Wantagh native Michael Sullivan recently became one of 25 students across the United States to be awarded the first annual Shire ADHD scholarship. Sullivan, a graduate who currently attends Binghamton University, received a $2,000 monetary award.
The scholarship adds to a long list of accolades for Sullivan. Included among the awards he's received are a Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities National Achievement Award, two American Psychological Association Research Awards, the Best Buy @ 15 Foundation Community Scholarship and the Sodexo Foundation Stop Hunger Scholarship. He was also invited to present his research on racism in English soccer at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto.
Part of the reason for Sullivan's receipt of the scholarship was due to his work in the community during his high school days. As a member of MacArthur's National Honor Society, he started his school’s Books for Kids program, which collected 1,600 gently-used books for underserved children. He initiated a food recovery program at the Nassau Coliseum called Rock and Wrap it Up, and also served as a big brother to autistic soccer players at the East Meadow Soccer Club. He also received the Nassau County Soccer Coaches Association “Unsung Hero” Award and the U.S. Soccer Foundation “Passback Star" award for his involvement in soccer.
A varsity athlete in two sports in high school (football and soccer), Sullivan was also treasurer of the school's environmental club, a co-founder of the school's MacManiacs pep squad.
Included in the award is a year of prepaid ADHD coaching services as he transitions to higher education. Students set goals and action plans each week and communicate with specially-trained ADHD coaches, who provide support to keep the student on track. The services are provided by the Edge Foundation, a national nonprofit organization.
The ADHD Scholarship program was developed and implemented by Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on helping those diagnosed with ADHD as well as other medical conditions. This scholarship program is part of Shire’s effort to develop additional services that help support ADHD patients, their families, and the ADHD community. For more information on the program including a full list of award recipients, please see www.shireADHDscholarship.com.
