Pilzer Klein Fighting Cancer Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Pilzer/Klein, P.C.

Overview

The Pilzer/Klein, P.C. Fighting Cancer Scholarship provides targeted financial support to students who have been diagnosed with or are recovering from cancer. The scholarship was established by Pilzer/Klein, P.C. to extend the firm’s assistance to families and students navigating cancer-related challenges. Applicants are asked to submit a personal essay describing their experience and future goals. The program aims to alleviate financial barriers to higher education for qualified students.

Description: A need- and merit-informed scholarship for incoming or current undergraduate and graduate students personally affected by cancer, administered by Pilzer/Klein, P.C.

History of the Award: The scholarship was created as an extension of the firm’s client support initiatives; its inception responded to community needs identified by Pilzer/Klein, P.C. and public health context around cancer prevalence.

• Scholarship for students diagnosed with or recovering from cancer.
• Established by Pilzer/Klein, P.C. to extend client support.
• Selection based on a submitted personal essay and eligibility criteria.

Award Value

The Fighting Cancer Scholarship awards a single $2,500 cash scholarship to a selected student. The award is intended to be applied toward college expenses and is mailed directly to the recipient’s institution. Exact disbursement instructions are collected from awardees at the time of selection. The scholarship is offered annually to incoming or continuing students in any field of study.

Award Value: $2,500 paid to the recipient’s college or university for the student’s benefit.

• One $2,500 scholarship awarded annually.
• Funds are mailed to the recipient’s institution, not to the student directly.
• Applicable to undergraduate and graduate students in any field.

Application Requirements

Applicants must meet academic, enrollment, and personal-experience criteria to be considered. Key requirements include minimum GPA, enrollment or acceptance at an accredited U.S. college or university, and a personal relationship to cancer through diagnosis or recovery. Applicants must submit an original essay (maximum 1,000 words) and supporting materials listed on the application form. Proof of a cancer diagnosis is not required as part of the submission.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, be enrolled or accepted at an accredited U.S. college or graduate school, be at least 18 at enrollment, reside in the United States, and have personal experience contending with cancer.

• Minimum 3.0 GPA and enrollment/acceptance at an accredited U.S. institution.
• Personal experience with cancer is required; medical proof is not.
• Applicants must submit required documents and an original essay.

Application Process

Complete the online application and upload all required materials via the scholarship form. Required uploads include an unofficial transcript, the scholarship essay in PDF format, and proof of enrollment or acceptance (for example, student ID or letter of acceptance). Follow the form instructions to ensure all fields and files are submitted correctly; incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. The committee reviews submissions after the deadline and will contact applicants only if further information is needed.

Submission Requirements: Fill out the scholarship form, upload an unofficial transcript, upload your essay as a PDF, and provide proof of enrollment or acceptance. No medical documentation of diagnosis is expected with the application.

• Submit application and uploads through the scholarship form only.
• Incomplete or late applications will be disqualified.
• Committee may request additional information after submission if necessary.

Scholarship Essay Topic

The essay should be an original personal reflection of no more than 1,000 words describing life after a cancer diagnosis. Applicants may focus on topics such as the impact on studies, family life, or the types of support they value most. Essays are evaluated for clarity, authenticity, and insight into the applicant’s experience and future goals. Creative framing and a compelling title are encouraged to help the submission stand out.

Essay Requirements: Include a header with your full name, scholarship name, institution, financial aid mailing address, financial aid office email and phone, and your student ID. Provide a catchy original title and save the essay as a PDF titled “The Pilzer/Klein Fighting Cancer Scholarship 2025 – Student Name” before uploading.

• Maximum 1,000 words focused on life after diagnosis.
• Required header information and an original title must be included.
• Save and submit the essay as a PDF using the specified file name format.

Application Timeline

Applications must be submitted by the deadline in December; late submissions will not be considered. After the deadline, the selection committee reviews all eligible entries, and the decision process typically takes one to three months depending on application volume. For legal and administrative reasons, the committee cannot respond to inquiries about application status. Winners will be notified by email and announced publicly once selections are finalized.

Application Timeline: Deadline in December; review period of approximately 1–3 months; no status inquiries accepted.

• Submit by the December deadline—late entries are ineligible.
• Review and selection can take 1–3 months after the deadline.
• Results communicated by email and public announcement; non-winners are not individually notified.

Terms and Conditions

Applicants must comply with all eligibility and submission rules outlined on the application page. The scholarship requires original work and prohibits submitting the same essay to multiple scholarships for consideration in this program. Certain individuals are ineligible, including Pilzer/Klein, P.C. employees and their children, past recipients of this scholarship, and applicants unwilling to participate in an interview if required. Personal data and enrollment proof are collected to verify eligibility and process the award.

Conditions: Applicants must be of eligible age and residency, in good academic standing, and provide required personal and enrollment information.

Ineligible Applicants: Employees or children of employees of Pilzer/Klein, P.C., past recipients of this scholarship, applicants who refuse interviews if requested, and applicants who submit the same essay to multiple scholarships.

• Original essay required; duplicate submissions are disallowed.
• Certain groups (employees, dependents, past recipients) are ineligible.
• Personal and enrollment information is required to verify eligibility.

Selection & Award Notification Process

A scholarship selection committee evaluates all complete and eligible applications after the submission deadline. The committee follows nondiscriminatory selection practices; decisions are based on merit and eligibility rather than protected characteristics. Winners are notified by email and announced via Pilzer/Klein, P.C.’s public channels, and the award check is mailed directly to the recipient’s college or university. Due to volume and legal constraints, the committee cannot provide individual updates to applicants who are not selected.

Notification Process: Winners receive email notification; announcements are posted publicly on Pilzer/Klein, P.C.’s channels and via press release. The award is mailed to the institution using contact details provided by the winner.

• Committee evaluates complete applications after the deadline.
• Winners notified by email and public announcement; non-winners are not individually contacted.
• Award payment is mailed to the recipient’s institution with mailing instructions collected at award time.