The Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship supports students attending two-year universities, life skills or postsecondary programs, or vocational, technical, or trade schools. Hussman applicants typically make up the pool of talented students who face daily challenges related to autism and attend programs that assist in skill-building, job readiness, and other transition-related skills. In addition to completing the application, applicants must also submit a written essay, proof of diagnosis (if selected as a finalist) and two recommendation letters (one from a parent/guardian and the other from a non-relative).
Scholarship Details
- $3,000 scholarships for students across the autism spectrum
- Open to those pursuing full-time post-secondary education
- Applicable to four-year undergraduate colleges, two-year undergraduate colleges, trade schools, technical schools, vocational schools, or cooperative life skills programs
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for individuals with an established autism diagnosis
- Applicants must attend an accredited post-secondary institution in the United States for the Fall and Spring semesters following the scholarship application
- Not eligible for students with a bachelor’s degree or those pursuing graduate/postgraduate studies
- Requires full-time enrollment (minimum 6 credits) or working toward certification/accreditation in a specific field
- Excludes past recipients of an OAR scholarship or immediate family members of OAR’s Board of Directors or Scientific Council
Application Process
- Review scholarship details and ensure eligibility
- Prepare necessary documents, including proof of autism diagnosis
- Submit the application online for consideration
- Finalists will be required to submit copies of medical documentation confirming their autism diagnosis
We exclusively use an online application system. Applicants will select the Schwallie Family Scholarship, the Synchrony Scholarship for Autistic Students of Color, or the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship. Our scholarship application contains basic contact information, date of diagnosis, proof of enrollment, and three short essay questions. Students are expected to complete the applications on their own.
In the case of applicants for the Lisa Higgins Hussman Scholarship whose written communications skills may be more limited, we require two letters of recommendation. The first letter of recommendation must come from a teacher, counselor, coach, or other non-relative. The second letter must come from a parent or guardian in the form of a personal letter of support.