Susan G. Komen For the Cure Provides Scholarships to Students

Summit, NJ – September 14, 2011 – For “would-be” college-bound students who have lost a parent or guardian to breast cancer, or have themselves been diagnosed with breast cancer, the dream of a college education may feel as unreachable as the stars. Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, provides scholarships to students whose lives have been affected by breast cancer—scholarships that can ease the significant financial burden of attending college.

The scholarship awards $10,000 per year for up to four years, for a student to attend a state university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Komen scholarship recipients are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, financial need and demonstrated leadership potential, and applicants must be no older than 25 years as of May 2012. Scholarship recipients serve as “Komen Collegiate Ambassadors” and must volunteer their time to breast cancer awareness activities for at least 20 hours per semester.

“Losing a parent to breast cancer is devastating in so many ways,” says Lisa Gallipoli, Executive Director of the North Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “Nothing can fill the void, but one thing we can do is assist students in beginning or continuing a college career. This scholarship program is a way to help students overcome obstacles related to breast cancer and realize their dreams of getting a college degree.”

Cristina Nemeth of Elmwood Park, NJ, lost her mother to breast cancer when she was five years old. Six years ago, she was awarded a Komen Scholarship—the first student in Komen North Jersey’s service region to receive one. The scholarship enabled Cristina to return to Ramapo College to finish her degree in Biology.

“Susan G. Komen gave me the opportunity to receive the education I needed,” said Cristina. “When I was sitting in the room for my final scholarship interview, I promised that I would make a difference against breast cancer. At the time, I just didn’t know how I would do it. Then I finally figured out how. I would hold a benefit in my mother's honor, because I want a world where no child loses a parent to breast cancer. The money we raise would go to the Susan G. Komen North Jersey Affiliate to help achieve their goal of a world without breast cancer.”

And so, on May 12, 2011, at Portobello Banquets in Oakland, NJ, Cristina hosted A Pink Remembrance: A Tribute to Theresa Urspruch Nemeth, in memory of her mother who lost her battle with breast cancer in 1991 at the age of 34. Over 200 people attended the event, and all the net proceeds—a remarkable sum of $10,828—were donated to the North Jersey Affiliate. A true testimonial to how the act of giving back, goes back and forth. Bravo Cristina.

How to Apply

Susan G. Komen is accepting scholarship applications beginning September 15, 2011. Visitwww.komen.org/scholarship for more information on requirements, and to apply. Applications must be received by November 15, 2011.  

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen North Jersey Affiliate

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Komen North Jersey Affiliate is part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure, the North Jersey Affiliate has invested $13.9 in community breast cancer programs in the nine counties served by the North Jersey Affiliate: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Of the net proceeds, 75% of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the North Jersey service area. The remaining 25% funds breast cancer research. For more information, call (908) 277-2904 or visit www.komennorthjersey.org.