Fall 2023 D4TS Scholarship Recipients

Diane DiamantisAbout the Foundation, Blog Posts, Motivation, Press Releases, Uncategorized

DOLLARS 4 TIC SCHOLARS ANNOUNCES 2023 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS;
Nine College Scholarships Awarded to Students with Tourette Syndrome

FLEMING ISLAND, FL – The Kelsey B. Diamantis TS Scholarship Family Foundation, Inc., dba Dollars 4 Tic Scholars, a non-profit organization established in 2014 in Boca Raton, FL and now located in Fleming Island, FL, has just announced the recipients of its 2023 Tourette Syndrome Scholarships. Dollars 4 Tic Scholars awards college scholarships to students around the U.S. who live with the challenges of Tourette Syndrome. It is among the first non-profit scholarship organizations to award nationwide to students with Tourette. 2023 is Dollars 4 Tic Scholars’ ninth season, awarding a total of $12,500 this year.

The 2023 D4TS scholarship recipients include:

  • Campion Elise Whelchel of Spartanburg, SC – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Superstar Scholarship” in the amount of $2,000.00, which recognizes a student who spreads awareness about Tourette Syndrome in their school or community. Campion graduated from Spartanburg High School and will attend USC Upstate in Spartanburg in the fall as an incoming freshman. Her degree program is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her goal is to be involved in Pediatric Nursing, Labor and Delivery or Psychiatric Nursing.

 

  • Alexander Matthew Vidas of Pittsburgh, PA – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.00. Alexander is an incoming junior at Pennsylvania State University. He is majoring in General Biology and hopes to become a small-animal or avian Veterinarian after attending a Veterinary Medicine institute and earning his Doctorate.

 

  • Adrian K. Garcia of Palmdale, CA – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.00. Adrian graduated from Knight High School. He will attend University of California in San Diego as an incoming freshman. He will major in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts with a minor in Cognitive Science and hopes to become a game designer.

 

  • Tyler J. Commons of Cedarburg, WI – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.00. Tyler graduated from Cedarburg High School. He will attend University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in Minneapolis as a freshman. Tyler will major in Supply Chain Management with a goal of helping bring needed resources to those who don’t have access to them.

 

  • Merideth April Swalls of Malvern, AR – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Graduate Student Scholarship” in the amount of $2,000.00. Merideth graduated from Round Lake High School in Round Lake, IL. She graduated from Brigham Young University, Provo UT, with a degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. This fall she will be entering graduate school at Southern Arkansas University’s School of Graduate Studies to seek her Master’s Degree. Her goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor with emphasis in trauma-specific therapies.

 

  • Elliot C. Kinney of York, PA – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,500.00. Elliot is a second-year recipient. He graduated from West York Area High School. He will attend Chapman University in Orange, CA as sophomore majoring in Writing for Film and Television and hopes to become a screenwriter.

 

  • Quintin Edward Utterback of Oakland, MD – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,500.00. Quintin is a second-year recipient. He graduated from Southern Garrett High School. He attends Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and will be a sophomore this year. Quintin is pursuing a double major in Sociology/Psychology and plans to become a researcher, professor or public policy analyst.

 

  • Caden Gabriel Wilkerson of Cordova, TN – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.00. Caden is a graduate of Homelife Academy. He is a second-year scholarship recipient. Caden will be a sophomore this year majoring in Commercial Music at Union University, Jackson, TN.  He looks forward to being a musical artist who shares a positive message and brings people to Christ.

 

  • Bryce Nicholas Lloyd of Lutherville, MD – Recipient of the “2023 Dollars 4 Tic Scholars Tourette Syndrome Renewable Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000. Bryce is a second-year recipient. He graduated from Gilman High School. Bryce attends Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, majoring in Chemical Engineering. He will be a sophomore this fall.

The Dollars 4 Tic Scholars scholarship program received scholarship applications from students around the country in response to its offering.

Dollars 4 Tic Scholars President Kelsey Padilla noted, “Each year, I am amazed at the students who apply to our scholarship. The determination, work ethic, and community involvement that these students have is just incredible. It makes it that much more difficult in our selections. This year’s group of recipients really blew us away. We are so proud of each and every one of them and are appreciative to be able to help them continue their goals, dreams, and to help others.”

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by chronic and involuntary motor and vocal tics which may hinder a student’s learning, absorption of material, and focus.

In addition to college scholarships, Dollars 4 Tic Scholars supports younger children ages 7 to 17 by sponsoring two children every summer to attend Tourette Syndrome Summer Camp.

Dollars 4 Tic Scholars may be reached at 904-375-8072, at https://www.dollars4ticscholars.org, on Facebook or Instagram at “Dollars4TicScholars”, or by email at info@dollars4ticscholars.org.

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