LI's John’s Crazy Socks 'Autism Can Do' Scholarship Winners Announced

FARMINGDALE, NY — John's Crazy Socks of Farmingdale announced the three winners of its sixth annual "Autism Can Do Scholarship."

The company granted $8,500 to the three winners, which will be used toward furthering their college education or future career paths. Applications were open to students on the Autism spectrum from across the United States.

The announcement coincided with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The month of April is also designated as World Autism Month.

Mark X. Cronin, co-founder of John's Crazy Socks, said the scholarship is key to furthering the business's mission of empowering people with differing abilities and showcasing their many talents.

"With this scholarship, we encourage everyone with autism or a differing ability to show their many talents and how they are making an impact in the world every day," Cronin said in a news release. "On behalf of everyone at John’s Crazy Socks, we applaud all the winners and applicants and wish them continued success as they embark on their college journeys and next steps in their careers."

Lukeson Ashbourne of Maplewood, New Jersey, won first prize.

Ashbourne will receive a $5,000 scholarship. John’s Crazy Socks will also produce his winning sock design "Reach for the Stars," which will be sold on their online store. A portion of sales from
his socks will be used to fund next year’s Autism Can Do Scholarship.

Ashbourne is currently a freshman at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University in New Jersey, majoring in Traditional Art (2D Animation). In his first semester, fall 2023, he received a 4.0 GPA and currently holds a 4.0 GPA for the spring 2024 semester.

Ashbourne, an African American male, has been on the Autism spectrum since he was three years old. When he was younger, Ashbourne had difficulty making friends because of his limited speech. However, through his passion for art, he learned to accept who he is.

Ashbourne’s sock design represents a message that anyone of any race and disability can reach for the stars.

"As the winner of the Autism Can Do Scholarship, I am committed to being a source of inspiration and giving back to the community," Ashbourne said in a news release. "Taking part in this scholarship will mark a partnership in my educational journey as it will also mean that people with autism can succeed through higher education. In the future, I look to serve as one of the examples of people with autism who excelled through higher education and beyond."

The second-place winner, Emrys Alfaro Haugen of Olympia, Washington, will receive a $2,500 scholarship for his "Tic-Tac-Toe" sock design.

Third place winner, Elyse Miller of Farmington Hills, Michigan, will receive a $1,000 scholarship for her "You are Pear-fect" socks.

The John’s Crazy Socks "Autism Can Do" Scholarship presents $8,500 in total scholarships to persons on the autism spectrum in the United States or Canada to use at a college or trade school. It is co-sponsored by the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism and Rangam.

Winners of the scholarship had to complete a brief form, submit a personal statement and design a pair of socks.

A selection panel that included people with autism and representatives from all three sponsor organizations carefully reviewed more than 300 applications before selecting the winner.

John’s Crazy Socks created the "Autism Can Do" Scholarship as part of its Giving Back Program and to further its mission of highlighting the many skills of people with differing abilities. More than half the employees at John’s Crazy Socks have a differing ability and many of them are on the autism spectrum.