What is Narcolepsy?
Narcolepsy is a serious neurological disorder of the sleep/wake cycle affecting about 1 in 2,000 people worldwide, including many children and young adults. Due to lack of awareness in medical communities and society at large, narcolepsy is extremely under-recognized and misunderstood. On average, people with narcolepsy experience symptoms for 8 to 15 years before receiving proper diagnosis and treatment.
What is Idiopathic Hypersomnia?
Idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a chronic neurological disorder marked by an insatiable need to sleep that is not eased by a full night’s slumber. People with idiopathic hypersomnia sleep normal or long amounts of time each night but still feel excessively sleepy during the day. They may take long naps, but wake up feeling no better or worse than when they fell asleep.
Meet Jack:
Jack was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 15, with symptoms developing earlier. He faced challenges in the classroom, yet diagnosis and treatment helped him excel in high school and college. In 2018, Jack graduated from the University of Arizona, with a major in Economics and minors in Business Administration and Psychology. He is currently working in software sales in San Diego, CA. The adversity Jack faced in school inspired his family to co-found this scholarship with Julie Flygare.
Meet Julie:
Julie Flygare, J.D. is the President & CEO of Project Sleep and author of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy. She was diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 24, during her second year of law school. After graduating, Julie dedicated herself to raising awareness about narcolepsy. Read her blog at www.julieflygare.com.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Am I eligible to apply for the Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship?
A: To be considered for the scholarship, you must meet all three of the following requirements:
- You are a high school senior or high school graduate starting your first semester of college in the United States.
- You are planning to attend a four-year college or university.
- You have a diagnosis of narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia (confirmation of diagnosis by a medical professional is required).
Q: What if I don’t qualify or don’t receive a scholarship? Are there other scholarships for students with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia?
A: There are many more well-deserving students with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia than we can support as a small non-profit with limited funding at this time. Please know that we are cheering for you as you seek to advance your education! Please see our Additional Resources for Students with Narcolepsy page for other scholarship opportunities.
Q: When do scholarship applications open?
A: Applications for the following Fall semester open annually in January. Sign up to receive scholarship e-updates and other sleep community news from Project Sleep!
Q: What do I need to include with my application?
A: The following must be included in your submission for your application to be considered complete:
- One personal essay response to to the topic below (500–1000 words): If you could go back in time and speak to yourself on the day you were diagnosed, what would you say? What advice or perspective would you share with your younger self? Please write a letter to yourself on your diagnosis day.
- A list of extracurricular activities including but not limited to: clubs/organizations, employment and volunteer experience, and honors, officer, or leadership roles
- A transcript of grades completed through the most recent semester
- ACT or SAT exam results, or reason why you have not taken the ACT or SAT
- Signed Diagnosis Confirmation Form from an accredited sleep doctor or neurologist
- A professional-style headshot or portrait photo
Please note that applications will not be reviewed until all submission requirements have been fulfilled.
Q: When will I find out if I was awarded a scholarship?
A: Scholarship recipients will be notified by June 30.
View Scholarship
Awards Available: 35