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Jan Egerton and Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship (ID 2828)


Scholarship Description

Start Date:
2/1/2019
Deadline:
7/20/2019
Website:
https://www.mesotheliomahelp.org/scholarship/
Amount:
$2,500 – First Prize
$1,250 – Second Prize
$750 – Third Prize
$500 – Fourth Prize
Description:
Mesothelioma Help is pleased to announce the “Jan Egerton and Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship.” We are proud to offer 4 scholarships in the names of these two mesothelioma warriors. Jan Egerton battled mesothelioma for over 10 years and during that time she dedicated her life to raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos and to championing the researchers to continue to focus on finding a cure and new treatments for the cancer. Jan’s husband said, “I know Jan would be delighted to have this accolade, and I would be honoured for you to use Jan’s name. This is a legacy of which she would be proud.” Jan was one of last year’s judges.
Don Smitley spent his days enjoying time with his family, his dog, Charley, and playing in his bluegrass band, The Dunbar Boys. No one ever heard Don complain or wonder, “Why me?” while he fought mesothelioma. But everyone that knew him would say that faith and a positive attitude carried him through each day. Don’s daughter, Jennifer Gelsick, chronicled her family’s journey during mesothelioma, and now discusses life after losing a loved one to mesothelioma through her blog. “We are so honored to have Dad’s name on the scholarship. It’s such a perfect way to remember and honor him,” said Jennifer. Jennifer will be one of the essay judges this year.

Contact Information

Email:
[email protected]

Eligibility

Gender:
NA
Eligibility:
This essay contest is open to:

• High school students
• Undergraduate and graduate students

who have been accepted or currently enrolled in a college or university located within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

U.S. territories are excluded.

Previous first place winners are not eligible for participation.
Special Criteria:
Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year.

The only established cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Most victims were unwittingly exposed to asbestos at work or while serving in the military.

Still others developed mesothelioma through exposure from family members coming home from work with their clothes covered in asbestos fibers.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the annual number of mesothelioma deaths is increasing.

According to experts, over 20 million people in the United States are at risk of developing malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

We believe it is important to get the facts out about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, and especially, to help educate young Americans.
Please address some or all of the following questions in your essay:

• Share your personal story dealing with asbestos disease or cancer. Talk about how it affected your life and how/whether it impacted your education/career choice.
• What do you hope to do with the education you are receiving to help cancer patients?
• Why is raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of asbestos and the impact of mesothelioma on a family important?
• What would you say to someone who is fighting mesothelioma or to a family member who recently lost a loved one to the disease?

Essay Length:

The essay must be no fewer than 750 and no more than 1,500 words long.