Edge Foundation Announces Unique Scholarship for Students with ADHD Offered in Partnership with Shire
Award Includes a Year of Coaching to Ease the Transition from High School to Higher Education
Seattle, WA, May 24, 2011 – Students with ADHD struggle with the difficult transition from high school to higher education. Studies indicate that between 50 to 95 percent[1] of college students with ADHD drop out. Edge is pleased to partner with Shire to offer a unique new scholarship program aimed at students with ADHD. Twenty-five graduating high school seniors who will be starting a program in higher education in the fall of 2011 will receive a $2,000 scholarship and an offer of a full year of ADHD coaching services provided by the Edge Foundation. The deadline to apply is July 7, 2011 and scholarships will be awarded on August 9, 2011. Details available at www.ShireADHDScholarship.com.
“What makes this scholarship unique is that, these students will not only have access to a higher education, but they will receive additional tools to help them,” said Robert Tudisco, Executive Director of Edge Foundation. “The students will set goals and work with their coaches to stay accountable to the goals they have set for themselves. Edge coaches will help provide these students with structure, support and accountability as they leave home and continue their education. Edge coaches will help students learn the skills they need to provide these things for themselves.”
According to Kelsey Peterson, a college student who was successfully coached through the Edge model, “I was fortunate that my parents were able to send me to college, but the transition was very difficult because of my ADHD. It wasn’t until I started working with my coach that I felt empowered enough to take charge of my life and succeed.”
The scholarship recipients will be able to connect with their Edge Coach before orientation begins. Their coaches will help them to understand themselves well enough to learn to gravitate toward their strengths and also to navigate around their weaknesses. Says Tudisco, “We applaud Shire for recognizing the need for coaching and making it available proactively for students entering higher education. No student should have to fail in order to receive support.”
The Edge coaching model has been proven effective in helping students with ADHD regulate their own behavior, problem solve, prioritize, organize and otherwise bring balance into their lives. Last year, Edge concluded a two year study into the effectiveness of ADHD coaching on students in 10 colleges nationwide. The study results (available at edgefoundation.org) showed that the students who were coached showed dramatic increases in self regulation and an overall improvement in their approach to learning.
The Edge Foundation is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that offers supplemental treatment for students with ADHD. Founded by Neil Peterson in 2005, its mission is to help every child, adolescent and young adult with ADHD to fully realize their own potential, personal vision and passion through personal coaching.
[1] Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2011, http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/15/health/la-he-ritalin-q-a-20110515
Bonita
Hello!
My son and I are ADD. He is going into 3rd grade in the fall, so he won’t qualify for this scholarship for quite a while yet. However, I wanted to let you know what a wonderfully generous idea this is! How marvelous it would have been for ME as a college freshman, especially the coaching part! I hope the recipients of the scholarship can somehow appreciate the worth of this, and know how difficult it can be without some sort of support in college.