Scholarship Guidelines and Process

SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

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 generously funded by Dr. & Mrs. Walter J. Winterhoff, Dr. Smriti Bardhan and Alpha Omicron Pi.

Application Deadline 

March 31st, 5 pm Eastern Time   

Award Amount  

$5,000 per academic year*

*Eligible scholarship recipients may apply for up to 4 years total; funds to be used towards tuition, books and supplies only, does not cover room and board

Eligibility, all applicants must be:

• A U.S. citizen or a legal and permanent resident of the United States
• Diagnosed with rheumatic disease
  • Physician’s Certifying Statement required for scholarship recipients ONLY. Statement must be completed by the applicant’s Rheumatologist, DO, or Nurse Practitioner
• Classified as an undergraduate, graduate, or medical student at or awaiting acceptance to an accredited college or university in the United States for the entire academic year,
• Enrolled full-time each semester and have completed the full-time units to reapply for the next academic year.  The scholarship is only available for fall and spring semesters (not summer sessions) If applying to a master’s or doctoral program, must be full-time study.
• Engaged Arthritis Foundation advocate, fundraiser, participant, volunteer 

Also, all applicants:

• Must currently have a minimum 2.5 grade point average (unweighted);
• If awarded, must maintain a 2.5 GPA each academic semester (Fall 2022 – Spring 2023)
• If awarded, must be involved publicly with the Arthritis Champions Scholarship and remain active in events and/or programs with the Arthritis Foundation
  • Recipients provided a photo/publicity consent form

Application Process

1. Complete online application here
2. Save confirmation email as proof of application submitted. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, contact [email protected]
3. Email unofficial copy of transcripts to [email protected] - Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course, and term in which each course was taken. Application will NOT be considered if transcript is not received by 5:00pm Eastern on March 31, 2022.
4. Arthritis Foundation or community involvement reference – current staff or leadership volunteer must complete reference form. Application will NOT be considered if reference form is not completed.

 

Current High School Seniors: If you are awaiting decision on college acceptance, please include college or university information for your top choice school. 

Notification 

All applicants will be notified the first week of June 2022.  Notifications will be made using the contact information applicants provide in their applications. 

Not all eligible applicants to the program will be selected as scholarship recipients. 

Scholarship recipients will have 30 days to return completed Physician Certifying Statement and signed Award Letter to confirm scholarship award. 

Payment of Scholarships 

Awards will be made payable to the institution directly for the student. 

Disclosures  

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.