This year marks the 10th anniversary of the
AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program, and we are celebrating the milestone year by doubling the number of available scholarships, which means 20 amazing post-secondary students will receive a $5,000 scholarship for the upcoming fall 2021 semester.
Ahead of the 2021 AbbVie IBD Scholarship deadline, we reconnected with recipients from the past nine years. Read on to see what an extraordinary 2016 scholarship recipient has to say about why they applied and tips for academic success!
Meet Darrah Horobetz.
Darrah is a member of the fifth class of inspiring and ambitious AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipients with a passion for giving back to their community. She received the scholarship in 2016 while completing the second year of her undergraduate degree in conflict resolution studies paired with a minor in business at the University of Winnipeg. A particular highlight from her program? The not-for-profit management class. Shortly after graduating in 2018, Darrah continued her journey in the charitable sector by joining the team here at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada as a Development Coordinator for her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. In her role, Darrah enthusiastically builds a tight-knit community for everyone facing IBD while creating awareness about the diseases, community events, and programs.
We chatted with Darrah to learn about her involvement with the IBD community, the role the scholarship played in supporting her post-secondary education, tips for applying, and her advice for students as they complete their degree while taking on IBD.
Here’s what Darrah had to share:
What have you done or are currently doing with the Crohn’s and colitis community?
“I began volunteering with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada in 2014 and it sparked a passion within me. Through my time as a volunteer, I was Chapter President,
Gutsy Walk Chair, and held a number of other roles. This passion led me to join the team at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada in the role Development Coordinator for Manitoba in 2019. I joined the team because I wanted the opportunity to connect with people in the community and make an impact on the lives of those living with IBD, including myself. The volunteers and members of the IBD community in Manitoba, and all over Canada makes me so proud to be involved and able to make a difference!”
How has receiving the AbbVie IBD Scholarship affected your journey?
“Receiving the scholarship helped me so much! Throughout my degree, I had to work full time in order to pay for classes. Having that extra $5,000 and not having to work as much that semester helped me focus on my studies! It also allowed me to take more classes since I didn’t have to save up for that semester.”
What advice do you have for students who are thinking of applying for the scholarship?
“Give it a try, the worst thing you’ll hear is no and you can always apply again next year! Believe in yourself and your accomplishments! One thing that I think definitely helps with your application is involvement in the IBD community. This doesn’t mean you have to be a Crohn’s and Colitis Canada volunteer, you could be an advocate, share your story on social media, and talk to family and friends about IBD too.”
What are your tips for students living with IBD as they pursue higher education?
“Listen to your body, it knows you best. If it’s telling you to slow down, then slow down! Take advantage of the support available to you, like accessibility services or speaking to your teachers for accommodations. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
If you are heading back to class for the fall 2021 semester, we encourage you to take the time to submit your application today for the chance to head back to class with a bit of extra cash! The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm ET on June 1st, 2021.
To learn more about the AbbVie IBD Scholarship and submit your application,
click here.
Do you have questions? Reach out to us at
info@ibdscholarship.ca.