Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship

In 2026, Project Sleep’s 13th annual Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship will award 30 scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Five of these scholarships will be awarded to students with idiopathic hypersomnia, thanks to a generous partnership with the Hypersomnia Foundation.

High school seniors diagnosed with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia planning to attend a four-year college or university starting in Fall 2026 are encouraged to see eligibility and apply!

Applications are due April 1, 2026, at 11:59PM PT. For full details, please read our Scholarship Information and Frequently Asked Questions.

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: 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: When are applications due?

A: Applications are due on April 1st at 11:59PM PT.

Q: Can I have an extension on the application deadline?

A: In order to ensure fairness to all scholarship applicants, we do not grant extensions on the application deadline.

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 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
• 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.

Q: How and when are awards disbursed?

A: Awards will be distributed to recipients by July 31.

Q: If I receive a scholarship, are there any additional requirements?

A: Scholarship awardees are required to submit responses to a brief “college update” survey in the Fall semester, along with a photo of themselves at college.

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. Learn more.

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. Learn more via the Hypersomnia Foundation website.