Lyman Fisher Scholarship

Application Procedure & Guidelines

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Application Deadline: Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 5:00 pm

Applications must be completed using our online application form or email the pdf version to info@vahemophilia.org. 

Go here to apply via JotForm

Go here to download PDF version of application

All letters of recommendation are to be sent electronically to info@vahemophilia.org. Applications and/or supporting documents received after 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 1st will not be considered. It is up to the applicant to follow up and make sure these items are received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please read and follow the application and instructions very carefully to receive full consideration for a VHF Lyman Fisher Scholarship. If you don’t know the answer, please type N/A. DO NOT leave any section blank.

Scholarship applicants will be notified of the committee’s findings by June 1st and winners will be recognized at VHF’s Medical Symposium September 13, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY
Individuals living with an inherited bleeding disorder, their sibling or their parents who live in the territorial jurisdiction of VHF, which includes the Commonwealth of Virginia, with the exception of the following: The cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon, Manassas, and Vienna and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William and Stafford.

SCHOLARSHIPS
In 2025, VHF will offer up to $12,000 in scholarships. The award amount will vary based on the number of applicants that are selected and the scholarship rubric that the VHF scholarship committee uses to evaluate academic performance, participation in school, community, and VHF activities, a personal essay detailing educational and future career goals, and recommendation letters. The scholarships may be used at any accredited college, university, or vocational/technical school in the United States and are to be applied toward a student’s educational expenses. VHF is not obligated to award scholarships in a given year.

A student who receives an award one year may reapply in later years but winning a scholarship in one year does not necessarily mean that the student will win in a later year. Also, a student who applies in one year and does not receive an award is eligible to apply the following year for the scholarship.

Scholarship applicants must have participated in VHF activities.

PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Scholarship payments are not distributed directly to an individual, but are made via scholarship checks, payable to the schools. VHF staff will work with the award recipient(s) to process the scholarship funds.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENTS
Scholarship recipients must enroll as a college student in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded and continue in school for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency, or military service. If a scholarship recipient leaves school during the scholarship period, VHF may ask for reimbursement of scholarship funds.

Scholarship recipients are responsible for making certain that their scholarship checks are delivered to their colleges. Recipients must provide VHF with information on where to send the check, as well as other pertinent information such as student identification number.

The recipient is responsible for determining the impact of the scholarship or grant on their annual tax returns. For more information, talk to a tax return preparer or go here.

QUESTIONS
If you have questions about this scholarship (application process, whether the program and/or activity that you are requesting assistance with fits within the guidelines, how much funding is available, etc.) please reach out to Kelly Waters at 804-740-8643 or kelly@vahemophilia.org.

Scholarship Background

The Virginia Hemophilia Foundation (VHF) Lyman Fisher Scholarship was established to honor Dr. Lyman Fisher, a teacher, researcher, and clinician in hemostasis. For many years, he directed the adult hemophilia program for Virginia. He will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to his patients and students, his respect for those who served under him, his community service and his affection for his family.

Dr. Lyman M. Fisher, March 21, 1923 – May 5, 2007