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About The Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund
Background
Keegan Scot "K-man" Southers was born on July 8, 2009 along with his twin brother, Wyatt. He was filled with a fierce Celtic spirit and a zest for fun, play and laughter. He enjoyed playing with Wyatt and his big sister, Fiona. While his medical issues did not define who he was as a person (son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, friend), they undoubtedly had an effect on his life. He was born with Heterotaxy Syndrome, Complete Heart Block and Tetralogy of Fallot. He received a pacemaker when he was just four days old. He needed surgical repair of his tetralogy, but before his surgery, he was diagnosed in March 2010 with Cardiomyopathy, with his left ventricle functioning only around 8 percent of what it should. He spent 4 months in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. There he received inotrope medications as well as a new updated pacemaker to help improve his heart function. Unfortunately, his heart function did not improve and in May 2010 was placed on the heart transplant list as this was his only option for survival. He waited valiantly on the transplant list for 80 days, but lost his battle with heart disease on July 25, 2010 when his little heart could not hold on any longer and he passed away at 3:44 AM. His family set up a scholarship fund dedicated to his life and memory, as well as to honor his strength and courage.
Purpose
The purpose of The Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund will be the granting of college and university undergraduate scholarships to persons with Congenital Heart Disease and/or received a heart transplant, have displayed solid academic credentials and are in need of financial assistance to begin or continue their education at the college or university level.
Additionally, we want to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and the need for Organ Donation. See our Links page for more information.
Eligibility
Recipients of the Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund must:
- Have been diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease and/or received a heart transplant (Doctor’s statement attesting to Congential Heart Disease (CHD)/heart transplant is required)
- Be a resident of the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan area (within the I-275 loop)
- Show a proven financial need
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll as a Full-Time student
- 2.5 or better GPA for HS students or have maintained a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale throughout his/her college or university career
- Fill out a Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation application and submit it to the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation to their main office at 602 Main Street, Suite 1000, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
- Letter of recommendation from his/her guidance counselor OR if currently enrolled in a college or university provide a Letter of recommendation from a professor at the university the student is attending.
Awards
The amount of the scholarship award shall be determined annually by the board of the Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund, but shall not be lower than $500 per academic year.
Recipients
The recipients of the Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund will be chosen by the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation in cooperation with the board members of the Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Management of the Fund
The Keegan Scot Southers Memorial Scholarship Fund is a program of the Keegan's Spirit Foundation, an IRS 501(c)(3) certified organization founded in July 2010. The fund is managed by the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, also an IRS 501(c)(3) certified organization and aBBB Accredited Charity that has been assisting students with needs based scholarships in the Greater Cincinnati area since 1918. How to Apply
Fill out a Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation application (may be done on-line at the CSF web site).
You may also contact the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, 602 Main Street, Suite 1000, Cincinnati, OH 45202, (513) 345-6701, in downtown Cincinnati for an application or request one from a high school guidance counselor. Information on College Scholarships through the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation may also be found on their website.
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View the Press Release created for the Scholarship Fund
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