Hi LupusChicks (and LupusDudes!), we have a wonderful announcement that we are so excited to share with you. Our ever-popular educational stipend is back once again thanks to some amazing people and the dear life of Christi Kay Henderson.

The LupusChick/Christi Kay Henderson Educational Stipend will gift two people living with lupus, who are currently in school, with a $500 educational stipend each to use towards classes, books, supplies, or living expenses while attending class. Learn all of the details below on deadlines and how to enter:

Who is Christi Kay Henderson?

This educational stipend is in memory of Christi Kay Henderson, who lost her life after a brave fight against the disease. We asked her husband Todd to tell us a little about his amazing wife and this is what he shared:

“Christi Kay Henderson was and is the strongest woman I know. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2006. She was a caring and loving wife and mother. Always looking on the bright side of things. In 2016 she was also diagnosed with congestive heart failure and interstitial lung disease. The fact that her name will be on scholarships means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to her too. Lupus is a terrible disease and just to know the scholarships will help some going through the same battle that she did is absolutely amazing.”

Christi truly sounds like an incredible person and we are so honored to share this stipend with someone in her name!

How Did the Educational Stipend Happen?

For several years, we have given away educational stipends to people with lupus who are in college, trade schools, or certification programs. So far, seven have been awarded. These financial stipends are donated through sponsors or from our founder, Marisa Zeppieri and her husband Mickey.

This year, John Howard of Kentucky, along with the American Legion of Owensboro Kentucky, held a motorcycle run and raised money to give to a specific organization. Along with his friends, they decided they wanted to give it to a lupus organization in honor of their friend Todd Henderson who had lost his wife Christi to the disease. In her honor, we have named this stipend after her.

We went into this process with John Howard attempting to raise enough money for at least one stipend to be given away, and were elated at the end of the event when enough money was raised to give away one stipend in Christi’s name for the next four years!

We can’t thank Todd, John, and their friends and supporters for choosing LupusChick to bless the life of another person living with lupus.

How to Apply for The Stipend

If you have been diagnosed by a physician with lupus and are attending a college, university, trade school, or certification program, you can apply for the Christi Kay Henderson stipend. Here’s how:

To Apply:

• Send a copy of your schedule or transcripts, along with a 500-1000 word essay about your lupus story, what you are studying and how you advocate or spread awareness on lupus (and anything else you want to share with us) to Marisa@lupuschick.com.
• Please use “Stipend Application” in the subject line.
• If you are chosen, you will need to supply a letter from your physician that you have been diagnosed with lupus before the stipend is sent to you.

Deadlines

All applications (transcripts/schedules and essays) must be received by March 31, 2020 by midnight, Eastern time. Send to Marisa@lupuschick.com

Winner will be notified by the end of April and officially announced at the start of Lupus Awareness Month in May of 2020.

We wish you all the best of luck and if you have any questions, please contact us at Marisa@lupuschick.com