The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) is proud to announce that 50 childhood cancer survivors have been awarded scholarships through the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program for the 2026–2027 academic year. To meet this year’s scholarship recipients and read their inspiring essays, click here.
This year’s scholarship recipients represent the NCCS’s continued commitment to helping childhood cancer survivors pursue higher education and build bright futures beyond cancer. The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program is one of the largest of its kind, awarding 50 scholarships annually and providing financial support to students nationwide. For recipients, these scholarships help ease the financial burden of college while reinforcing a powerful message: their futures are full of possibility.
As part of the application process, first-time applicants submit a personal essay describing how their cancer journey has shaped their outlook on life and future goals. Scholars also commit to giving back through community service, whether by hosting fundraisers on behalf of the NCCS, distributing NCCS brochures, or mentoring young children currently in treatment. Through these efforts, scholarship recipients become role models, demonstrating resilience, compassion, and the power of giving back.
Since its launch in 2008, the Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $2.8 million in scholarships to 280 childhood cancer survivors, empowering them to pursue their academic ambitions and personal goals.
The NCCS extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Engelhardt Family Foundation, the Jean and Jeanine Spencer Foundation, and the Randstad USA Foundation for their generous support in making these scholarships possible. Through their commitment to education and survivorship, these partners help ensure childhood cancer survivors have the opportunity not only to survive, but to thrive.
Sue Engelhardt of the Engelhardt Family Foundation emphasized the importance of creating educational opportunities for survivors:
“For the Engelhardt Family Foundation, supporting childhood cancer survivors as they pursue higher education aligns with our mission to give educational opportunities to children and young adults. The Beyond the Cure Scholarship Program provides just that – an opportunity to invest in young people who have already demonstrated extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination. These young men and women have faced challenges at an age when most children are simply learning, growing, and dreaming about their futures.
We believe that young people who have already overcome so much should have the opportunity to pursue their educational and career goals without an additional financial burden standing in their way. By helping alleviate some of that burden, we hope survivors can focus more fully on their education, their ambitions, and the possibilities ahead of them.
Our hope is that these scholarships provide something beyond financial assistance. We hope they give recipients greater freedom to dream about what comes next while knowing that there are people who believe in them and in their future. Cancer may be an important part of their story, but it does not have to determine the chapters that come next. We are honored to play a small part in helping these remarkable young people write those chapters for themselves.”
Jeanine Spencer of the Jean and Jeanine Spencer Foundation shared what this partnership means to her:
“The partnership that we have with the National Children’s Cancer Society means a great deal to me and to The Spencer Foundation. Having seen people I love fight cancer, and being a cancer survivor myself, I know how difficult that journey can be. But seeing children face cancer is something that has always felt especially heartbreaking. Kids getting cancer is heart-wrenching on so many levels. Their lives, and the lives of their families and friends, are impacted in ways that can last a lifetime.
Those experiences have shaped the way I look at survivorship. I often feel that I survived for a reason—to help make a difference in the lives of others facing this terrible disease, especially children. That belief is a big part of why The Spencer Foundation was created: to give children with cancer hope and, most importantly, to let them know that they are not alone.
Our partnership with the National Children’s Cancer Society allows us to extend that mission beyond treatment and into survivorship. These young people have already demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience. Helping provide them with scholarships gives them the opportunity to pursue their education, follow their dreams, and begin building the future they deserve.
The Spencer Foundation is looking forward to continuing this journey together and seeing what wonderful and meaningful things we can accomplish. There is so much more we can do to positively impact the lives of these remarkable young adults, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead. I know that, together through the Jean & Jeanine Spencer Beyond The Cure Ambassador Scholarships, we will continue to open doors and help these young adults pursue bright futures as they fulfill their dreams.”
The Randstad USA team shared how its commitment to community drives its support:
“For us, the Randstad Ride for Myriam is about more than a cycling challenge. It’s about giving back, bringing our people together and making an impact for children and their families. At Randstad, we believe in supporting vibrant communities and empowering future leaders.”