The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship
Empowering Future Generations of Health Science Professionals
2025 Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship Awarded to Chrislaina Anderson
Adam Ferrari, founder of the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship, is honored to announce Chrislaina Anderson as the 2025 recipient. The yearly $20,000 scholarship program empowers students pursuing health science and related fields to provide better care for patients with physical disabilities.
For Chrislaina, the pursuit of bioengineering is both academic and personal. She witnessed her father and aunt struggle with neuropathy during her childhood, an experience that revealed how disability affects not only mobility but also independence. Those moments shaped her desire to design medical devices and rehabilitation therapies that restore function and help patients reclaim their lives.
This fall, Chrislaina begins her studies in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, where she plans to research adaptive medical devices and pursue a career as a physician-scientist specializing in rehabilitation medicine. Her long-term goals include blending patient care with biomedical research and ensuring that new technologies are designed with empathy and an understanding of patient needs.
“Winning this scholarship is more than financial aid—it shows that people believe in me and my dreams,” Chrislaina shared. “When I found out I was selected, I was ecstatic. I immediately started yelling for my family to let them know the good news. This scholarship allows me to pursue a B.S. in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, where I will have amazing opportunities to research medical devices and healthcare technologies. Someone having confidence in me is priceless, and I am blessed to have this scholarship. I would like to thank everyone who made it possible.”
Anderson graduated valedictorian with 129 college credits and earned an Associate’s Degree in Mathematics and Sciences at age 15. She co-founded Hands Across Horizons, a nonprofit that provides educational resources to underserved students and survivors of human trafficking, and created Hands on Music, a free program that adapts musical instruction for Title I students with fine motor challenges. In addition, she has served as class president, drum major, and tutor in more than 20 college-level subjects.
Adam Ferrari, CEO of Phoenix Energy and founder of the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship, commended her vision: “Chrislaina’s academic accomplishments are extraordinary, but it is her empathy and mission to design healthcare solutions that truly stand out. Her work reflects the values that inspired this scholarship and carries forward the spirit of resilience and compassion shaped by my father’s experience.”
Now in its fifth year, the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship continues to support exceptional students who blend academic excellence with a passion for improving care for people with physical disabilities. The Ferrari Foundation congratulates Chrislaina Anderson and looks forward to her impactful journey in healthcare.
About the Scholarship
The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship empowers students who wish to study health science in college with the goal of providing better care for patients with physical disabilities. To apply for this $20,000 scholarship, eligible students must submit an essay between 1,000 and 2,000 words and meet all outlined eligibility requirements. Essays must be submitted before the application deadline. Additional details are provided below.
Eligibility
To apply for this scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
- Enrollment: Applicants must be first-year students who have been accepted to and will be enrolling full-time at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2025.
- Field of Study: Students must be pursuing a degree in health science and demonstrate a genuine interest in providing care for patients with physical disabilities.
- Academic Achievement: Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
Guidelines
- We hope to benefit a student who has demonstrated strong academic achievement. For that reason, in the form below, please submit (1) your high school GPA and (2) your GPA for any college courses you have taken to date, if applicable.
- In addition, please submit an essay describing any experience you have had working with patients with physical disabilities. Alternatively, or in addition, you may describe why pursuing a career providing care to patients with physical disabilities is appealing to you.
- Your essay should be a minimum of 1,000 words but should not exceed 2,000 words. It must be submitted prior to the application deadline.
Application Process
The application window is now closed.
Application Window and Submission Deadline
Closed
Winner Selection
The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship will be awarded to one (1) student via the following process:
- One candidate with the best submission will be selected in August of 2025, based on the scholarship’s eligibility criteria and essay guidelines.
- The selected winner will be notified via email and will have two (2) weeks to formally accept the award. Failure to accept within this timeframe will result in disqualification, and an alternate recipient will be chosen.
- If the winner accepts the scholarship, the Adam Ferrari Health Science Committee reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify the information provided in the application. This may include, but is not limited to, a copy of the student’s school ID, official transcripts to confirm GPA, a college or university acceptance letter, and the mailing address of the attending institution.
- Once the winner has formally accepted the award, their enrollment and academic credentials will be verified with their college or university. Upon successful verification, scholarship funds will be sent directly to the university to be applied toward the student’s tuition.
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