Arthritis Champions Scholarship

The Arthritis Champions Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students with arthritis or a related rheumatic disease who 

• Impact the arthritis community, serving as positive role models and leaders 
• Live their best life, while empowering others to do the same

The Arthritis Champions Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students with arthritis or a related rheumatic disease who 

• Impact the arthritis community, serving as positive role models and leaders 
• Live their best life, while empowering others to do the same

Our Funders: 

Dr. & Mrs. Walter J. Winterhoff 
In 2007, Walter J. and Kathryn M. Winterhoff Endowed Scholarship Fund was created to provide an educational scholarship program for students with rheumatic diseases. Walter and Kay Winterhoff were Tucson residents and had passion for the work of the Arthritis Foundation. This passion evolved because Kay had arthritis and refused to let it get in the way of her love for tennis and golf. This scholarship commenced in fall 2010 at three public universities in Arizona: Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. In 2017, the Winterhoff Arthritis Scholarship evolved into a nationwide college scholarship opportunity. Since then, the Arthritis Foundation has received nearly 800 applications. 

Dr. Smriti Bardhan 
In 2018, Dr. Smriti Bardhan College Scholarship Fund was created to help the next generation with arthritis achieve their goals.  Dr. Bardhan lived with boundless energy and a zest for life.  She did not let her rheumatoid arthritis curb her independence, drive and positive energy. Those that knew her best were inspired by her perseverance through the debilitating state of her arthritis.  She was dedicated to her community and as a scientist to cracking the genetic code to revolutionize treatments for future generations. Dr. Bardhan, like millions of others living with arthritis strived each day to live her best life.  

Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) 
AOII’s International Philanthropy is Arthritis and for more than 50 years they have been a proud partner of the Arthritis Foundation. In addition to Champions College Scholarship, AOII dollars support the National Juvenile Arthritis Conference, JA Camps, JA Power Packs, Connect on Campus and arthritis research.

Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) was founded in 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. AOII has over 190,000 initiated members and 141 current installed collegiate chapters, with 158 active alumnae chapters across the United States and Canada. Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women’s fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community.

Eligible Applicants: 

• Have doctor-diagnosed arthritis or related rheumatic disease 
• Have and maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA (unweighted)  
• United States citizen or legal and permanent resident of the U.S. 
• Accepted to an accredited undergraduate program, graduate program or medical school in the U.S.  
• Enrolled full-time each semester 
• Engaged Arthritis Foundation advocate, fundraiser, participant, volunteer and/or supporter    

Additional Arthritis Champions Scholarship details and application here.

Not all eligible applicants will be selected as scholarship recipients.

There are no guarantees that this scholarship program will be available in subsequent academic years, or that a given recipient will receive the award in subsequent academic years.   

No member of Arthritis Foundation staff, national board of directors or Arthritis Champions Scholarship Committee, or their immediate family, shall be eligible for a scholarship award. 

For more information, please contact [email protected].