Paying for College as a Childhood Cancer Survivor

When you’re a high school student, one thing that’s on the top of your mind is college. Where are you going to go? What are you going to study? Are you going to make friends there? What will the homework load be like? And, perhaps most importantly, how are you going to pay for it? When cancer changes the course you were meant to follow, those questions become much more difficult to answer. 

The dream of achieving higher education can seem even more daunting, especially for those who were diagnosed as children. Physically and emotionally, it’s already hard enough to battle cancer as you grow up before you even add on the financial toll of treatment options. Luckily, there are resources available to help offset the costs of higher education for cancer survivors. 

One resource? Scholarships. 

Many organizations and foundations offer scholarships specifically for cancer survivors, including Las Vegas-based Critical Care Comics. Those scholarships help cover the costs of tuition, books, and other college expenses. 

Last year, Critical Care Comics awarded four recipients with scholarships. The top recipient, Kaitlyn Vu, a childhood cancer survivor who lost her leg, started her college career at Harvard University in the Fall of 2023. Other recipients of 2023 scholarships included Kweku Moses (College of Southern Nevada), Trevor Ogilvie (Western California University), and Evelyn Brabant (School of Visual Arts, NYC). 

The 2024 scholarship application is open until April 20, 2024. Three scholarships are available, with the first place recipient receiving $15,000, the second place receiving $7,000, and $3,000.

Critical Care Comics is proud to be able to offer this scholarship as another way of supporting the community. CCC is a non-profit organization based in Las Vegas, NV fully staffed by volunteers working hard to support kids and their families who are dealing with medical challenges, especially cancer. For over 10 years, they have been on a mission to make kids smile, most commonly by delivering comic books and toys with volunteers dressed as popular superheroes.

To apply for the Critical Care Comics Survivor Scholarship, there are a few things you need to know. First, you must be a high school senior with at least a 3.0 GPA. You also need to live in the United States and have survived cancer at some point in your childhood, or are currently battling it. 

The application process includes writing an essay of no less than 750 words. In this essay, you'll share your cancer story, how it affected you and your family, what you focused on to help (such as hobbies or your education), how your story encouraged you to pursue higher education, and your future goals.

Affording college as a cancer survivor can be tough, but it's important to remember that there are people and organizations out there who want to help. Critical Care Comics is one of these organizations, offering scholarships and support to young survivors and the ones who are still fighting their battle. 

If you or someone you know fits CCC’s scholarship criteria - apply for this scholarship. With determination and the right support, you can achieve your goals and make your dreams come true, even after facing something as challenging as cancer.

Remember, the deadline to apply is April 20, 2024.