Press Release

ARLINGTON, VA, August 9, 2024 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarships, Schwallie Family Scholarships, and the Synchrony Scholarships for Autistic Students of Color. This year, these three scholarships attracted 1,096 applicants, and the awards total $192,000. At 64 total scholarships awarded, 2024 marks the highest number of scholarships we have awarded since the program began. Since 2007, OAR has provided 622 scholarships, maintaining its commitment to furthering the education of remarkable and determined autistic students. With these additional scholarships, OAR has awarded a total financial contribution of more than $1,909,500.

Each of the scholarships provides a one-time $3,000 award to students with autism diagnoses pursuing post-secondary education at a variety of institutions. This year, OAR is awarding 23 Schwallie Family Scholarships to students attending four-year and two-year colleges; 22 Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarships to students attending two-year colleges, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools; and 19 Synchrony Scholarships for Autistic Students of Color to students of racial/ethnic minority backgrounds attending any form of post-secondary education. The recipients of these highly competitive scholarship awards are individuals who have demonstrated their ability to overcome personal challenges in pursuit of their ambitions.

Cathy Schwallie, chair of the Schwallie Family Scholarships, stated: “The Schwallie Family is impressed at the number of amazing applicants in this year’s OAR Schwallie Scholarship submittals. 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 Scholarship winners were outstanding this year, and I wish them much success,” says Lisa Hussman, president of the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation. “The winners were a diverse group, attending life skills programs, vocational programs, and associate degree programs.”

Amar Malik, Community and Citizenship Leader of the Synchrony EnAbled+ Network, stated: “Autistic students of color continue to be underdiagnosed and under-resourced. 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!  

Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship 

• Garrett Agresti, Philips Academy – Charlotte, NC 
• Noah Billings, Riverland Community and Technical College – Albert Lea, MN 
• Seth Butler, University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ 
• Ryan Cennamo, Coastal Carolina University – Conway, SC 
• Elijah Deml, Lipscomb University – Nashville, TN 
• Dashiel Francis, CIP Berkshire – Lee, MA 
• Payton Hepler, Western Carolina University – Cullowhee, NC 
• Nathan Howard, Chandler Gilbert Community College – Chandler, AZ 
• Kyle Hume, University of South Florida – Tampa, FL 
• Asa Keane, Threshold Program at Lesley University – Cambridge, MA 
• Gabriel Layson, Automotive Training Center – Exton, PA 
• Michael Maraldi, National Lewis University – Chicago, IL 
• Steven Noland, Alaska Vocational Technical Center – Seward, AK 
• Sawyer Nye, Auburn University – Auburn, AL 
• Ethan Seibel, Dakota College at Bottineau – Minot, ND 
• John Sharon, FUTURE @ University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN 
• Tyler Solomon, Thames Program at Mitchell College – New London, CT 
• Gabrielle Strand, Bellevue College – Occupational & Life Services – Bellevue, WA 
• Dakota Thill, University of Central Missouri – Warrensburgh, MO 
• Kellen Trout, Lane Community College – Eugene, OR 
• Matthew West, Full Sail University – Winter Park, FL 
• Andrew Yeager, Clemson University (Clemson Life) – Clemson, SC   

Schwallie Family Scholarship 

• Cadyn Baker, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR 
• Grace Barnet, Viterbo – LaCrosse, WI 
• Adam Beane, The Ohio State University – Columbus, OH  
• Holly Connor, Webster University – Webster Groves, MO 
• Amelia Cordova, Elizabethtown College – Elizabethtown, PA 
• Alexander Croft, Liberty University – Lynchburg, VA 
• Micah Deyo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Indiana, PA 
• Joshua Dobson, University of Central Florida – Tampa, FL 
• Timothy Everett, Illinois State University – Normal, IL 
• John Geraci, Merrimack College – North Andover, MA 
• Adam Johnson, Arkansas Tech University – Russellville, AR 
• Aspen Jones, Muskingum University – New Concord, OH 
• Anonymous, Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ 
• Lola Leeman, UC Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA 
• Joshua Miller, Tidewater Community College – Virginia Beach, VA 
• Jak Perdew, Western Kentucky University – Bowling Green, KY 
• Walker Raubuch, Washington State University – Pullman, WA 
• Avery Ricks, Brigham Young University-Idaho – Rexburg, ID 
• Callie Salazar, Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, CA 
• Savannah Swaye, Chatham University – Pittsburgh, PA 
• Ian Urinsco, UC Irvine – Irvine, CA 
• Madison Watson, Grand Valley State University – Allendale, MI 
• Andrew Woods, Ohio University – Athens, OH 

Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color 

• Kamila Almazan, University of Houston – Houston, TX 
• Daniel Bi, Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN 
• Amber Brown, University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa , AL 
• Alivia Collins, Longleaf School of the Arts – Raleigh, NC 
• Caitlin Curtis, University of Texas at Dallas – Dallas, TX 
• Jocelynn Dow, Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ 
• Mikayla Grant, Austin Peay State University – Clarksville, TN 
• Jessenia Jackson, University of Texas at San Antonio – San Antonio, TX 
• Madison Keaton, Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, VA 
• Mekah’E LeClair, DigiPen Institute of Technology – Redmond, WA 
• Carlos Monterroso, Brightpoint Community College – Midlothian, VA 
• Victoria Nguyen, California State University Long Beach – Long Beach, CA 
• Raj Patel, Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL 
• Katy Perez, California State University Long Beach – Long Beach, CA 
• Miles Rivera, Ramapo College of New Jersey – Mahwah, NJ 
• Mickael Tatum, Florida Southern College – Lakeland, FL 
• Michael Velarde, University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA 
• Jonathan Walton, New York University – New York, NY 
• Jayda Williams, University of San Diego – San Diego, CA 

OAR congratulates each of the 64 recipients and extends its gratitude once again to the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation, the Schwallie Family Foundation, and the Synchrony Foundation. These scholarships would not be possible without their generous support.  

OAR’s annual scholarship awards help autistic students pursue their educational goals. The next open application period will begin in December 2024. More information, including the link to the application portal once it opens, can be found on OAR’s Scholarship Page. 

About OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national non-profit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism. OAR is dedicated to promoting research that can be applied to help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions. Learn more at www.researchautism.org.