Being a good student is tough enough.

Being a good student - and at the same time caring for an ailing parent or sibiling - adds significantly to the burden.

But it’s not a burden put down by three young men from Boca Raton - recipients of the first scholarship awards ever given nationally to recognize students for both scholarship and “being caregivers,” according to Dr. Connie Siskowski, Florida Representative of the National Family Caregiver’s Association.

“This is the first scholarship of its kind ever awarded in the country,” she said.

The scholarships were awarded by the George Snow Scholarship Foundation, administering the awards on behalf of the Mary Lou and Daniel Shepard Foundation, Hands on Tzedakah and West Boca Medical Center Auxilary Volunteer Services. The awards ceremony was held at a reception Wednesday at the Memory and Wellness Center of Florida Atlantic University.

Andrew Schrager who is graduating from Santaluces Community High School is the recipient of the Mary Lou and Daniel Shepard Foundation Scholarship. In previous years the Shepard Foundation has awarded a scholarship to a student who is employed.

“Family caregiving is work that is in addition to one’s typical relationship responsibilties” said Dr. Siskowski

The Hands on Tzedakah scholarship went to Brian Kopstein of Olympic Heights High School and the West Boca Medical Center Auxilary Volunteer Services provided a scholarship for Andrew Goodwin who is graduating from Boca Raton Christian High School.

“These deserving and courageous young men have been assisting a parent with a disability,” Dr. Siskowski said. “In addition to his mother, Andrew Goodwin also had a significant role in caring for his younger brother who has a rare disorder.”

These stories represent examples of the 1.4 million children who are young caregivers and the thousands of young caregivers who live in Palm Beach County. Young Caregivers in the U.S. is the first national report about children-18 years of age and under who are caring for a family member. The majority (72 percent) assist a parent or grandparent, the report said.

Palm Beach County research shows a higher than national average of children who are caregiving. The county not only has a high population of elderly, it also is home to a higher than average number of younger disabled persons. Often younger persons with disabilities are parents who need assistance.

Boca Raton is the home of the first U.S. Caregiving Youth Project, Dr. Siskowski said. The project “seeks to raise awareness and education, conduct research and develop a model of direct support services to assist student-caregivers and their families.” The project is a program of Volunteers for the Homebound and Family Caregivers, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency which has been serving the community through Boca Respite Volunteers since 1998.

With community support, “these three students have risen above, rather than dropping out or otherwise struggling,” Dr. Siskowski said.

For more information about caregiving youth you may call 561-391-7401 or visit WWW.AACY.ORG

This entry was posted by Taman Siswa on Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 4:47 pm and is filed under Scholarship. Tags: Andrew Goodwin, Andrew Schrager, Boca Raton Christian High School, Brian Kopstein, Connie Siskowski, Daniel Shepard Foundation, direct support services, Education News, Florida, Florida Atlantic University, George Snow Scholarship Foundation, Hands on Tzedakah, Hands on Tzedakah and West Boca Medical Center Auxilary Volunteer Services, Memory and Wellness Center, National Family Caregiver's Association, Olympic, Olympic Heights High School, Palm Beach County, Santaluces Community High School, Scholarship, Shepard Foundation, Student, United States, Volunteers for the Homebound and Family Caregivers, West Boca Medical Center Auxilary Volunteer Services, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.