Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Establishes Scholarship at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A new scholarship for students with spinal cord injuries is now available at The University of Alabama.

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation has established the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Scholarship for Students with Spinal Cord Injury, or SCI, at UA for the 2014-2015 academic year. The scholarship will provide full tuition and fees for four selected students for the remainder of their undergraduate or graduate program.

The Neilsen Foundation has also established a supplemental support fund to reduce barriers for Neilsen Scholars’ academic success. This supplemental fund will support needs related to the students’ spinal cord injury, such as caregiver services, adaptive equipment or assistive technology, and subsidize other costs such as housing, child care and/or transportation.

“This generous gift will allow students with spinal cord injury to receive the support they need to attend The University of Alabama. We encourage any student or prospective student who meets the qualifications to apply for these scholarships,” UA President Judy Bonner said.

“Through the generosity of the Neilsen Foundation Scholarship we were able to support four of our student athletes with spinal cord injury in the Adapted Athletics program. Our student athletes will now be able to complete their academic careers here at Alabama and continue to be bright lights for our University,” said Dr. Brent Hardin, UA associate professor of adapted sport and director of adapted athletics. “We are so appreciative not only for this scholarship program but for all of the good work completed by the Craig H. Neilson Foundation for persons with spinal cord injury.”

While the first four recipients of the scholarship at UA are members of adapted athletics teams, any student who has spinal cord injury is encouraged to apply.

The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation was established in 2002 as a private foundation dedicated to research to develop treatments for spinal cord injury and quality of life programs for people living with SCI. Neilsen was an entrepreneur who lived with a high level spinal cord injury for 21 years until his death in 2006. He developed the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to contribute in a significant way to SCI research and to offer those with SCI the quality of life they deserve.

For information about how to apply for the 2015-2016 academic year, contact Hardin at 205/348-5109 or bhardin@ua.edu.