The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship
Empowering Future Generations of Health Science Professionals
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 2026.
- 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
Applicants must submit the following materials through the application form:
Academic Information:
- High school GPA
- GPA for any college coursework completed to date, if applicable
Essay Requirement:
Applicants must submit an essay describing any experience they have had working with patients with physical disabilities. Alternatively, or in addition, applicants may explain why pursuing a career focused on providing care for patients with physical disabilities is meaningful to them. Essays must:
- Be a minimum of 1,000 words
- Not exceed 2,000 words
- Be submitted prior to the application deadline
Essay Authenticity and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship is intended to recognize students’ authentic experiences, perspectives, and personal motivations. Applicants are expected to submit original work that reflects their own voice, insight, and lived experiences.
While limited use of tools for basic editing (such as spelling or grammar checks) may be acceptable, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate, substantially rewrite, or meaningfully shape the content of a scholarship essay is not permitted.
All submitted essays will be reviewed for originality and potential AI-generated content. Applications found to rely heavily on AI assistance in the creation of the essay will not be considered for the scholarship award.
By submitting an application, applicants affirm that their essay is primarily their own original work and that it complies with this policy.
Application Window and Submission Deadline
February 3, 2026 – June 30, 2026
Application Timeline
The following timeline outlines the anticipated process for the 2026 Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship cycle. Dates are subject to minor adjustments but reflect the current review and selection schedule.
Application Period
- February 3, 2026 – June 30, 2026
Applications are accepted.
Finalist Selection
- By July 31, 2026
The Scholarship Committee will select three (3) finalists.
Finalists will be contacted to provide additional required materials, which may include:
- Academic transcripts or GPA verification
- Proof of identification
Finalist Interviews
- August 13, 2026 – August 21, 2026
Finalists will participate in Zoom interviews conducted by the Scholarship Committee. Interviews will last approximately 20–30 minutes.
Scholarship Award Announcement
- September 1, 2026
The scholarship recipient will be officially announced.
Winner Selection and Award Distribution
The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship will be awarded to one (1) student following the process outlined above. The selected recipient will be notified via email and will have two (2) weeks to formally accept the award. Failure to accept within this timeframe may result in disqualification, and an alternate recipient may be selected. The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify application information. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Official transcripts
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance
- Student identification
- The mailing address of the attending institution
Once the scholarship is formally accepted and all information is verified, funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s college or university and applied toward tuition.
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.
Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship Recipients
This page honors previous recipients of the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship, who were recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to providing passionate care for individuals with physical disabilities.
2025 – Chrislaina Anderson
In 2025, Chrislaina impressed the scholarship selection committee with her academic excellence and dedication to service. She demonstrated a clear vision for integrating bioengineering, medicine, and compassion to restore patients' mobility, dignity, and independence. She received a $20,000 award to contribute to her UC Berkeley tuition fees.
2024 – Annie O’Brien
2024 recipient Annie’s passion for nursing is rooted in her friendship with someone diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, guiding her advocacy and academic path. She has raised over $10,000 for Type 1 Diabetes research and completed a medical mission trip to Honduras, embodying the spirit of service and global compassion that defines the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship.
2022 – Jordan Spangenberg
Jordan was selected based on her well-crafted essay and dedication to serving individuals with disabilities. Her scholarship essay clearly outlined her experience with and dedication to serving others, especially those with physical disabilities. Jordan received the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship to help her continue her studies and support her future contributions to adaptive healthcare.
2021 – Katherine Schoen
Katherine was the first to receive the Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship, which contributed to her tuition in the Fall of 2021 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Katherine wished to pursue her dream of becoming an occupational therapist. She distinguished herself from other applicants through her dedication and academic excellence in her field of study.
The Adam Ferrari Health Science Scholarship continues to uplift students who demonstrate both promise and heart in their pursuit of health science careers. By celebrating recipients like Katherine, Jordan, Annie, and Chrislaina, the Ferrari Foundation, under Adam Ferrari’s leadership, reaffirms its commitment to walking alongside the future healthcare innovators driven by empathy and excellence.
© 2026