¦ January 1, 2008
New Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Scholarship Fund
Thomas Edison State College Now Accepting Applications for Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Fund

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Avrhami
Mindspace
480-941-8497 ext 119
[email protected]

TRENTON, NJ (January, 2008) – The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is pleased to announce its initial $10,000 scholarship fund with the Thomas Edison State College, now available to enrolled students who are spinal cord injured.   The college is currently accepting applications for the next award period of June 2009.

The Foundation chose this college because of its unique ability to deliver courses to students anywhere in the country and the world and because of its reputation for providing programs that are completely accessible to individuals who are paralyzed.

“While many institutions are accessible, maneuvering a campus can be problematic for a person using a wheelchair during inclement weather or simply trying to get from the parking lot to a class on the third floor,” said Ida Cahill, president and CEO of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. “It is much easier for paralyzed students to participate in online classes or to earn credits through testing or prior learning assessment.”

Spinal cord injuries, which affect over 700,000 people in America, are not only devastatingly debilitating and life-changing, they are expensive.  The Foundation seeks to help those with spinal cord injuries prepare for a new career through education.  

“As we met people throughout the country who attend our Day at the Races program, we felt the Foundation needed to do more to meet their needs,” said Sam Schmidt, founder of The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.  “From my perspective, I understand the importance of supporting my family.  After my injury, I was blessed with the ability to continue my passion for racing as a team owner.  Many individuals cannot return to their employment, and our scholarship can help them redirect their career-focus.”

The first recipient of the fund was Mitchell Swanson, who is currently working to obtain a degree in Psychology.  For more information on requirements for enrollment, visit http://www.tesc.edu/1651.php. 

About Thomas Edison State College
Thomas Edison State College provides flexible, high-quality, collegiate learning opportunities for self-directed adults. One of New Jersey’s 12 senior public institutions of higher education, the College offers associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees in more than 100 areas of study. Identified by Forbes magazine as one of the top 20 colleges and universities in the nation in the use of technology to create learning opportunities for adults, Thomas Edison State College is a national leader in the assessment of adult learning and a pioneer in the use of educational technologies. The College is home to The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy. The New Jersey State Library is an affiliate of Thomas Edison State College. Further information about admission to the College may be obtained by calling (888) 442-8372, via e-mail at [email protected] or by visiting the College Web site at www.tesc.edu.

About The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) was started in 2000 by Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt shortly after a practice-run crash left him paralyzed from the chest down.  SSPF helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances, benefiting stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.  In addition to initiating local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of those disabled, SSPF funds various quality of life grants to national organizations, provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries/paralysis, and funds the national Day at the Races program.