Epilepsy Foundation Scholarship Award Recipients Announced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above at the 2008 EFGC annual board meeting (L-R): Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski, 2008 Scholarships Award recipients Lindsey Bandy, Anneisha Elerby, Ryan Flis, and Immediate Past Board Chairman Brian Lunt.

The recipients of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago Academic Scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year were Lindsey Bandy, Anneisha Elerby, Ryan Flis, and Bonnie Halberstadt.  The recipients were awarded the $1,000 scholarship at the Foundation’s June 18 annual Board of Directors meeting. 

Lindsey Bandy, a graduate of Larkin High School, will be attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan this fall. She will begin her college career studying psychology with hopes of someday earning her PhD to practice Neuropsychology.

After being treated for epilepsy at Children’s Memorial Hospital by a Neuropsychologist, she became fascinated with their work.  “I would have never encountered this field had I not had epilepsy,” says Bandy.

 Having epilepsy has not prevented Bandy from being involved in numerous activities and achievements.  She was part of a Hurricane Katrina relief trip and is an active soup kitchen volunteer for her church.  She achieved A’s in all of her classes and was involved in athletics and Orchestra at Larkin High School.

Anneisha Elerby, a graduate of Proviso West High School, will be attending the University of Illinois at Chicago this fall.  She will begin her college career studying Biological Science.  She plans to focus in the area of neurological medicine and research the different side effects of various treatments.  “I want to someday discover a new medical treatment for epilepsy that does not have the severe side effects like my current medication does,” says Elerby.

Having epilepsy has not prevented Elerby from achieving success in various areas of her life.  She maintained a full time job throughout high school and was still able to succeed academically.  “My goal for the future is to get through medical school and accomplish many great things,” says Elerby.

Ryan Flis, a graduate of Vernon Hills High School, will be attending Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington this fall.  Although he is undecided on a major field of study, he feels that he possesses “career and academic goals that revolve around service to others.”  

“My goal is to continue to do things to the best of my ability,” Flis says.

Flis is an active volunteer in his school and community and has been an extremely successful student athlete.  He volunteered in a Best Buddies program designed to help those with special needs.  He also was a member of DECA club, which helped raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation and spread awareness about what epilepsy truly is.

Bonnie Halberstadt, a graduate of Seton Academy, will be attending St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin this fall. She will begin her college career studying Mathematics where she feels that her talents with numbers and figures will be properly utilized.  “I hope to use all the talents I have been blessed with to succeed and not let anything stop me,” says Halberstadt.

Having epilepsy has not prevented Halberstadt from being involved in numerous activities and achievements.  She is working toward the Gold Award in Girl Scouts, is an active volunteer at her church, and finished at the top of her class academically.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago is extremely proud of this year’s Epilepsy Foundation Scholarship Award recipients and wishes them well as they embark on their post-secondary educational careers.