MILWAUKEE, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The costly treatment associated with childhood cancer can lead to long-term financial challenges, including questions of how to afford higher education. Northwestern Mutual is committed to helping children and families affected by this disease achieve their college dreams. The company, through its Foundation, today announced the 2020 Childhood Cancer Survivor and Sibling Scholarship program recipients and opened its application process for the 2021 program.
“Families impacted by childhood cancer are facing even greater financial and emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “We believe these factors shouldn’t stand in the way of college dreams. Now, more than ever, Northwestern Mutual is proud to support students who have overcome childhood cancer challenges as they pursue higher education.”
The scholarship program was developed to alleviate the financial strain on families that often results from expensive cancer treatments by helping to fund school tuition and fees. Forty-three students, the largest cohort to date, have each been awarded a $5,000 renewable scholarship (for a total of $10,000) through this year’s program. Each recipient has been affected by childhood cancer, either as a survivor or sibling.
The complete list of 2020 Childhood Cancer Survivor and Sibling Scholarship recipients is included below.
| 2020 Survivor Scholarship Recipients | |
| Name/State | School |
| Abigail Davis; Indiana | Lipscomb University |
| Abigail Pribisova; New Mexico | University of New Mexico |
| Adam Gregg; Washington | University of Oregon |
| Andrew Felsted; Utah | Brigham Young University – Idaho |
| Ava Mortier; California | Barnard College |
| Danica Nolton; Iowa | Luther College |
| Daniel Krekoska; Connecticut | Providence College |
| David Kotter; Utah | Brigham Young University |
| Elizabeth Kuhlmann; Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee |
| Griffin Rost; California | Utah Valley University |
| Hailey Combs; Kentucky | University of Kentucky |
| Harry Heiberger; Massachusetts | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Jocelyn Shipman; Nebraska | University of Nebraska at Kearney |
| Johnny Kirkpatrick; Kentucky | University of Kentucky |
| Kaitlin Gartrell; Oregon | Pepperdine University |
| Kate Pierson; Utah | Brigham Young University – Idaho |
| Kimberly Peacock; Montana | University of Montana |
| Maeve Smart; New York | Northeastern University |
| Michelle Dong; Ohio | Cornell University |
| Raquel Baskin; Pennsylvania | Penn State University |
| Rhea Jansen; Washington | Gonzaga University |
| Samantha Smith; Ohio | Cleveland State University |
| Sana Moezzi; California | University of San Diego |
| Thomas Horst; Idaho | Grand Canyon University |
| Wacim Benyoucef; Colorado | University of Colorado Boulder |
| 2020 Sibling Scholarship Recipients | |
| Annie Voss; Wisconsin | St. Catherine University |
| Audrey Sylvester; Illinois | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities |
| Conrad Gregg; Washington | University of Oregon |
| Ethan Salmeron; California | Loyola Marymount University |
| Hannah Bhar; Arizona | Northland Pioneer College |
| Hannah Shell; New York | Harvard University |
| Joshua Amato; Ohio | Shawnee State University |
| Kaelynn Chandler; Idaho | Brigham Young University – Idaho |
| Kristen Caldwell; Maine | George Washington University |
| Lauren Witt; Kentucky | University of Kentucky |
| Levi Hancock; Ohio | Brigham Young University |
| Madeline Kling; Colorado | Colorado State University |
| Maria Gregg; Washington | Santa Clara University |
| Nick Shininger; Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin – Whitewater |
| Preston Gunter; Wyoming | Bridgerland Applied Technology College |
| Sarah McKenna; Washington | Pepperdine University |
| Shaddi Abdala; Florida | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
| Trent Kingsbury; South Dakota | University of South Dakota |
Applications for the 2021 scholarship program are open now through Feb. 1, 2021. Selection results are expected by May 2021. To learn more and apply, visit:
To date, Northwestern Mutual has supported 113 scholars and contributed more than $900,000 through its Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program. The program is administered through Scholarship America, an organization dedicated to developing scholarship solutions for student success.
This year, Northwestern Mutual donated $300,000 to support the rapidly changing needs of families battling childhood cancer. Funding assisted families with essential grocery and travel expenses, in addition to bringing virtual childhood cancer camps to kids nationwide.
Since 2012, Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Program has focused on advancing childhood cancer research, providing family and patient support and serving as a resource to families managing the long-term effects of cancer treatment. With the support of Northwestern Mutual employees and financial advisors nationwide, the company has contributed more than $30 million and funded over 400,000 hours of research through the program.
