Organ donation is a noble gesture and universities across the globe recognize this and thus encourage in different ways. Those students or their families who have pledged for organ donations become eligible for a number of scholarships offered by various institutes, NGO’s, universities and even governmental organizations.

Such scholarships are targeted to reward students or their families for their noble gesture while also encouraging others for organ donation. It is an incentive to increase organ donation that will be of a greater good to the society. Below is a list of such prominent scholarships offered by varied organizations and universities.

–Isabelle Christenson Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to those individuals or family members of someone who is directly impacted by organ, cornea or tissue donation. The scholarship encompasses both, organ donor as well as organ recipient and their immediate family members as well as donor family members.

Apart from being a donor, recipient or their family members, other requirements for the application include, a write up regarding personal goals, a statement of 500-600 words regarding ‘how donation/transplantation has influenced your life’, steps that you will take to promote donation awareness, a description of community service done by you (if applicable), two letters of recommendation, a copy of acceptance letter from the university, school, college. Those students who have received the donation previously are not eligible for this scholarship.

–The Michael Corea Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to organ recipients, transplant candidate as well as organ donors. It offers a $1000 scholarship to one deserving candidate. In order to be able to be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must be a resident of Ohio, USA and have cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or more.

The applicant must also demonstrate financial need, give a 300 word statement of educational goals and objectives, a statement of 250-300 words regarding ho transplantation influences their life, a copy of acceptance letter of the university, college, school or technical/trade certificate program. The student is not eligible if he/she has been a recipient of this scholarship previously.

Benjamin R. Chirls Scholarship

The NJ Sharing Network Foundation offers $4000 scholarship for a recipient, donor, donor family member or a patient waiting for a transplant. The scholarship is in the honor of Ben Chirls who was a strong advocate of organ donation.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicant must be a resident of New Jersey, be a full time student in college, technical, vocational or high school or a full time student in any accredited institutes. The student must also be in the top 50% of the class. Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation, current transcript and an essay on ‘Organ or Tissue Donation’.

The Michigan Donor Family Council Scholarship Program

This scholarship is awarded to individual donor or family member of organ, tissue and cornea donors. In all 5 scholarships are provided of $1000 each. It is open for all high school seniors and college students. To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must be a donor or a family member of a donor whose donation was done in the State of Michigan.

Applicant must also provide a proof of enrollment to a qualified institution. Furthermore, a two-page typed document regarding why organ donation in important, copy of current transcript, outline about any volunteering work performed and the details about the donors relation to the applicant must be provided. Financial condition of the applicant is not taken into consideration. Applications must b submitted by April 4, 2015.

The above mentioned scholarships will enable student donors to collect fund that will enable them to study further and earn a degree for themselves respectfully.