The AbbVie IBD Scholarship program helps students with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve their academic goals while they make a lasting and meaningful difference in their communities. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada will award fifteen (15) aspiring students a one-time $5,000 CAD scholarship to support their education at a Canadian post-secondary institution for the upcoming fall semester. The program helps alleviate financial barriers, enabling students to focus on their studies, pursue their passions, and engage in meaningful community work.
The Clinton Shard Memorial Scholarship honours the memory and impact of Clinton Shard, a 2012 AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipient who made significant contributions to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) community. As of 2022, one AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipient will be selected by Clinton’s family as the Clinton Shard Memorial Scholarship recipient in addition to receiving the $5,000 scholarship payment.
How to Apply
- Eligibility
- Application
- Judging
- Terms
Applicants of any age are encouraged to apply and must be:
- A citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis by a health care professional
- Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a Canadian university, college, or trade school seeking a diploma, associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree for the upcoming fall semester
- A student who demonstrates academic aspiration and strives to sustain an optimal level of wellness, balancing their personal health and academic goals
Applicants must submit:
- A completed AbbVie IBD Scholarship online application
- A completed and signed Proof of Diagnosis Form from your treating health care professional
- A signed and dated Applicant Consent Form
- Two (2) letters of personal recommendation from a teacher, guidance counsellor, school official, coach, mentor, health care provider, professional colleague or employer
- A 500-word essay (1 page max.) outlining how you maintain wellness and strive to for academic success, and inspire others through your personal goals and community involvement. Questions to address:
- Why do you strive for academic success?
- How do you strive to sustain an optimal level of wellness?
- What are our personal and academic goals?
- How you inspire others through community and school involvement?
- How you would benefit from the scholarship financially and psychologically?
Scholarship recipients will be selected by an independent committee of leading gastroenterologists, community partners and patient representatives from across Canada. Selection is based on:
- Two (2) letters of personal recommendation
- 500-word essay demonstrating how the applicant maintains wellness and inspires others. See a sample scoring sheet and criteria definitions.
Recipients will be notified in the summer/fall via phone. Once enrolment is verified for the fall semester, the scholarship will be deposited directly into their student account to cover tuition and education expenses, including required materials and on-site residency.
The AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program is a competitive process. Application for the program does not guarantee funding for the upcoming educational year. Employees of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada or AbbVie and their immediate family members are not eligible for this scholarship.