Students Rise Above Health Challenges to Pursue Their Dreams
16 students from across Canada awarded the 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship
OAKVILLE, ON, Oct 13 /CNW/ - How would you define empowerment and inspiration when faced with a chronic illness?
For 16 students from across Canada, their stories of perseverance in pursuing their hopes and dreams despite their illnesses is why they have been awarded $5,000 CAN each as the 2010 recipients of the UCBeyond Scholarship. Of the over 300 students who applied to the 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship Program, these 16 students stood out by rising above and beyond the limitations of their disease in spectacular ways such as traveling to impoverished countries to help malnourished children, volunteering with various organizations to help nurture the sick back to health and acting as an inspiration to others with similar illnesses through mentoring and education.
Annie Boivin, an architect student from the University of British Columbia, and a recipient of one of the eight 2010 UCBeyond Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarships, has used her passion and ability in architecture to help create unique ways and structures to keep arthritis patients mobile. "As a person living with rheumatoid arthritis for most of my life, I understand the unique challenges we face in terms of mobility and functionality," says Annie. "That is why I have strived to combine my education with my personal experiences to make this country a better place for those of us who live with physical limitations."
Marta Kisiel, a PhD student in Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto, and one of eight recipients of the 2010 UCBeyond Crohn's Disease Scholarship, manages to balance the rigors of pursuing a doctorate in science while continuing to remain active with several volunteer organizations, including the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. "As I navigate through life with an unpredictable illness, I will continue to rely on my adaptability, industriousness and determination to achieve my goals," states Marta. "I hope that through my academic success and community involvement, I can serve as an inspiration to others not only with Crohn's disease, but with any medical condition."
The UCBeyond Scholarship applicants were evaluated based on a one-page essay demonstrating how they have gone beyond the boundaries of their disease, exhibited perseverance and empowered others, along with two letters of personal recommendation. The recipients were hand selected by an independent committee of leading physicians and patient representatives from across Canada.
"On behalf of all members of both selection committees, we would like to thank all applicants for sharing their stories of courage and strength with us and extend sincere congratulations to the 16 UCBeyond Scholarship recipients," say Dr. Michel Zummer, Head of Rheumatology, CH Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Associate Professor, Université de Montréal and chair of the UCBeyond Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship selection committee and Dr. Remo Panaccione, Associate Professor and Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic, University of Calgary and chair of the UCBeyond Crohn's Disease Scholarship selection committee. "Programs such as the UCBeyond Scholarship Program encourage our young patients to reach their full potential and aspire to achieve academic excellence and personal success, while also shedding light on the daily challenges they must overcome to achieve these grand accomplishments."
"We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the hundreds of students who shared their personal experiences with us through the 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship Program," says Sheila Frame, General Manager of UCB Canada Inc. "We are honoured to help these students pursue their dreams of a post-secondary education and have full confidence we are funding the future stars of this country. Together, we can help to educate the public about the barriers facing students with chronic illness and empower others to surpass their physical limitations to achieve their aspirations."
Partners of the 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship Program included The Arthritis Society, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA), JointHealth(TM), the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA), the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).
About the 2010 UCBeyond Scholarship Recipients
During its four-year lifespan, the UCBeyond Scholarship Program has allocated almost 70 educational bursaries worth close to $350,000.00 CAN to students living with chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and epilepsy. This year, the 16 scholarship recipients were chosen from over 300 applications from across Canada. The winners include:
2010 UCBeyond Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship Recipients
- Yvonne Barrett (Saint John, NB; University of New Brunswick)
- Annie Boivin (Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia)
- Shany Desrochers-Coderre (Joilette, QC; Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
- Meghan Hawryluk (Calgary, AB; The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
- Roberta MacLean (Summerside, PEI; Queen's University)
- Laura Musyj (Surrey, BC; University of British Columbia)
- Rachel Peredery (Sherwood Park, AB; University of Alberta)
- Brendan Vidito (Sudbury, ON; Laurentian University)
2010 UCBeyond Crohn's Disease Scholarship Recipients
- Kevin Bourque (Meagher's Grant, NS; University of New Brunswick)
- Andrew Chapman (Vancouver, BC; University of British Columbia)
- Marie-Lyne Deschenes (Saint-Marie-Salome, QC; University of Montreal)
- Greg Eustace (Hamilton, ON; McMaster University)
- Marta Kisiel (Mississauga, ON; University of Toronto)
- Kate Mitchell (Burnaby, BC; Simon Fraser University)
- Aric Rankin (Hamilton, ON; University of Windsor)
- Amy Tarnowski (Calgary, AB; University of Lethbridge)
About Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is a progressive autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. It is estimated that more than 20 million people suffer from RA globallyi with 0.3 per cent to 1 per cent of the population in industrialized countries suffering from the disease. It is estimated that 320,000 (1 in 100) people suffer from RA in Canada. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men. Although it can affect people of all ages, the onset of RA usually occurs between the ages of 35-55.
Symptoms of RA may include joint stiffness, joint pain, inflammation of the affected areas and an associated reduction in mobility. These symptoms are usually persistent but may be intermittent and vary in severity from patient to patient. In more severe cases RA can eventually lead to disability. RA patients are also at a higher risk of developing other conditions, in particular heart disease, infections, lung problems and osteoporosis.
About Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, progressive, destructive disorder that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, most commonly at the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and beginning of the large intestine (the colon). If not effectively treated, it results in the need for surgery. Crohn's disease has been estimated to affect as many as 170,000 Canadians. People with Crohn's can experience an ongoing cycle of flare-up and remission throughout their lives. Together with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
About UCB Canada Inc.
UCB Canada Inc. was officially incorporated in 2006 with the objective of bringing new-generation therapies to the Canadian market for auto-immune and central nervous system diseases. As a patient-focused organization, the company is dedicated to bringing new and innovative programs to patients, and to the specialists who treat them, to help improve the lives of people living with severe diseases.
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8 000 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.1 billion in 2009. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
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i Arthritis Support - based on U.S. Census Bureau data, World Health Organization statistics and epidemiology studies (http://www.arthritissupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/879/T/Arthritis/cat/traditional; last accessed 26 July, 2010).
For further information:
or to speak with a scholarship recipient please contact:
Prizsm Public Affairs, 289-553-2355
Alon Barmapov, 647-405-1352; [email protected]
Chelsea Philip, 647-969-9222; [email protected]
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