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MDA College Scholarship Program

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) College Scholarship program provides students living with neuromuscular disease with support as they follow their academic dreams. As medical advances open new doors for these students, MDA is committed to supporting their path to success by making higher education more accessible.

The MDA College Scholarship program recognizes students who are making an impact in the neuromuscular community and demonstrate leadership qualities.

MDA grants approximately 10 new merit-based college scholarships each year, at up to $5,000 each. The application period opens early each calendar year, and MDA Scholars receive award notifications in early summer.

The 2024 application period is closed. Information on the 2025 application will be available in January.

Meet the MDA Scholars

In 2024, MDA’s College Scholarship program provided merit-based scholarships to ten incredibly deserving students who demonstrated leadership and commitment to the neuromuscular community.

What does it mean to be an MDA Scholar? Meet program recipients here!

Abby Dreyer

School: Eastern Connecticut State University

Major: Business

Graduation Year: 2028

“It means a lot to me to have the MDA’s support in pursuing higher education endeavors; I couldn’t have achieved all I did throughout high school without the unwavering support of the neuromuscular community. I look forward to making the community proud in my college career and beyond.”

Alex Mavian

School: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Major: Physics, Mathematics

Graduation Year: 2025

“It is a privilege to be recognized as a leader. I firmly believe that everyone possesses unique value to contribute, and it’s the responsibility of a leader to bring out that potential.”

Blake Deakin

School: Arizona State University

Major: Media Arts and Sciences

Graduation Year: 2027

“Being recognized as a leader feels very rewarding. It signifies validation of my efforts and hopefully an opportunity to inspire and support others within the community.”

Grace LoPiccolo

School: Saint Louis University

Major: Bioethics, Public Health, and Catholic Studies

Graduation Year: 2026

“The MDA community has equipped me with the tools and confidence to share my story with others.”

Grace Nelson

School: University of Iowa

Major: Political Science

Graduation Year: 2027

“This scholarship is a link between my past and my future. Attending MDA Summer Camp and other MDA events were some of the greatest experiences of my childhood. Now, with this scholarship, MDA is supporting my future. It feels like a full circle moment.”

Jacy Thomas

School: Indiana University - Indianapolis

Major: Nursing

Graduation Year: 2025

“Inspired by the care that I received, my dream is to provide compassionate care to all without a prescription as a future Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse.”

Jonathan Lengel

School: Fordham University at Lincoln Center

Major: Digital Technologies and Emerging Media and Music

Graduation Year: 2028

“To me, the MDA community is where I feel most at home because it has enabled me to connect with others who can relate to the experience of living with neuromuscular disease. It also provides a platform for advocating for causes important to our community.”

Olivia Calvert

School: Washington College

Major: Environmental Studies with a focus in Geographic Information Systems

Graduation Year: 2027

“I am honored to receive the MDA College Scholarship. It is challenging and expensive for anybody to go to college, but there are additional challenges and expenses when you have a neuromuscular condition. This scholarship allows me to put those additional worries behind, and focus on pursuing my dreams.”

Serena Desiderio

School: University of Arizona

Major: Physiology and Medical Sciences

Graduation Year: 2025

“Receiving the MDA College Scholarship is a tremendous honor that will empower me to pursue my academic and career goals without the financial burden. It validates my hard work and inspires me to continue striving for excellence in my education and beyond.”

Sydney Bryant

School: Lewis University

Major: Air Traffic Control

Graduation Year: 2027

“To be recognized as a leader means a lot to me. It lets me know I can break down barriers. People with disabilities are so often overlooked or written off. This affirms that I can be a leader too.”

Eligibility

Students living with a neuromuscular disease who are attending, or applying to attend, a qualified educational institution as an undergraduate, are eligible to apply.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Diagnosed by a physician as having a neuromuscular disease covered under MDA’s program. Please reach out to the MDA Resource Center at ResourceCenter@mdausa.org or 800-572-1717 if you are unsure if you have a qualifying diagnosis.
  • US Citizen or a legal and permanent resident of the US
  • Will be attending an accredited educational institution that has a financial aid office
  • Will be an undergraduate student during the scholarship award year

All applicants must be a member of MDA to be considered in the MDA College Scholarship program. By completing the application, applicants will automatically join if they are not a member already. There is no fee associated with MDA membership. For more information, please visit mda.org/join-mda.

Review the FAQ for more information.

MDA College Scholarship Sponsors

  • Numotion Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When can I apply for a scholarship?

    The MDA College Scholarship program application period is announced annually and is generally open from February through March, with decisions shared with applicants by the end of June, and public announcement in mid-August. It is the responsibility of every applicant to ensure all parts of their application are completed and submitted before the application deadline.

  • What are the important deadlines?

    The MDA College Scholarship program application period and deadlines are announced annually. Generally the application opens in January or February and closes in March. Check this program webpage for updates.

  • What costs does an MDA Scholarship assist with?

    MDA College Scholarships are valued up to $5,000, and contribute towards offsetting the student’s cost of attendance. Of note: scholarship funds used toward tuition, fees, or other necessary educational expenses may be considered to not constitute income for tax purposes. Any portion of a scholarship not used to pay for these qualified items may be considered income. Please consult your school’s Financial Aid office, IRS or SSDI Office, tax professional, etc. for guidance on potential tax and disability benefit implications.

  • How and when will I know if I am selected to receive a scholarship?

    Review committees typically take about 8-10 weeks after the scholarship deadline before MDA finalizes scholarship winners. All applicants will be notified via email about award decisions by the end of June. The public announcement will be made in mid-August.

  • I was notified I was awarded a scholarship from MDA.

    Congratulations! MDA will email you in late June with award paperwork to complete, following the review process. Please check your email spam/junk folder for possible notifications if you have not received the award paperwork notice. The deadline to accept a scholarship award is listed in the award paperwork, typically 2-3 weeks after the award letter is sent. Please do not announce publicly until MDA’s announcement goes live in mid-August.

  • How do I receive my scholarship funds?

    An awarded scholarship is paid directly to the financial aid office of your school – students are not involved in the coordination or transfer of funds.

  • Can my scholarship funds be sent directly to me?

    MDA College Scholarship Program funds cannot be sent directly to scholarship recipients. All scholarship funds must be sent to the student’s institution where the Financial Aid office can release funds into student accounts.

  • I see mention of “supplemental support” in addition to funding, what is that?

    MDA will ship scholarship awardees a package with useful and fun items that are intended to provide support at school. Additionally, MDA will cultivate a network of support and leadership development for students to pursue educational and career ambitions.

  • I may be in need of a deferral – how do I request one?

    A deferral is a request to postpone claiming scholarship funds. Deferral paperwork must be completed by September 1. Deferral is on a case-by-case basis and will need to be approved by the scholarship committee. The maximum time allotted to defer is one school year.

  • Do I have to complete a FAFSA to apply for the MDA Scholarship?

    You do not need to complete a FAFSA application for MDA Scholarship consideration – no income or financial need is considered for the MDA College Scholarship. However, many colleges base their financial aid decisions on FAFSA information, so it is recommended to talk to your college or institution to discuss financial aid criteria.

  • What financial information is required on the application?

    MDA does not require financial information for the application to be considered. Annual household income is required as part of the demographics section of the application to help MDA better understand the background characteristics of applicants, but this information is not shared with reviewers and will not be considered when assessing applications.

  • What constitutes a complete application?

    A complete application means that ALL information for each field/question is completed and submitted. This includes all sections of the application, as well as any uploads, referrals, etc., as applicable. Starting the application early to ensure sufficient time for completion is encouraged.

  • How do I navigate the online application?

    MDA utilizes WizeHive as our electronic scholarship management platform. The MDA application must be completed through this system, which can be accessed via the “Apply Now” buttons on this page. Once in WizeHive, you will create a system username/password, and you will have the opportunity to complete an MDA College Scholarship program application by submitting demographic information, and responding to a few short essay-style questions.

  • How do I know my application has been received?

    You will receive an email from the WizeHive platform confirming your MDA College Scholarship program application has been received. Please check your email spam/junk folder for any possible WizeHive system notifications.

  • If I am not awarded the MDA Scholarship this year, or if I have previously applied, can I apply again?

    Yes! The MDA College Scholarship is not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements regardless of prior year award status. As of now, the lifetime limit to receive the scholarship is four times.

  • I am a donor who would like to set up a scholarship fund with MDA. Is that possible?

    Thank you for your interest in supporting MDA’s mission and this important program! Please contact David Sandler at dsandler@mdausa.org for more information.

  • I am a company or corporate partner who would like to support the scholarship fund with MDA, is that possible?

    Thank you for your interest in supporting MDA’s mission and this important program! Please contact Ruth Ann Dailey at rdailey@mdausa.org for more information.

For any additional questions, please reach out to MDA at ResourceCenter@mdausa.org.