Sofia Blanco College Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Sofia’s Hope
Intro
Sofia was unable to finish high school or pursue college. In her memory, Sofia’s Hope offers college scholarships to help make higher education attainable for childhood cancer patients, survivors, and fighters.
Program overview
Sofia’s Hope will award three (3) Sofia Blanco College Scholarships to eligible applicants. Each scholarship includes a $2,000 stipend to be applied toward tuition and/or room and board. First-time scholarship recipients will also receive a laptop or tablet.
Important dates
- Applications open: January 1, 2025
- Application deadline: March 15, 2025 (completed applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by this date to be considered for the Fall 2025 semester)
- Award notifications: by April 15, 2025
- Funds distributed annually by August 1 (after all award conditions are satisfied)
- Devices (laptop/tablet) will be issued in the summer by mail or at an in-person presentation. The $2,000 award will be paid directly to the recipient’s accredited institution by August 1, 2025.
Who may apply (Eligibility — 2025–2026)
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a childhood cancer survivor (current treatment not required) or be currently diagnosed with a childhood cancer.
- Be enrolled in, or accepted for enrollment to, an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in the United States.
- Provide either an acceptance letter from the college/university they plan to attend or a registrar’s letter of good standing. (If selected, recipients may update the college/university they will attend.)
- Complete and submit the full Scholarship Application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
- Submit at least one letter of recommendation from an academic teacher explaining why the applicant should receive the scholarship. Letters must be on official school letterhead. Applicants may submit up to three recommendation letters.
- Submit a physician’s letter on official letterhead from the survivor/patient’s attending physician verifying medical history and current medical status. Medical details will be treated as confidential and used only to confirm eligibility.
- Submit an essay (maximum 500 words) responding to: “How has my experience with childhood cancer impacted my life and career goals?”
- Agree to provide a testimonial and a photo or video in order to be eligible to reapply for funding in subsequent years; awardees will receive additional information about this requirement.
- Sign a release (and, if the applicant is a minor, have a parent/guardian sign as well) permitting Sofia’s Hope to publish the recipient’s name, photo, and success story in news media or Sofia’s Hope publications, including the organization’s website.
Other conditions
- Previous recipients are not eligible to apply again.
- All required materials must be submitted by March 15, 2025 to be considered for the Fall 2025 award cycle; incomplete submissions will not be considered.
If you have questions about the application process or required documents, please contact Sofia’s Hope for guidance.