Let's face it: College is expensive. Between tuition, books, and room and board, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year. Survivors of childhood cancer can turn to the American Cancer Society and other organizations for help paying those costs.

ACS scholarships can make a real difference for a young cancer survivor. Craig King, for instance, received ACS grants during each of his 4 undergraduate years at South Carolina State University. That money helped him earn his degree in elementary education, and he is now a third-grade teacher in South Carolina.

Scholarships are usually offered through state or regional chapters of the ACS for students attending 2- or 4-year colleges in the area. Call 1-800-ACS-2345 for information and to find the closest ACS office. Some scholarship information is available online, too, or directly from regional coordinators as follows below:

ACS College Aid Programs for Survivors of Childhood Cancer

California Division
Requirements and applications
For information, call Jennifer Renell, 1-800-877-1710, ext. 221, or email jennifer.renell@cancer.org
Application deadline: April 25, 2008

Florida Division
Requirements and applications
For information, call Marilyn Westley, 1-800-444-1410, ext. 405, or email marilyn.westley@cancer.org
Application deadline: April 10, 2008

Great Lakes Division
(Indiana, Michigan)
Requirements and applications
For information, call: 1-800-723-0360
Application deadline: April 16, 2008 (first-time applications); June 6, 2008 (renewals)

Great West Division
(Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
Requirements
For information, call: 1-800-AC S-2345
Application deadline: TBA

High Plains Division
(Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas)
Requirements
For information, call Phyllis Caron, 512-919-1910, or email phyllis.caron@cancer.org
Application deadline: March 11, 2008

Midwest Division
(Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
Requirements
Application
For information, call Roxanne Honeyman, 262-523-5536 or 1-800-947-0487, ext. 5536; or email roxanne.honeyman@cancer.org
Application deadline: March 15, 2008

Mid-South Division
(Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee)
For information, call Debbie Thomas, 601-321-5507, or email debbie.thomas@cancer.org
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2008

New England Division
(Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
Research grants for undergraduates and first-year medical students
For information, call Kathy O'Connor, 1-800-952-7664. ext. 4690, or email koconnor@cancer.org
Application deadline: February 8, 2008

Ohio Division
Requirements and applications
For information, call 1-888-227-6446, ext. 8405 or 8409
Application deadline: Feb. 20, 2008

South Atlantic Division
(Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia)
For information, call: 1-800-ACS-2345
Application deadline: April 16, 2008 (completed application); July 2, 2008 (college acceptance letter for freshmen or transfers)

Other Scholarship Programs for Families Affected by Cancer

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults
(For children affected by cancer, either their own diagnosis or that of a parent or guardian)
For information, call: 1-888-393-3863 (FUND)
Web site: http://www.ulmanfund.org
Application deadline: May 1, 2008

Stephen T. Marchello Scholarship Foundation
(For students in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Montana)
For information, call: 303-886-5018
Web site: http://www.stmfoundation.org/
Application deadline: March 15, 2008

SuperSibs: College Scholarships for Brothers and Sisters of Children With Cancer
Web site: www.supersibs.org
For information, call 866-444-7427
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2008

Article date: Jan. 23, 2008