and was diagnosed with COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. During this time, it placed a lot of stress on my mom. She took care of both my grandparents, myself, and was only able to work part-time. I was only a high school student at the time, so I was limited to what I was able to help with while my grandpa was in the hospital. My grandpa was discharged from the hospital under hospice care once he recovered. While at home, I helped with household chores and cooking.    

After six months under hospice care, my grandpa began to regain some independence. He started driving again, cooking for the family, and sometimes went out shopping. In 2018, I decided to change my major and began taking courses at my local community college. This allowed me to live at home with my grandparents. Being close to Chinatown allowed me to pick up my grandparent’s medication every week. I took their temperature and blood pressure every day and would attend their doctor appointments with my mother. I helped my grandpa refill his daily medication as he had to take many kinds to help with his breathing. I set-up and cleaned his nebulizer every night. I also help my grandma check her blood glucose levels twice a day and gave her nightly insulin shots. Unfortunately, toward the end of October of this year, my grandpa was readmitted to the hospital. This time he would pass in November after gaining four and a half years after his diagnosis. I miss him every day but continue to care and cherish the moments I have with my grandma.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?    

Caring for my grandparents has greatly influenced my decision in my career path. I always knew I wanted a career in the medical field, but deciding on nursing was not an obvious choice. As I reflected on the options, the patient care aspect of being a nurse was something I valued. I saw how the nurses took care of my grandpa the first time he was admitted. The nurses were patient in explaining the situation to my mother and our family. They helped my grandpa during his road to recovery. During times of uncertainty and isolation, I would have never imagined beginning my nursing program during a pandemic when I applied last fall. It challenged me to adapt and become flexible every step of the way. My grandparents supported me from the very beginning. When I received my stethoscope, my grandpa was the first person I used it on.     

When a loved one is sick, a person can feel helpless. I have felt that way many times throughout my life with loved ones. My choice to become a nurse was reaffirmed the second time my grandpa was admitted to the hospital. Due to the pandemic, hospital restrictions were strict with visitations. My family and I relied solely on the nurse’s care. The nurses kept us updated on his condition and gave us some comfort while we were away from him. I wanted to withdraw from the program when his health began to deteriorate. I wanted to focus on his health and spend more time with him, but he told me to continue. Losing my grandfather has reminded me of why I am studying to become a nurse. I was successfully able to complete my first semester of nursing school this December. As he watches over me I will continue to strive to become a nurse that provides other patients and their families with the support and attention that other nurses gave to my grandpa and our family.     

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

The scholarship will allow me to spend more time with my grandma. She lost her partner of fifty-nine years, so all she has left is his children and grandchildren. Many of us work or are busy, so she is alone most of the time. This scholarship will allow me more time to spend with her and less time focusing on work. Nursing students are reliant on purchasing their own supplies and are required to purchases many resources before they can begin clinical. This has severely limited the time I am able to care for her. Many resources can improve my understanding of the material, but is costly. The scholarship will also allow me to purchase additional resources that will develop my skills as a nurse. This in turn will improve my relationships with my patients and their families. I will continue to improve myself to better the care of others.

Dianne Wandle is a graduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University who is pursuing her Master of Social Work while acting as a caregiver for her mother-in-law.

This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

My mother-in-law was relocated to my home here in Florida from Indiana; she was living with her husband, whom we determined was overmedicating her and extorting money from her. My husband had no other option but to get her and bring her back because there was no one to care for her, and I supported his decision to do that. My mother-in-law requires a large amount of assistance; she is limited in performing IADL’s in the home. She cannot cook for herself, requires supervision and assistance with bathing, and helps with dressing infrequently. Our day start from 6 am until 10 pm, caring for her needs, setting up medications, preparing meals, and other tasks related to her care; in collaboration with my husband, we tackle these tasks while running our household, me attending full-time college and two jobs to help make ends meet.  Due to COVID, my husband’s income has gone down significantly; because he can generate more income we have decided I will leave my job to be a caregiver to work more; I believe this is a small sacrifice for great good. I have worked in the Area of Aging and disabilities for the last 16 years and only seemed natural for me to pursue my dream to obtain my MSW.

This scholarship will allow me to realize my lifelong dream to become a social worker. As a foster child I was blessed to have a very caring Social Worker who had a  strong presence in my life, and thanks to her I was able to turn my life around. Now I’ve reached a turning point in my life. I raised two amazing sons, I am a cancer survivor. I want to give back and obtaining my MSW and realize my dream of assisting others in need, specifically women and children military veterans, and their families. I want to be to them what my social worker was to me, she truly was my saving grace.         

Because of my passion for determination to help others, I hope you consider me for this scholarship. I have been fortunate to work with Veterans, children, and women at risk in my community some of the most fulfilling moments are giving support to those in need knowing that I can make a small difference. I am grateful for the challenges I have faced for they have developed my character and my desire to want to do more in my community. Thank you for your consideration of my application, this request represents an opportunity for us to join together and improve the quality of life for those who do not have a voice of their own.

Catherine Ironbar is a student at University North Texas Health Science Center who is studying pharmacy and acting as a caregiver for her brother. Catherine was among the more than 950 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners.

This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Heather Elliott is a student at Hartnell College in Salinas, California who is a single mother studying to be a paralegal and caring for her own mother, as well as for an elderly woman and her daughter. Venus was among more than 950 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners. This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

My name is Heather Elliott. I’m 29 years old and am taking care of many people in my life. In 2014, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and began treatment, and by the end of 2015, she had surgery and was officially cancer-free.

In the years after the surgery, my mom has experienced some complications. I’ve been taking my mother to all her appointments, going to her house every day to clean, run errands, cook and help with whatever she needs since she can barely walk and is still in a great deal of pain.

While all of this is going on, I’m also working part-time as a caregiver for an amazing elderly woman who was recently diagnosed with dementia. I started working for her a year ago as a personal assistant and helping with her businesses and rentals, but because of my professional background, her daughter wanted me to transition into her caregiver.

I go in everyday and clean her house, take her to appointments, make sure she’s taking her medications, go for walks with her, prep meals and basically everything a caregiver does, aside from helping her bathe, dress, etc. because she’s not at the stage where she needs that kind of help yet.

This woman has a son who’s a police officer and has taken on handling her finances, so he cannot be there to care for his mother. Her daughter doesn’t work because she has Stage 4 ovarian cancer. A few months ago, the daughter asked if I could help care for her too, since she is not doing well. She’s about 45 years old with a 7-year-old son and is dying of cancer.

I love her and her mother so much that I agreed to take on the responsibility of caring for her, too. I have worked for her for a couple months now and go to her house daily to clean, cook, help her with her son and whatever she needs me to do. I basically have two official caregiver jobs, in addition to taking care of my mother and two children of my own; a 7-year-old and a 10-year-old.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

As a single mother working part-time, this scholarship would be very helpful. I’m a very busy woman, yet I only work about 30 hours a week and am not well paid for what I do. I am unable to work more hours because my schedule has to fit my kids’ school and activities schedules as well as time for my own studies.

I live alone and have been struggling to cover all of my bills. I mentioned all of the people I’m currently taking care of, but I failed to mention that the one person I’m neglecting is myself. I always make time for others and care for many people on a daily basis. From about 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day, it’s all about others. I rarely have time to myself, and when I do, it’s spent doing homework, cleaning, laundry, etc.

If I were given this scholarship, I would use it to catch up and on my bills so I could afford to have some time off — not a lot, but enough to keep my sanity. While I love taking care of others and helping in any way I can, I’ve been doing that for so long and on such a constant basis that I feel I’m getting burnt out. I’m constantly tired, overwhelmed and stressed about bills, and when that happens I cannot be the best caregiver I have the potential to be. Like everyone, I need some time to myself.

Sara Feldman is a student at the University of Michigan earning a Master of Public Health degree while providing care for her mother. Sara was among the more than 250 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners. This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

In December 2016 I moved my mother across the country to live with me, as the friend she was living with did not realize the level of support my mother actually needed, and was overburdened. Shortly after, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Part of me, and part of my mother as well, expected this diagnosis. Hearing these words, “Alzheimer’s disease,” however is something that hits like a thousand punches to your innermost core.

I entered my second year of my Masters program grieving, worried and in crisis mode. Alongside acknowledging that I am losing more of her each day, I was also forced to evaluate how to be a student while also being a caregiver.

Over the past five years, my mother’s cognitive capacity has slowly and progressively declined. Initially she forgot to file her taxes, pay the bills, close the doors to her house or car and failed to remember details of conversations. Forgetting appointments or meetings with friends became common. She misplaced things, later blaming others for taking those misplaced items.

Slowly, events such as these prevented her from working. Other critical aspects reflective of her cognitive decline included leaving the stove on after cooking, putting things in odd places (like a bowl of soup in a sock drawer), becoming more socially withdrawn and being unable to initiate contact via phone or email, forgetting to close the refrigerator or freezer door and experiencing incontinence.

As a result, providing care for her involves proactively thinking ahead to avoid having to reactively cope with situations and circumstances gone awry. That means I do a variety of things to ensure her wellbeing and safety. I prepare all meals, manage all bank and financial accounts, write and call her friends, arrange days for her to be with friends we’ve made in our community, close drawers after they are left open and hide medicine and household chemicals to prevent her from consuming them by accident.

Creating consistent walking routes, routines, sleep schedules, eating schedules, and any routine is where she thrives. Every day, every minute, and every action is thought out to keep her safe. The most time-consuming, however, is just being there. Being with my mother is critical, and this involves time, energy and stamina.

As a student, I spend my days focused on my schoolwork as she attends a day program for women with dementia. But once I walk in the door, my focus is not on studying, or completing homework. It’s being with her. Physical contact and sitting near her is comforting.

Exchanging stories and engaging in conversation are critical to enable her to feel heard and connected. This is what providing care to someone with Alzheimer’s is all about. Being there. Providing comfort. Reassuring her when everything around her is changing and becoming unfamiliar. It’s rewarding, yet it carries a heavy, continual presence.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?

Significant attention needs to be paid to quality of life and quality of care for people with dementia of diverse backgrounds in institutionalized assisted living and nursing care centers, especially given the increasing aging population as a result of the Baby Boomer generation, who are increasingly being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

As I move forward, I hope to enhance our understanding of how to improve the quality and value of care provided to adults with dementia and promote quality of life among diverse populations.

Claire Buonocore is a student at Marymount Manhattan College who is studying politics and human rights and acting as a caregiver for her father. Claire was among the more than 250 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners.

This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Venus Tadrzak is a student at Cleveland State University who is studying accounting and caring for her mother, aunt and their pet cats. Venus was among the nearly 250 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners. This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

A few years ago, my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent surgery to have it removed. The surgery was successful, but left her with mobility, memory and mood control issues. Later, she suffered a stroke that exacerbated those issues and left her with extreme tremors on her right side. While my mother was recovering from surgery, but before the stroke, my grandmother passed away. She had been caring for my aunt (my mother’s twin), who suffers from schizophrenia.

After my grandmother’s death, my aunt moved just down the hall from us, so that she would continue to have someone to look out for her. I am in charge of the entire household and all necessary decisions. I perform all cleaning, cooking, shopping and laundry duties. In the morning, I assist my mother with washing up and getting dressed. Then I prepare breakfast for everyone (including seven cats) and crush up my mother’s medications, since she cannot swallow pills.

After everyone is settled, I get ready for class. Since none of us learned to drive, I take a one-hour bus ride to the University. During my lunchtime, I can be found on the phone ensuring that everyone is all right, my aunt included. I also often use that time to make any needed doctor’s appointments, to clarify any medical directions or discuss veterinarian appointments and issues, especially since one senior cat suffers from epilepsy. In the early evening, I catch the bus and stop at the store for any needed supplies.

Once I come home, I start dinner and any necessary cleaning. I sanitize the bathroom floor twice a day due to accidents. After dinner, I crush up my mother’s nighttime medications, wash the dishes, prepare the cat’s medication, help my mother undress and study for classes. Since my mother is often too tired at bedtime, I will spoon feed her the pills in applesauce or pudding. If my mother wants to venture outside, she requires a manual wheelchair, but our apartment has outside stairs. Because of this, I will half-carry her down the stairs to the sidewalk where the chair is waiting, which is not easy since she outweighs me. After that, I wheel her to wherever we are going, a task made more difficult by uneven sidewalks.

I am responsible for making budgets for both households and stretching fixed incomes to ensure that all bills are paid. I have become the resident teacher for both my mom and aunt when it comes to using all technological devices (computer, cell phone, etc.), as well as maintaining them. My mother qualifies for various social programs, so I complete all applications for her and contact each of her workers. She receives mail-order medical supplies, which I monitor and reorder as needed.

I enjoy taking care of my mother, aunt and our cats. The hardest part is that I also have issues with major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks, but I know that nine other lives depend on me.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?

After much soul searching, I reached one conclusion that may seem completely off-track, but I found that it is the best way for me to help others. My absolute greatest strength, my refuge, and my utmost interest is in the realm of numbers. I find myself striving for the highest potential when I am organizing the household budgets to provide the best possible outcome for everyone that allows for extra-curricular activities.

The path I chose was accounting. I want to volunteer for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), to assist them in stretching their donations for the highest return. I want to donate my time to help lower-income seniors file their tax returns and receive the most in rebates. I want to assist those at the bottom to organize their finances so they can enjoy something as simple as a movie or dinner out.

Hunter Johnson is a student at Clemson University who is studying health science and caring for her brother, who has severe autism. Hunter was among the nearly 250 student caregivers who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just two winners. This is her caregiving story, submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

My name is Hunter Johnson and I have been caring from my brother, Kyle, who is now 20 years old, from the time I was 14. My brother was diagnosed with severe Autism when he was 2 and a half years old and epilepsy at11 months old. I began caring for him because both of my parents had to work full-time jobs in order to pay for all of the medical expenses and therapy expenses that are associated with raising a child with severe medical conditions. I had to give up all-star and school cheerleading as well as the majority of any extra-curricular activities that I was involved in to become my brother’s caregiver, but it was something that I gladly did.

My brother needs care in all aspects of his life, so I am there to help him dress, bathe and brush his teeth. I prepare his meals and make sure to cut his food into bite-size pieces so he doesn’t choke on them, and I change his diapers and ensure that he has a wonderful, fun day filled with love and adventure. I take him out every day to make sure that he gets to enjoy the fresh air and the wondrous activities that nature provides.

While it can be a challenge to care for my brother as he has some very severe behavioral issues, it has been a blessing to grow up beside my very best friend and to be able to teach him simple things like how to place his dirty clothes in the laundry basket or how to put his socks in the correct drawer, things that other people take for granted. I get to ensure that he has a safe place in this world where he is always accepted and is never judged for what he “lacks” because in the eyes of myself and my family, he lacks nothing.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?

I believe that my role as a caregiver has directly influenced my chosen career path. Very early on, my dream was to be a veterinarian. I felt that since animals had no “voice,” they needed someone who could be that voice for them. After having had the opportunity to be a caregiver to my brother, I realized that like him, there are many people who have no voice, and that made me want to be a voice for children.

Initially, I was hoping to become a special education teacher, but over time, I realized that the medical needs of my brother were very overwhelming for some people and that pushed me in the direction of where I really want to go, and I am now working towards being a pediatric nurse specializing in oncology. I am so grateful that in caring for my brother, I found my true calling.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

If I was awarded this scholarship, it would not only help me, it would help my family as well. It would allow me the time to continue on as a caregiver for my brother as I would not have to obtain an additional job in order to help with college expenses. It would allow my brother the opportunity to continue to be cared for by someone who has his best interests at heart and who will make sure he receives the services he so greatly needs and deserves.

It would give my parents the peace of mind knowing that their son is being cared for by someone who will make sure he is safe and happy, because that is one of the biggest fears there is; allowing someone to care for your child who might potentially abuse them, which is very prevalent in the disabled community. I am the first in my immediate family to be able to go to college, and this scholarship would allow me the opportunity that my parents did not have, to pursue the career of my dreams and make sure that I have the opportunity to do what I love, which is being the caregiver my brother needs.

Tommy Tran is a student at the University of Houston who is studying biotechnology and is caring for his father, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Tommy was among more than 950 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three winners. This is his caregiving story submitted with his scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

My name is Tommy Tran. I’m 17 years old and I am taking care of my dad who has terminal cancer. During my sophomore year of high school, my dad was hospitalized unexpectedly due to an enlarged prostate. His enlarged prostate caused a urinary tract infection, which found its way into the bloodstream and migrated throughout the body (known as sepsis or septicemia), and affected his heart and spine.

The days leading up to his hospitalization, he could not sleep at night because the pain was constant and excruciating. I encouraged him to seek medical aid, but he refused since we couldn’t afford the medical expenses. Every day, I could see my dad’s health deteriorating. He finally was admitted to emergency care a few days later. I remember his urine bag being as red as watermelon juice due to the blood in his urine. He was not eating and was loaded on painkillers. I had to empty his urine bag every half hour since my dad was on lots of intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. He was very pale and remained unresponsive most of the time.

The neurosurgeon removed the infection pressing on the spinal cord in a high-risk, last-minute procedure. Although the infection to the spine was cleared, a doctor explained that an MRI scan showed that the infection originated in the heart and was circulating the bacteria throughout my dad’s body. He could not walk or stand up on his own, so I helped him to his wheelchair and walker anytime he needed anything. My dad was finally discharged a month later, diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.

The medical bills came and we were unable to pay them. Not only were we financially struggling, but our family began to fall apart. My dad became depressed and contemplated suicide. I consoled and reminded him that he is my best friend and that is very important to me. I continued to help my dad with his daily functions such as eating and emptying his bladder with a catheter until he could have an operation to remove any blockage of the urethra.

The urologist explained that he could not remove my dad’s prostate since the cancer had already spread to other areas of the body via the lymph nodes. Instead, my dad was put on radiation, hormones and chemotherapy treatment. The side effects of the cancer treatment included hot flashes, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

I was lucky enough to be able to cook his meals, help him shower, give him his medications, mow the lawn, pay the bills, pick up his medications and more. After finishing all of his treatment, the oncologist gave him a terminal prognosis. I try to give as much mental support as possible since coping with the end of life is tough. Despite the inevitable, we always remind each other to stay happy with what remaining time we have together.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

This scholarship would help me and my family tremendously. It would help me pursue my undergraduate studies as a biotechnology major towards medical school. This scholarship would cover textbook expenses and any other fees that I might encounter in my first year of college. If my dad were to hear that I got a scholarship, he would be so proud and delighted. Having the scholarship might help me focus more on my studies and classes in college by reducing the amount of time I have to spend working.

Jessica Jacob is a student at Adelphi University who is pursuing a nursing degree and caring for her mother, who is paraplegic. Jessica was among more than 950 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of #CaringScholar grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three winners. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

I am a caregiver for my paraplegic mother. On November 15, 2015, a drunk driver rammed into my family’s car and caused a devastating accident. My mother endured the most injuries out of all of us; she was sleeping across the back seats without a seatbelt on, so she was thrown onto the floor of the car, which resulted in a spinal cord injury and paraplegia.

After the accident, my mom was on a ventilator for a month in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Oklahoma where she endured multiple surgeries. She was then flown to an ICU in New York for another month and then stayed in a rehab for almost 3 months to learn how to live with her new disability and how to breathe on her own. I stayed with her during each step of the recovery process and traveled every single day to be by her side — the nursing staff and employees at each facility knew me by my name.

My mother’s paraplegia from her spinal cord injury left her wheelchair-bound and incontinent, and on top of her spine injury, she had numerous fractures that left her unable to do simple things like open a water bottle or comb her hair. This is where I came into play, doing little things to help, like positioning her comfortably in bed, fanning her when she felt hot and overall doing my best to keep her mood up.

I care for my mother in multiple ways – I’m her nurse who helps with her incontinence by catheterizing her four times daily and using an enema to empty her bowels. I clean her up if she has accidents and bathe her daily. On top of being her nurse, I’m also responsible for keeping track of her medicines, knowing when they needed to be administered and giving them to her. I’m in constant communication with the pharmacy and medical supply companies, because I keep track of ordering her prescriptions and medical supplies.

I am also my mom’s secretary, because she’s had more than 5 doctors to follow up with after coming back home, so I schedule her appointments for her. I have arranged her transportation, and accompany her on each trip, among other responsibilities. I also provide emotional support and try to make her as comfortable as possible, since she’s still adjusting to life as a disabled woman. I am a relatively young caregiver — I was only 19 when I began caregiving and I base my schedule and social life around my mother because she’s my primary responsibility.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

Unfortunately, my mother was my only parent employed at the time of the accident, and now that she is disabled we are solely living off of her disability income, which is a significant reduction from what she was earning. I attend Adelphi University, a private college in New York that raises tuition each year. I have some scholarships, but my family still has to pay a hefty amount out of pocket each semester, and that cost will only rise until I graduate.

I work part-time in an ophthalmology practice to support my family, along with being in school full-time and being my mother’s full-time caregiver. The stress of juggling work, caregiving and studying has definitely been stressful and taken a toll on my quality of life, since I tend to stress over deadlines and assignments, and have very limited time to divide between caregiving, personal needs, and school work.

I’m especially nervous because this upcoming semester, I won’t be able to work because I have to take extra classes to maintain progress in my program and graduate on time. I am unsure how we can afford to pay for my tuition, because I want to avoid taking on loans and I also want to devote my limited free time to studying. I came across this scholarship opportunity and was in shock, because it’s an opportunity to help my family have one less thing to be concerned about.

We have multiple bills to pay due to the accident, along with costs for my mother’s health and wellness. In addition to these expenses, the cost of living here in New York is quite high. My out-of-pocket tuition costs would be significantly reduced with the help of this scholarship, and it would provide me with the time I need to devote to studying that I would not otherwise have if I were working. I want to be able to maintain my grades so I can achieve my goal of becoming a nurse to help others and make my mother proud.

DreAnna Perry is a student at Brigham Young University who is studying exercise physiology and is caring for her mother, who suffers from a number of chronic health conditions. She was among more than 950 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of scholarship grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three winners. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

I have been caring for my mother, who is turning 58 in December. I’m the youngest in my family and the only one who is still living with her. I’ve had the opportunity to care for both her and my grandma during my last two years of high school while my mother and I were in a transitional state of residence and had to live with my grandmother, who was in the middle-to-late stages of dementia.

My mother has accumulated several health problems due to her being victim to 40 years of a very abusive marriage. Some of the conditions she suffers from are depression, forgetfulness, a left ventricle heart ablation, arthritis, gout, and chronic headaches, to name a few. I have been there to assist her with the things she struggles to do on her own due to some of these conditions.

She broke her knee during the last 5 months of my time studying at a technical school for massage therapy, and since then my responsibilities have increased significantly in assisting her with more of her basic needs such as helping her get motivated in the morning due to depression, helping her get up and down stairs due to arthritis in both of her knees and her broken knee, transporting her, reminding her to take her medications and to eat at the appropriate times, picking up her medications, reminding her of important appointments and offering supportive motivation.

I have been her caregiver for most of my teenage years, since my older sister moved out when I was 14. I love my mother and all of the service she has offered me without the expectation of any repayment. I feel it is my responsibility to follow in her footsteps and love unconditionally by helping her through this part of her life. It hurts me to see her struggle to do things on her own, because she is a very independent woman and struggles to accept help.

My mother is such a great, intelligent, wise and kind-hearted woman and I love to see her happy. It’s hard for me to see her think that she is less than that because she is a little more reliant on others to help her do what she would’ve done on her own if she were still in her dysfunctional marriage.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

If I received this scholarship, it would help me achieve my education goals without causing me to lack on my responsibilities as my mother’s caregiver. My mother has put so much pressure on herself to help me afford college, because she wants only the best for me. Due to my mother’s limitations, she is unable to work and help me financially.

I don’t want to cause her stress or for her to think that she is less of a mother because she’s unable to help me with the expenses of college, as she was with her other children, my siblings. Receiving this scholarship will help me succeed in both my role as a caregiver and as a devoted student. I don’t know about you, but a win-win situation sounds like a great deal to me.

Rachel Elibri is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who plans to pursue a career in nursing and is caring for her father, who suffered from a brain injury. Rachel was among more than 725 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of #CaringScholar grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three recipients. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?

My dad suffered a traumatic brain injury when I was 14, exposing me to many medical professions and facilities. I witnessed a variety of procedures and asked questions to better my understanding of his condition and recovery. I helped the nurse stir the liquidized meals that we would insert directly into my dad’s stomach through a surgically created hole. It was intriguing, not only the treatments, but also the relationships I built with nurses and patients. Being immersed in my dream atmosphere confirmed the passion streaming through my veins since I was a young girl. With each handshake, I learned more about the myriad of fields to which I desire to devote my life.

Over time, I understood what we each shared. We are laced with the same drive, stitched with a similar sincerity to help and heal. As my dad was transferred from hospitals and assisted living homes, I naturally got involved with the other patients, both the physically and mentally ill. I wanted to become knowledgeable of each condition I encountered. Most of the patients I met could no longer speak and used other modes of communication. There, I dedicated myself to bridging the communication gap by learning and teaching sign language. All of my life experiences as a caregiver have contributed to my insatiable desire to pursue a career as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. When the time came to decide where to further my education, I researched and ultimately committed myself to Virginia Commonwealth University.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

My father did not have health insurance when he suffered the traumatic brain injury. All of his bills and additional needs come out of the pocket of my family. My dad requires a significant amount of care to prevent him from losing his progress physically and mentally. He needs occupational, physical, and speech therapy. He requires a wheelchair, eye patch, and walker.

My mom has provided for my sisters and I for the last two decades by herself. At times she has worked three jobs, while receiving our groceries from the local church. She currently has three children in college. She is truly inspiring, as she has always ensured we have everything we need. I have had a job since the legal age of employment in Virginia. At times, I have worked two jobs while pursuing my education.

I currently work as a care partner in an intensive care unit to help pay for my tuition, rent, and additional academic needs. I often have to work consecutive 12-hour shifts in order to make ends meet for my family and myself. This scholarship would make balancing being a student-caregiver more reasonable. This scholarship would allow my mom to breathe. It would make it possible for me to work a little less and pursue my degree in nursing.

Nicole Gambetta is a student at University of Central Florida who plans to study physical therapy and is caring for her father, who suffered a stroke. Nicole was among more than 725 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of #CaringScholar grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three recipients. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

I became my father’s caregiver on October 17, 2014, which is the day my father suffered from a stroke caused by an aneurism in his brain. It all started right then and there from the moment he was rushed into an emergency surgery to stop the bleeding in his brain, to the weeks of him being in a coma after his surgery. During this time I was enrolled in my fall semester as a full time student, but I had to also be at the Orlando Florida Hospital every single day and night to be by my mothers side who does not speak English, and to be there for my dad to make sure he was receiving the proper care that he needed while he was in this coma state.

Even though I had all the responsibilities of school and being with my mother so that she understood what was going on with my dad, I also had to learn that bills were still coming in and someone had to pay them. I had to make sure every bill was taken care of, but I had never paid any of their bills so I had to learn how to pay them and when to pay them.

When my father woke up from his coma we were told that he was disabled because of the fact that he did not know how to speak, write, read, and wasn’t fully there with part of his brain being affected from the bleeding and the stroke. Before the stroke my dad was the only working person in our household, so we began to struggle financially because of all the money being used for bills, medications, and other expenses.

My mom and I handle taking care of my dad’s needs that I can’t do on my own like bathing him, and feeding him. I take care of all of my parent’s bills and together there are so many, I drive them to appointments as well as schedule their doctor’s appointments, I took care of doing all the applications that had to be filled out in order for my dad to apply for disability and any other form of government help, I make sure to give my dad his medications everyday at a specific time, I keep track of his blood pressure and make sure that his sugar is at a good level, I do anything to make sure my dad is getting the help he needs to recover and to make sure that he is healthy.

It has been a stressful and busy year with handling so many things all on my own and trying to continue to be a full time student. I can say that there have been times where I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to do it all and I felt overwhelmed with my situation, especially since I had never had so many responsibilities put on me all at once, But I did my best to maintain a positive outlook on things and continued to push forward because I knew I had to not just for myself but for my parents as well.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

This scholarship would be a tremendous help for my expenses for the incoming summer and fall semester. It would help me pay for my books, test that I have to pay to take, and the remainder of what I have to pay for my classes that my financial aid doesn’t cover. Ever since my dad was left disabled he of course was told that he was not able to work, him being the only income for our household previous to his stroke has really caused a financial hardship for my family and I.

Judy Lucente is an incoming freshman at California State University San Marcos who is majoring in psychology and caring for her father, a disabled cancer survivor. Judy was among more than 725 student-caregivers and 25 finalists who applied for the latest round of #CaringScholar grants, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three recipients. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

My name is Judy Lucente. I am an 18-year-old girl from southern California. I will be attending California State University San Marcos in the fall of 2016 to study psychology. I have been my father’s caregiver since I was eight years old. My father, Brad, is 54 years old and disabled. When I was two years old, my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, a type of cancer that is almost impossible to beat. After months of chemo and radiation he was cancer free. There is only a four percent chance the survivors of esophageal cancer will survive five years after becoming cancer free. This is because of the huge toll it takes on the body. During cancer my dad lost a dangerous amount of weight. He was unable to eat and had a feeding tube. The cancer had spread and half of his stomach was removed. His body was producing enough stomach acid for a full stomach, causing him to feel sick lots of the time and be unable to eat. His health was not great, but it was was better than still having the cancer.

Five years cancer free was a cause for celebration, he had made it. The happiness was short lived though. Just weeks after, my dad came home from golfing extremely sick. That night he was rushed to the hospital and went into cardiac arrest and died. He was revived and put into an induced coma. He had severe pneumonia that was spreading rapidly. His body was trying to fight off infection while keeping his heart and brain alive. All of his blood drained from his hands, feet, nose, and ears causing them to die. My mom was left with the decision of amputating his hands and feet or letting him die. His ears and nose were saved, but he lost both his hands and feet. I was only eight years old.

When he became healthy enough, he was moved to a nursing home. Here he would learn to walk again with the help of prosthetics. That was the beginning of a long road. Around this time my parents filed for divorce. My mom moved out and when my dad returned home I was left to take care of him.

During his second sickness, the pneumonia, my dad had more of his stomach removed. He now had a quarter of his stomach, and no appetite at all. He weight no more than 120 pounds to this day. He suffers from phantom limb pain, acid reflux, anxiety, and depression. He has a very compromised immune system, allowing the common cold to become much more.

Beginning at age nine, I basically became a parent. I took care of my dad who was always sick and in pain. I cleaned, did laundry, packed lunches, and more. It was difficult to say the least. I do not remember my life before my parent’s divorce. I don’t remember getting to be a kid and play in the neighborhood.

I have gained so much from seeing a therapist. It has helped me get through the hard times, embrace the good times, and prepare myself for the future. I don’t know what I would have done without someone to confide in. Let’s be honest, being your father’s caretaker is not all rainbows. Years later I am so thankful for everything I have gone through. I would not be the person I am today if none of these things had happened. I was forced to fight through it all and I am a better person because of it. The traumatic events I have gone through in my life have taken a toll on me as well.

I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This has been a setback but has also improved my own work ethic. Caring for my father, being in school, and having a job is very hard, but I have made it work. My dad has been strong through everything, so I have to continue to stay strong for him. I love my dad and I would give anything to make him happy. He is my idol. Taking care of him has become a part of me. I am a caregiver naturally. This is why I am going to school to study psychology. I want to become a therapist. Family, marriage, and teen. It’s hard and sometimes it seems impossible to keep going. I want to be that safe place for others going through hard times. A safe room to go to to spill out problems and rejoice the good things in life.

Ed Makowski is a student at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee who is majoring in journalism and caring for his brother, who has Huntington’s disease. Ed was among more than 1,400 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in the fall of 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three recipients. This is Ed’s caregiving story submitted with his scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

My brother Ken and I are three and a half years apart. Since he was more athletic and I was more social my mom joked that I’d be his agent someday. But in high school my mother saw him fall over during a basketball game when nobody was near him. He just lost his balance and fell over. She got that sinking feeling, the same feeling she’d had with my dad. Several years earlier, when my father was in his late 30’s, we were on the way to one of my dad’s softball games. My father was driving, and my mother noticed his left foot gently twitching up and down. She tells me that she knew at that moment my father was developing Huntington’s, the same disease his mother had.

If one of your parents has Huntington’s disease, you have a 50% chance of developing it. Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder. A person with HD gradually loses the ability for their body to do what their brain is telling it to do. A person with HD loses coordination, the ability to think critically and solve problems, and also often develops obsessions and dementia. Ken, unfortunately, has a pretty early onset. He quit working and has been on disability since he was in his mid-20’s, when he moved in with me.

Right now, to someone unfamiliar with the disease, Ken probably just looks a little drunk. His balance is compromised, his coordination looks awkward, and his speech is slurred. Ken’s body is intoxicated, but not with booze. The biggest thing I’ve tried to do is create an environment where Ken can have as much freedom as possible throughout every day of his life. That was and continues to be my goal when considering how I can help him the most. When shopping for a house, I looked for places that didn’t have carpet, which could confuse his feet to step properly, or wouldn’t enable the eventual use of a walker.

I completely gutted, redesigned, and rebuilt the bathroom to accommodate Ken’s evolving physical considerations. The shower has a seating area, grab bars, and a low threshold he won’t trip on. The kitchen is open and without obstructions. I basically took a couple years off from life to fix up the foreclosure that I could afford to accommodate my brother’s developing physical needs. Ken likes watching football, documentaries, and travel shows, so I installed a large wall-mounted television in his room. He will be able to live where he is comfortable for a very long time, without needing to consider other living arrangements.

I take care of the yardwork, shovel our winter snow, and do the cooking. I try to make sure Ken’s options of how he’d like to spend his day have as few barriers as possible. I feel this is the best gift I can give to my brother; a living situation that enables him to live life the way he wants as long as he possibly can.

Samantha Vega is a student at Whittier College near Los Angeles who is majoring in political science and caring for her grandmother Corrine, who suffers from advanced kidney disease, among other illnesses. Samantha was among more than 1,400 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in the fall of 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of just three recipients. This is Samantha’s caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

I currently care for my 72-year-old grandmother Corrine Morales. Corrine has survived cancer 5 times, each time more deadly than the next; a brain tumor when I was four, colon cancer when I was six and then again when I was 11, and breast cancer when I was 13 and again when I was 15, along with a sextuple bypass heart surgery when I was 17. However, long before I was taking care of her, my grandmother was caring for me, more than that — she was saving my life. I endured physical and emotional abuse at the hands of my mother and stepfather from the ages of four to 11. When, at the age of 11, I called the police to save me from my own “parents” she decided enough was enough and she took me in, taking over every parenting role from then on.

It was when I turned 13 and she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time that I really understood the meaning of “caring”. It has been a very long eight years of doctor’s appointments, emergency room visits, cooking and cleaning without a mother’s example to look upon. Currently, I attend Whittier College and my grandmother lives in a one-bedroom house not 100 yards away from campus. The plan was for me to have some independence while still being an arms length away. Those plans changed when my grandmother was diagnosed with stage four-kidney failure earlier this year.

Next semester I will be moving back into the tiny house on Penn Street to take over for her once again. This means driving her to several doctors’ appointments a week and monitoring her blood sugar and insulin in-take, as she is a diabetic. Along with that, my grandmother has a myriad of medications she must take regularly ranging from high blood pressure medication to very strong pain medication for her other illnesses. I am also in charge of our finances and making sure all our bills are paid on time, or as close as possible.

I work a part-time job at a non-profit in South Pasadena as a way to contribute, as our only income is my grandmother’s retirement and social security checks. My grandmother has made me her medical and legal power of attorney should anything happen to her that leaves her without the ability to make decisions. While she still can, she orders me around the house, the market, the doctor’s office etc. I am perfectly content with following orders as so many years ago she went above and beyond the call of duty raising her granddaughter. I am very fortunate to be able to now return the favor.

How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

What I see when looking at this scholarship is some peace of mind for my grandmother. Corrine Morales never wanted me to miss out on the opportunity to be just like every other child on the block. Unfortunately, growing up at an exponential rate comes with the territory of being a young caregiver. Knowing that the experience of caring for her and providing for us had a positive impact in my life is the best gift she could ever receive. I have had to give up many opportunities in order to make sure she is cared for. I am hardly able to participate in on-campus events, and living on campus just isn’t a feasible option for us.

However, my grandmother will never hear me complain because as she says, “I am her life”, her life and her persistence to survive will mean nothing to her if it stands in the way of my success. This $1,500.00 would be enough to pay for my textbooks for the rest of my time at Whittier College. As a result, I would be able to spend a little less time working during the school year and spend more time on my schoolwork and even get more quality time with my grandmother. My past, while difficult, led me to caring for my grandmother. I am dedicating my future to helping others in positions similar to my own. Presently, this scholarship would allow me to focus on the importance of my schoolwork and my grandmother’s health without having to sacrifice the quality of my work in either of those areas.

Octavia Monsanto is a student at Kennesaw State University who is majoring in music and caring for her mother, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and dementia. She was among more than 1,400 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in the fall of 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of three recipients.

This is Octavia’s caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application, which responded to these three questions:

• Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?
• How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?
• How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

Christina M. Fletcher is a student at The University of Akron who is majoring in nursing and caring for both of her disabled parents. She was among more than 1500 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in Spring 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of three recipients. This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application.

Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?

Both of my parents have suffered a rapid decline in health prior to and immediately following my enrollment as a full time student. My father had a massive heart attack, losing over 75% function of his heart and wasn’t expected to survive. My mother is riddled with arthritis and atherosclerosis as well as suffering a break with reality after the sudden and violent death of my youngest sister in 2011.

Neither of my parents are capable of completing activities of daily living without assistance and both receive social security for disability. My responsibilities include meal preparation, grocery shopping, laundry services, medication reminders, emotional support and occasionally transportation to physician appointments, as well as providing them with useful and relevant information for healthy living. I’ve assisted with the construction of numerous raised garden beds to grow fresh produce, which also provides therapeutic activities for both my parents.

By living in their home, I am able to provide care on a 24-hour basis if need be. I also have a 6-year-old daughter that I have full custody of, and having her to help “grandpa” and “grandma” when they don’t feel well provides additional therapy for my parents. They get to see their granddaughter on a daily basis, and my daughter gets to experience direct care of family members and loved ones.

How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?

By providing care to both of my parents, I have committed fully to becoming a registered nurse with the focus of community health and hospice/palliative care.

Throughout my clinical rotations and through summertime employment I have been able to see firsthand the burden placed on family members when a loved one is dependent upon their care. Home health aides are not always covered by insurance and many people aren’t even aware of services available to them in the way of a home health aid so I feel it is my duty as a nurse to fulfill the role of caregiver not only in my home but also in the community where it is underserved the most.

By being a caregiver for my mother and father I get the unique ability to practice healthcare and refine my nursing skill on almost a daily basis. When either of my parents have questions on medication, I have the resources available to me through my education to help them understand everything they need to understand about their medications. When they are confused at a doctor’s visit, I can help clarify information or rephrase questions to the healthcare provider so my parents are always kept well informed.

Rashelle Quinn is a student at Regis University who is majoring in nursing and caring for her father, who suffered a severe brain injury in a car accident when she was a child. She was among more than 1500 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in Spring 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of three recipients.

This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application, which responded to these three questions:

• Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?
• How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?
• How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?

Erin Pratt is a student at Life University who is majoring in chiropractic neurology and caring for her 95-year-old grandmother. She was among more than 1500 student-caregivers who applied for the #CaringScholar grants in Spring 2015, and was chosen by a panel of senior care expert judges as one of three recipients.

This is her caregiving story submitted with her scholarship application, which responded to these three questions:

• Who are you caring for and how are you involved as a caregiver?
• How has your role as a caregiver influenced the decision for your major/career path?
• How would this scholarship be helpful to you in your current student-caregiving role?