Diabetes Scholars Foundation Announces 2014 Scholarship Recipients

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. and INDIANAPOLIS, June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Managing a chronic disease like type 1 diabetes can be difficult for a person of any age, but can be especially daunting while navigating the halls of high school. The Diabetes Scholars Foundation (Foundation) today announced its 2014 college scholarship recipients—a gifted group of young adults who, in addition to successfully managing their diabetes, have excelled in the classroom and in the community, demonstrating that diabetes truly does not have to stand in the way of pursuing one's goals.

For the third consecutive year, Lilly Diabetes has helped fund the Foundation's scholarship program through an annual donation. Established in 2012, the Lilly Diabetes Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship program has funded more than 60 scholarships awarded through the Foundation. In 2013, the company renewed its commitment by making a $200,000 donation to support scholarships through 2015. This year, an additional 21 high school graduates will receive Lilly Diabetes Scholarships to help them attend universities throughout the United States.

"Our scholarship recipients are truly inspirational—they are leaders in their schools and in their communities; they have achieved academically and are athletes, musicians, and our future leaders," said Mary Podjasek, president, Diabetes Scholars Foundation. "As the only organization providing college scholarships specifically to students in the United States with type 1 diabetes, we are committed to supporting these amazing young people who are thriving in their diabetes care, their studies, and their extra-curricular activities."

Foundation scholarship recipients are actively involved in the diabetes community, have high academic performance, participate in community and/or extra-curricular activities, and have demonstrated that they are successfully managing the challenges of living with diabetes. Recipients stand out for their academic excellence, such as Thomas, who will pursue a degree in political science at Harvard, and Allison, who will study biomedical science at UCLA.

"The 2014 Foundation scholarship recipients demonstrate that diabetes doesn't have to hold someone back from living life to the fullest. They are among the best examples of what can be accomplished through hard work and determination," said Jacqueline Giovanoni, global director of advocacy and professional relations, Lilly Diabetes. "Going to college is the next step in their journey toward a successful future. We look forward to seeing where their paths may lead."

Lilly Diabetes also provides funding to the Foundation program that grants conference scholarships to families to attend the annual Children with Diabetes^® Friends for Life^® conference in Orlando. This year, eight families have received conference scholarships and will have the chance to learn from the world's leading scientists and other expert presenters, as well as share experiences with other families with children with type 1 diabetes.

For more about the Foundation and its scholarship programs, visit www.diabetesscholars.org.

About the Diabetes Scholars Foundation 
In 2004, a group of parents who have children with type 1 diabetes created the Diabetes Scholars Foundation. Their goal was to empower success through education for people living with type 1 diabetes. Our founders' goal was that – in this one small area of life, diabetes can be an advantage. Headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill., it is the only foundation that funds college scholarships open to all students in the United States with type 1 diabetes. In the past seven years, the Foundation has awarded almost $900,000 in college scholarships and has helped almost 3,000 people attend the annual Children with Diabetes^® Friends for Life^® conference in Orlando. In 2014, the Foundation received over 2,600 college scholarship applications from 50 states. Until a cure is found the Diabetes Scholars Foundation hopes to help as many deserving college students as possible. Information about the Foundation is available at www.diabetesscholars.org.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY)
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and http://newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.

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