We are thrilled to announce the 2024 InfuCare Rx® Scholarship Program recipients. We proudly congratulate the following students: Hannah Scott, James Mangan, Cooper Castle, Jacy Thomas, Caleb Merson, and Emily Alvarez Huerta!
About the InfuCare Rx Scholarship Program
Our annual scholarship program supports individuals with primary immunodeficiencies, neuromuscular conditions, and bleeding disorders who are pursuing higher education. Each year, we receive many qualified applications from students who bravely manage their health challenges while excelling in their studies.
Primary Immunodeficiency Recipients
Hannah Scott
Hannah Scott is a sophomore at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is studying Culinary Arts with a minor in Sommelier Management and Food Sustainability. Hannah has been diagnosed with Immunoglobulin A deficiency and is an active member of The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF). Her condition began affecting her life when she was a toddler and has impacted her daily ever since.
Throughout her years in school, she has struggled to find food in the school’s cafeteria that caters to the dietary needs of her condition. Her love for cooking and her diagnosis helped her realize that she dreams of becoming a chef and owning a restaurant that considers the dietary needs of people with chronic conditions. By furthering her education in Culinary Arts, Hannah hopes to use the techniques she learns to create a new restaurant concept that the food industry has never seen.
“I am proud of how much I have continued to grow as a person despite my condition. Despite the bumps and hurdles, I have tried my hardest not to let them get me down and continuously find solutions to overcome and persevere.”
– Hannah Scott
James Mangan
First-year student James Mangan is a biology major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since he was diagnosed at age six, his Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) has been one of the biggest struggles in his life. As he begins his college experience, his life will look different than most college students due to his weekly infusions. Still, his determination and resilience will help him further his education.
James has a goal to become a medical researcher. He hopes to help others with medical conditions such as his own to make the world a better place through medicine. James received high academic achievements throughout his high school career, leading to becoming one of the top students in his class, an Illinois State Scholar, and an AP Scholar.
“I know the struggles that those with chronic illnesses and diseases face because of my experiences with Common Variable Immune Deficiency. To help lessen their struggles through discovering new cures and treatments that can revolutionize their lives would be a great accomplishment and achievement.”
– James Mangan
Neuromuscular Scholarship Recipients
Cooper Castle
Cooper Castle, a first-year student at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga, is looking forward to studying Mechanical Engineering. Aside from his passion for engineering, Cooper loves to play golf, and he is a member of the non-profit organization, Oscar the MS Monkey. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) which has changed his world drastically. Unfortunately, because of his balance being unstable and his neurological symptoms, he was unable to attend school in person the year he was diagnosed. After many doctor visits, overnight hospitalizations, biannual immunotherapy infusions, as well as physical and occupational therapy, Cooper is proud to say he feels his resilience has helped carry him through his autoimmune condition. He has discovered his inner strength through his MS journey and refuses to let it define him or stop him from his dreams.
Cooper is excited about the growth and development he will continue to experience as he pursues his college education in mechanical engineering.
“On September 5, 2023, standing on the first tee box at Long Hollow Golf Course, I couldn’t help but reflect on the path that brought me here. There were a lot of big hills on this course, but after all I had been through, including all the retraining and therapy, I felt taller than all of them. With God’s help, my medical team, and a lot of hard work, we had done it! Through this journey, I discovered my mental strength, my physical strength, and my ability to face adversity head-on. I will not let setbacks define me.”
– Cooper Castle
Jacy Thomas
Jacy Thomas is a student at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis. As a senior, she is studying Nursing with a minor in Africana Studies. Her goal is to provide compassionate care as a future Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse. Jacy suffers from a rare, life-threatening, auto immune muscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis (MG). Over the course of her medical journey, she has had incredible nurses help her navigate her condition, which has inspired her to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). As a first-generation scholar, Jacy is looking forward to getting the opportunity to showcase her dedication by graduating and excelling in her career.
Jacy’s proudest moment was being voted by her peers to compete in her college’s longest-held tradition, Speech Night, a speech competition. She spoke about her love and appreciation for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. She was selected as the second–place winner out of 1,000 speech candidates. Jacy is also a member of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.
“During various stages of Myasthenic Crisis, I remember all I wanted was to feel the warm grasp of someone else’s hand. This simple gesture helped me realize in my most vulnerable moments that I am seen beyond my disability. I have held multiple hands along my medical journey from a variety of healthcare professionals and loved ones. Now, it is my turn to do the same as a future Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse.”
– Jacy Thomas
Bleeding Disorders Scholarship Recipients
Caleb Merson
This year, Caleb Merson will attend Colorado State University as a freshman, where he is majoring in Chemistry. He lives with what he likes to call “the triple A”, which stands for Hemophilia A, ADHD, and Autism. Hemophilia A is a type of bleeding disorder where the body is deficient in clotting Factor VIII. Throughout his life he has learned to manage his bleeding disorder through proper care, early bleed detection, and intravenous medical therapy. Caleb is a part of the Colorado Chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation where he does his best to advocate for the bleeding disorder community by writing letters to state representatives to get the Copay Accumulator Bill (SB-195) passed in Colorado.
Caleb hopes to develop new and improved medications and treatment regimens to help those in the bleeding disorder community, enabling more cost-effective treatment options with greater flexibility.
“My special background has included hundreds if not thousands of intravenous medication doses to supplement my body’s innate lack of Factor VIII. I can fully appreciate what it feels like for many patients to miss out on parties, holidays, vacations, and other events due to injuries, surgeries, and medication regimens. This has made me empathetic and determined to help create new medications and treatments for those in the bleeding disorder community.”
– Caleb Merson
Emily Alvarez Huerta
As a freshman, Emily Alvarez Huerta is attending California State University, Monterey Bay where she will study Kinesiology and play collegiate soccer. Upon entering high school, Emily was diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly. She struggled with her diagnosis mentally and physically until receiving the appropriate treatment and becoming more comfortable talking about her disorder.
In 2021, Emily suffered from a torn ACL during a soccer game, causing her to need physical therapy for 14 months. This helped her realize her desire to pursue a career of becoming a physical therapist. In 2023, the past setbacks of her injury came full circle when she began to write a research paper on the benefits of pre-habilitation on ACL patients with bleeding disorders. To gain some more hands-on knowledge, she had the opportunity to help at a physical therapy private practice and wellness center where she worked alongside patients in her community.
“I plan to give back to hemophilia organizations in my area in the same way that these foundations have supported me. I hope to one day provide affordable care to the Latino and Mexican American communities and to those who cannot otherwise receive rehabilitation services around California.“
– Emily Alvarez Huerta
It is always an honor for InfuCare Rx to support students of such high caliber in their educational journeys. Our team was impressed by their many accomplishments and is pleased to support them in their pursuit of higher education.
To learn more about the InfuCare Rx Scholarship Program, click here.