OAR has awarded scholarships to 64 students for 2024, bringing the scholarship total to $1,909,500 provided to 622 autistic students since 2007. That is the highest number of scholarships OAR has ever awarded in a single year. This year, the Schwallie Family Scholarships, Hussman Scholarships, and Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color attracted 1,096 applicants, and the awards totaled $192,000.
The Schwallie Family Scholarships are awarded to students attending two- and four-year colleges. “The Schwallie Family is impressed at the number of amazing applicants in this year’s OAR Schwallie Scholarship submittals,” notes Cathy Schwallie Farmer, chair of the Schwallie Family Scholarships. “This year we gave out 23 scholarships, and each student is a stellar young member of the neurodiverse community. We continue to be honored to support these amazing and unique students.”
The Hussman Scholarships are awarded to students attending two-year colleges, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. “The Hussman Scholarship winners were outstanding this year, and I wish them much success,” says Lisa Hussman, president of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation. “They were a diverse group, attending life skills programs, vocational programs, and associate degree programs.”
The Synchrony Scholarships for Autistic Students of Color are awarded to students from under-represented racial and ethnic minority groups attending any type of post-secondary education, from life skills programs to four-year undergraduate universities. “Autistic students of color continue to be under-diagnosed and under-resourced,” says Amar Malik, community and citizenship leader of the Synchrony EnAbled+ Network. “Synchrony and its diversity network, The EnAbled+ Network, are proud to support the Organization for Autism Research, helping these exceptional students pursue their academic goals and shining a light on this well-deserving community.”
Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients! OAR extends its gratitude to the Schwallie Family Foundation, the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation, and the Synchrony Foundation. These scholarships would not be possible without their generous support.
The 2025 scholarship applications will open in December. To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant must have a confirmed autism diagnosis, be accepted for enrollment in the fall 2025 semester, and submit three short personal essays along with an application form and recommendation letter. Learn more about OAR’s scholarship program and how to apply.
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