WHEN: NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2024. OUR 2025 APPLICATION WINDOW WILL OPEN MAY 1, 2025. 

WHY: Education is the core of The 22q Family Foundation.  Our mission is to provide educational resources to families as they navigate the school system and advocate through educating the exterior community.  As a foundation, we want to encourage and support young adults with 22q, as well as parents who are looking to further their education and/or career path.  Whether your path is a 2 year or 4 year college, vocational/trade school, or life skills/adult program, we are here for you!  With that in mind, we are extremely excited to once again offer The Riley Dempster 22q Family Foundation Scholarship.  The scholarship was named after Riley as a way to honor her as the inspiration for the former Dempster Family Foundation, and as a way to continue the legacy created by her father, Ryan Dempster.  We offer this scholarship annually to provide financial support to individuals who are continuing their educational journey or career growth while serving as inspirations to the 22q community!

WHO: Our application is open to individuals with 22qDS(deletion syndrome) and 22qDUP(duplication), parents in our 22q community, and siblings!  Please note that we will only allow up to 1 parent and 1 sibling to be a recipient of the 6 scholarship awards, meaning 4 of our 6 annual scholarships will be awarded to individuals with 22q.

WHAT: Scholarship Awards: $7,000 in scholarship funds donated this year!

Awards ranging in value from $500-$3,000 will be awarded to winners.

HOW: Entry Rules (ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY June 30th, 2024:

-Completion of scholarship application form. 

-Send your essay or video using the same email used for the application. 

An essay (750 words or less) or video (5 minutes or less) about how you are UNIQUE.  Many of you are unique just by having 22q, but tell us about what else makes you special? 

Is it your background...

Where you are from...

Your family make-up...

A particular intersest...

Eligibility Requirements:

-Award is specifically for individuals diagnosed with a 22q11.2 related syndrome or for the parent/guardian of an individual with a 22q11.2 related syndrome.  (Proof of diagnosis of self or child may be required prior to awarding of funds).

-Must be enrolling or enrolled at a 2 or 4 year college/university/online school based in the United States, transitional or special needs institutions/programs, training/apprenticeship program, technical, career, vocational, or trade schools, or life skills/adult programs.  Proof of this will be required, as awards will be directly paid to the school or institution.  

-Program can be either traditional associates/bachelors program or special education programs.

-Previous winners are not be eligible enter.

-Awards will be paid directly to the school or institution.  IN ORDER TO APPLY YOU MUST ALREADY HAVE A CURRENT STUDENT ID# THAT WILL BE REQUIRED IN YOUR APPLICATION.