Medics, a division of Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC, recently announced the winners of its first I Acanya Succeed scholarship program, an education-based initiative that provides scholarships to college students who have taken an active role in managing their acne. Three winners, representing three regions of the United States, were selected to receive up to $48,000 each toward college tuition after submitting a compelling video essay depicting how their personal struggles with acne were helped by the care of a dermatologist, according to the company. The three winners are recent high school graduates who began attending the following universities this fall: Duke, New York University (NYU), and University of Wisconsin.

"Medicis salutes the winners of the first annual I Acanya Succeed scholarship program, which demonstrates our commitment to improving the lives of young people through education," said Ryan Weldon, President, Medicis. "It is our goal to inform and help guide patients who may be needlessly suffering from acne, a highly treatable condition when managed by a medical professional."

The I Acanya Succeed Scholarship program is open to undergraduate students who have been accepted to or are currently attending an accredited college, university, or vocational or technical school in the US. Applicants must have been previously diagnosed with acne, at some point were under the care of a licensed dermatologist, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner, and have had personal experience using prescription acne medication.

Applicants for the inaugural I Acanya Succeed scholarship created a video essay about their personal experiences dealing with acne, and the role their dermatologist, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner played in helping them treat the condition successfully. Students were required to include two letters of recommendation and information about their school and community activities. For more information about the program, and to view the winning video essays, visit www.acanyascholarship.com.

Medicis, which markets Acanya (clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide) Gel 1.2%/2.5%, created the I Acanya Succeed Scholarship program to educate students about the need to work with a dermatologist to manage acne, as well as to empower students by providing the financial assistance they need to obtain a college education.

"The video essays submitted by this year's I Acanya Succeed scholarship winners underscore the impact of acne among teens, while highlighting that the condition remains under-treated, as effective solutions for acne can be elusive for people trying to self-treat without a physician's counsel," said Tage Ramakrishna, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, in a statement. "As the winners' videos show, it is important to raise awareness among teens and young adults that effective therapies are available, and that an individualized treatment plan can be very effective."

Enrollment for the 2014 I Acanya Succeed scholarship program will be open to undergraduate students in December. Three award recipients will receive up to $12,000 per year for a maximum of four years. For details of the scholarship, eligibility and application process, patients should visit www.acanyascholarship.com.