Brookfield Student Receives 2012 MS Scholarship

Brookfielder Kevin Schulze has earned some help as he continues his studies in Tampa, FL.

By Natalie Goodskey, National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter Intern

 

Recent Brookfield High School (BHS) graduate Kevin Schulze has been named to receive the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter’s 2012 Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Scholarship.


Schulze, 18, will attend the University of Tampa, in Tampa, FL this fall. He plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in forensic science.

At a young age, Schulze is an active member of the Brookfield community, including participation in the BHS SADD club, attaining Eagle Scout and volunteering at local churches and for his town. He also works in the childcare and after school program at the YMCA of Western Connecticut.

In 2002, Schulze’s mother, Dawn, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease. A couple years later she was also diagnosed with diabetes.

“Thinking about all these things happening to my mom, I realized that I wanted to become a bio-medical scientist,” said Schulze, who took on a great deal of responsibility at an early age. “I really didn’t want to see my mom suffer anymore, so I realized I wanted to pursue this field to help discover cures for many diseases. I promised my mom that I would try to find a cure for her disease.”

More than 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Dawn Schulze, have multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis generally affects women more than men and is most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms can include numbness and tingling in the limbs, difficulties with speech and vision and, in some severe cases, complete paralysis. There is no cure for MS.

Kevin Schulze was recognized by the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, at its annual Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Scholarship Reception, which was held at the Country Club of Farmington, Thursday, June 7. He is one of 10 high school graduates receiving a 2012 Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Scholarship and one of 14 students overall receiving a college scholarship from other chapter funds, including the Jo-Ann Concilio Memorial Fund and the Corn-Carter Family Scholarship.

Petit family scholarships are made possible through the Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Fund, which specifically supports National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, family programs. The fund was established in 2007 by the Petit family to honor the memory of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, who had MS, and her daughters, Hayley and Michaela, who were active with the chapter, helping to raise funds to support scientific research for a cure and local programs and services. The National MS Society scholarship program is offered annually to vocational, technical, or college-bound high school seniors diagnosed with multiple sclerosis or to applicants whose parent has multiple sclerosis.

Scholarship applications for the 2013 school year will be available online in October. For more information on MS or for additional information on 2013 MS scholarship criteria, contact the Connecticut Chapter at 860-913-2550 or visitwww.ctfightsMS.org.

http://brookfield.patch.com/articles/brookfield-student-receives-2012-ms-scholarship