UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program(TM) Encourages Academic Achievement

– 2009 Scholarship Awarded to 40 Deserving Recipients –

ATLANTA, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ — UCB, Inc. today announced the 2009 recipients of the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Programä. This year’s scholarship was awarded to 40 inspiring people whose lives have been affected by epilepsy and who seek personal growth through higher learning.  Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that can affect anyone at anytime.  In the United States, 1 in 100 people are living with epilepsy.

“Epilepsy can have a significant impact on people living with the condition, as well as their family members and caregivers.  UCB recognizes the obstacles that these deserving people have overcome and we are inspired by their accomplishments,” said Shelia Frame, Vice President of the Central Nervous System business unit at UCB.  “It is our honor to provide this type of support to ensure that they have the means to achieve their academic goals.”

This year, the number of applications submitted for the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship increased by 30 percent. In direct response to the increased interest, UCB awarded 30 percent more scholarships — 28 to people living with epilepsy and 12 to family members or caregivers of someone living with epilepsy.  Recipients will use scholarships for tuition at colleges, graduate schools and technical schools across the country. Since 2005, UCB has awarded more than 150 scholarships, totaling almost $1 million.

“As a clinician, I spend the majority of my time helping patients find treatments to control seizures,” said selection committee member Robert Leroy MD, an epileptologist in Dallas, TX.  “It is inspiring to see patients achieve success, not only in treatment, but also in life.”

This year’s recipients will be honored on the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Facebook page.  To see photos and read quotes from recipients, and for more information about the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship, please go to Facebook.com/UCBEpilepsyScholarship.

2009 Scholarship Recipients:

The 40 recipients were selected from a pool of 800 applicants. Each recipient was considered based on his or her application, personal essay and letters of recommendation.

2009 recipients and their selected learning institution:

Gilbert Baca              Santa Fe Community College

Suzanne Bixler            Delaware Community College

Scott Brookshire          City College of San Francisco

Nicholas Bunker           Schoolcraft College

Jessica Chock-Goldman     Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva

University

Courtney Collins          Kennesaw State University

Katherine Cooney          Northwestern University

Brandi Crespin            University of New Mexico

Mitchell DeSimone         Marist College

James Enright             Franklin Pierce University

Matt Farmen               University of Arizona

Brenda Flaherty           Penn State University

Kaitlin Foster            Blinn College

Christina France          International Academy of Art and Design

Lauren Gallegos           Cal State University Northridge

Bailey Henry              University of Northern Iowa

Keyana Johnson            Howard University

Nathanael Kube            University of Wisconsin-Baraboo

Brittany Langkamp         University of Dubuque

Katherine Looney          Auburn University

Megan McGahan             Niagara University

Connor Merrill            Central Washington University

Stephen Mikolaitis        Penn State, Erie

Ellen Millard             Southeast Missouri State University

Virginia Miller           University of Phoenix at Axia

John Julian Miller-Ready  University of Hawaii Leeward Community College

Alyssa Muller             SUNY Plattsburgh

Jackson Newsome           Marshall University

Rachael Palumbo           University of Notre Dame

Katherine Panich          University of Southern California

Tiffany Parish            Texas Woman’s University

Patrick Piaggio, Jr.      Montclair State University

Sharie Pulliam            Carroll Community College

Claudia Ramirez           Joliet Junior College

Sandra Rushing            College of DuPage – Registered Nurse Program

Susan Sheets              Nazareth College

Kelly Towne               Front Range Community College

Kayla Trundle             University of Michigan – Flint

Brooke Warner             Otterbein College

Angela Wright             University of Texas at Arlington

 

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide and three million people in the U.S.—making it more common than multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease combined. It is caused by abnormal, excessive electrical discharges of the nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. Epilepsy is characterized by a tendency to have recurrent seizures and defined by two or more unprovoked seizures. There are many different seizure types and epileptic syndromes. Roughly 20-30 percent of people living with epilepsy have either uncontrolled seizures or significant side effects secondary to medication. This highlights the ongoing need for the development of new AEDs. For more information about epilepsy, visit www.EpilepsyAdvocate.com.

 

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative medicines with a focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders. Employing approx. 10,000 people in over 40 countries, UCB achieved revenues of 3.6 billion Euro in 2008. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program is a trademark of the UCB group of companies.

 

Further Information

Andrea Levin

Public Relations Manager, CNS, UCB

T 770.970.8352

M 404.483.7329

Andrea.levin@ucb.com

 

Laura Finley

Cooney/Waters Group

T 212.886.2258

LFinley@cooneywaters.com

 

CONTACT: Andrea Levin, Public Relations Manager, CNS, UCB, +1-770-970-8352, or mobile, +1-404-483-7329, Andrea.levin@ucb.com; or Laura Finley, Cooney/Waters Group, +1-212-886-2258, LFinley@cooneywaters.com