Scholarship Helps New Brunswick Native and Cancer Survivor

A New Brunswick native is using his past experience of beating cancer as incentive to see life in a new light and push him in a pursuit for a college degree. Matt Gallagher has been recently honored as a recipient of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s scholarship program for childhood cancer survivors and their siblings, putting $5,000 toward continuing his education. The scholarship reflects the Foundation’s dedication to supporting children and their families who have been affected by childhood cancer. Matt is currently enrolled in his last semester at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where he will graduate with not one, not two, but three degrees: Marketing; Managing Human Capital and Leadership; and Ethics and Organizational Sustainability.

For years following his battle with cancer, Matt and his family silently feared what the next check-up would reveal, but he is now 18 years in remission. Having been diagnosed so young, it took Matt several years to really understand his diagnosis and what it meant for the rest of his life. But as he got older, he also came to realize all of the valuable lessons his fight against cancer instilled in him, such as acceptance of things out of his control, optimism and perseverance, and the importance of faith, to name a few, and he makes a conscious effort to live by those every single day.

“A childhood cancer diagnosis is one of the most unsettling circumstances that families can encounter, and treatment can require tremendous sacrifice, both emotionally and financially," said Eric Christophersen, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “All children deserve the opportunity to pursue their college dreams and live life to the fullest.”

Northwestern Mutual launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012 to find better cures and treatments, as well as to provide family and patient support. Many childhood cancer survivors and their families struggle financially because of costly treatment, so the scholarships are intended to help alleviate some of these burdens. Granted through the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Program, the scholarships are administered through Scholarship America. Each recipient receives an initial $5,000 to offset their tuition costs, and the scholarship can be renewed for a second year for a total of $10,000. The 35 students selected in 2018 demonstrated strong academic performance, financial need and leadership. Since the scholarship program launched in 2017, Northwestern Mutual has provided more than $175,000. Survivors and siblings affected by childhood cancer can apply for 2019 scholarships by January 30, 2019.