HDSA Annual Convention Scholarship Application 2025

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for scholarships to attend the ^40th Annual HDSA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

The intent of this scholarship program is to help families and individuals who have never been to an HDSA Convention attend the Society’s 2025 Annual Convention.

Scholarship Availability & Application

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship is open only to first time Convention attendees who are not Indiana residents. Primary applicant must be 18 years or older as of January 1, 2025. Open to residents of the United States only.

What does the Scholarship cover?

Travel by Plane - Scholarship will cover:

Round-trip airfare up to $500 per person for up to four family members (please note you must book and pay for your airfare and you will be reimbursed at the Convention);
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 3 nights, June 26 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

Travel by Automobile - Scholarship will cover:

Roundtrip mileage reimbursement at 70 cents per mile up to 1,000 miles round trip (distance to be calculated on Google Maps);
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 3 nights, June 26 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

*Reimbursement checks will be issued to be picked up onsite at the Convention Registration Office.

What doesn't the Scholarship cover?

Hotel incidentals (You will need to have a credit card and ID to check into your room.)
Transportation to and from the hotel/airport.
Meals that are not provided as part of the Convention registration.

NYA SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship is to help youth and young adults in the HD/JHD community attend the HDSA Convention. The application may be completed by anyone under the age of 35 years old. Anyone under the age of 18 years old, must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. We can award partial and full scholarships. Scholarship recipients from 2024 are eligible for a NYA scholarship. Priority will go to those who did not receive a NYA scholarship in 2024.

All Scholarship recipients are expected to attend NYA Day on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

What does the Scholarship cover?

Travel by Plane - Scholarship will cover:

Round-trip airfare up to $500 per person
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 4 nights, June 25 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

Travel by Automobile - Scholarship will cover:

Roundtrip mileage reimbursement at 70 cents per mile up to 1,000 miles round trip (distance to be calculated on Google Maps);
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 3 nights, June 26 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

*Reimbursement checks will be issued to be picked up onsite at the Convention Registration Office.

What doesn't the Scholarship cover?

Hotel incidentals (You will need to have a credit card and ID to check into your room.)
Transportation to and from the hotel/airport.
Meals that are not provided as part of the Convention registration.

INDIANA STATE RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship is open only to first time Convention attendees who are Indiana State residents. Primary applicant must be 18 years or older as of January 1, 2025. Open to residents of the United States only.

Travel by Automobile - Scholarship will cover:

Roundtrip mileage reimbursement at 70 cents per mile up to 1,000 miles round trip (distance to be calculated on Google Maps);
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 3 nights, June 26 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

*Reimbursement checks will be issued to be picked up onsite at the Convention Registration Office.

What doesn’t the Scholarship cover?

Hotel incidentals (You will need to have a credit card and ID to check into your room.)
Transportation to and from the hotel/airport.
Meals that are not provided as part of the Convention registration.

NEW JERSEY RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP

The Dr. Daniel Schneider Memorial Scholarship was established by Penny Moreno as a memorial tribute to her son’s work in psychiatry and neurology through the HDSA Center of Excellence at Rutgers University in support of the New Jersey Huntington’s disease community.

The scholarship is to be awarded to qualified, deserving families from New Jersey to attend the HDSA Annual Convention. Families must demonstrate financial need/hardship. In addition, preference will be given to families attending their first Convention.

ELIGIBILITY

Selection of the Scholar Family will be made by the New Jersey Chapter based on applications submitted and received through the Convention Scholarship Program.

Eligible scholarship applicants must:

Live in New Jersey
Demonstrate financial need/hardship
Complete a Convention scholarship application
In addition, preference will be given to families attending their first Convention

AWARD

The selected family will receive a one-time award of $1,000 towards travel expenses related to attending the National Convention.

Expenditures related to the Scholarship shall be subject to the guidelines of the Convention Scholarship Program.

*Reimbursement checks will be issued to be picked up onsite at the Convention Registration Office.

KENTUCKY RESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP

The HDSA Jean Meyer Kentucky Chapter Scholarship was created to honor the legacy of Jean Meyer who was an avid member of the HDSA Kentucky Chapter Board.

The scholarship is to be awarded to qualified, deserving families from Kentucky to attend the HDSA Annual Convention. Families must demonstrate financial need/hardship.

ELIGIBILITY

Selection of the Scholar Family will be made by the Kentucky Chapter based on applications submitted and received through the Convention Scholarship Program.

Eligible scholarship applicants must:

Live in Kentucky
Must be "at risk" for HD, tested positive, a caregiver, relative of support of HD individual in Kentucky area.
Primary applicant must be 18 or older as of January 1, 2025
More than one family member is encouraged to apply, but depending on the number of applicants, we may limit 2/family.

AWARD

Travel by Automobile - Scholarship will cover:

Round trip mileage reimbursement at 70 cents per mile up to 700 miles round trip (distance to be calculated on Google Maps)
One hotel room for up to four family members at the JW Marriott Indianapolis for 3 nights, June 26 -June 28.
Convention Registration Fees for up to four family members.
Saturday night Convention Gala tickets for up to four family members.

What doesn’t the Scholarship cover?

Hotel incidentals (You will need to have a credit card and ID to check into your room.)
Meals that are not provided as part of the Convention registration.

*Reimbursement checks for travel will be issued to be picked up onsite at the Convention Registration Office.

Application Deadline:

ALL Applications must be received no later than midnight, Saturday, March 1st, 2025.

Notification of Winners

Applicants will be notified no later than March 17, 2025 as to whether they have been awarded a scholarship.

Questions or Concerns

Please contact Convention@hdsa.org

Select Which Scholarship you are applying for

Which Scholarship are you applying for? Please refer to the criteria above and select the one you qualify for. *

National Convention Scholarship

National Youth Alliance Scholarship

Indiana State Resident Scholarship

New Jersey Resident Scholarship

Kentucky Resident Scholarship

Lead Applicant Information

First Name *

Last Name *

Date of Birth * +

Address 1 *

Address 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone *

Cell Phone *

Email Address *

Do you require a special meal?

Pureed Food

Vegetarian

Gluten Free

Food Allergy

Applicant #2

First Name

Last Name

Date of Birth +

Relationship to Lead Applicant

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip Code

Phone

Cell Phone

Email Address

Do you require a special meal?

Pureed Food

Vegetarian

Gluten Free

Food Allergy

Applicant #3

First Name

Last Name

Date of Birth +

Relationship to Lead Applicant

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip Code

Phone

Cell Phone

Email Address

Do you require a special meal?

Pureed Food

Vegetarian

Gluten Free

Food Allergy

Applicant #4

First Name

Last Name

Date of Birth +

Relationship to Applicant

Address 1

Address 2

City

State

Zip

Phone

Cell Phone

Email Address

Do you require a special meal?

Pureed Food

Vegetarian

Gluten Free

Food Allergy

Sections 1 through 7

1. Please confirm if you or your family have ever attended an Annual Convention (Each scholarship has different parameters, please read each one carefully.) *

Have NOT attended

Have attended

2. Did you apply for a Convention scholarship in a previous year? *

Yes

No

If yes, what year?

3. Will you require Hotel Accommodations to Convention? *

Yes

No

4a. Will you require airfare to Convention? *

Yes

No

4b. If yes, what is your originating airport:

4c. No, I will be driving to the Convention approximately _____ miles roundtrip.

3. Are you actively part of a local HDSA Chapter/Affiliate and/or support group *

Yes

No

If yes, please provide the name of the Chapter/Affiliate and/or support group location.

5. The total 2023 Gross Annual Income for your household was: *

6. How many adults are employed in your household *

6. The primary source of income is *

Full Time Employment

Part Time Employment

Social Security/Disability

Other Other

Essay

6. Why do you wish to attend the HDSA Annual Convention? *

7. How would a scholarship be beneficial to you and your family? *

*

By checking this box I confirm that to the best of my knowledge all information provided is truthful and accurate.

8. Release of Liability: I hereby accept full responsibility for the safety and care of myself and the family members traveling with me should I be awarded an HDSA Annual Convention Scholarship. I and my family members traveling with me are able to travel on our own and attend the HDSA Annual Convention in Indianapolis, IN without aid or supervision. *

clear

Date * +