Fifty-four People Receive Lilly Reintegration Scholarships

Lilly honors 54 recipients of the 2005-2006 Reintegration Scholarships provided by Lilly that allow patients with mental illness to pursue educational and vocational skills better enabling them to reintegrate into society, secure jobs and regain their lives. Now in its eighth year, Reintegration Scholarship funding assists with tuition, books and lab fees for those battling bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and related schizophrenia- spectrum disorders.

Of the 54 recipients for the 2005-2006 school year, 28 (52 percent) are previous winners who are successfully continuing their education. An independent panel of judges made up of nine psychiatric care professionals chose the winners. Levels of study have ranged from high school equivalency programs to graduate degrees, with the areas of endeavor including engineering, law, psychiatry, graphic design, social work, architecture, education and computer sciences. Winners are attending such schools as California Institute of Technology, Culinary Institute of America, Boston University and The University of Illinois. Since the program began in 1997, approximately 700 people have been awarded Reintegration Scholarships. Many are multi-year recipients, allowing them to continue and successfully complete their education.

"The diagnosis of severe mental illness doesn't mean the end of one's hopes and dreams. Newer medications address the symptoms of mental illness, thereby allowing patients to focus on continuing their lives and pursuing things like education which previously seemed out of reach," said Ralph Aquila, M.D., director of residential community services at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and chairman of the scholarship judging panel. "Today, we have Lilly Reintegration Scholarship recipients attending some of the finest learning institutions in the country. When we began the program in 1997 we knew there were individuals battling mental illness who had the qualifications, skills and potential necessary to accomplish these goals and it's inspiring to see them succeed."

Educational Opportunities
The scholarship program offers financial assistance for many educational opportunities in which students work to attain a certificate or degree. These include:

• High school equivalency programs
• Trade or vocational school programs
• Associate degrees
• Bachelor degrees
• Graduate degrees

Contact Information
To request an application packet or to be placed on the mailing list for future Reintegration Scholarship opportunities, please call toll-free at 800-809-8202.