Ortho Dermatologics opened the application process for its 2021 Aspire Higher scholarship program. The program, which began in 2013, will award nine students who have been treated for a dermatologic condition with a scholarship of up to $10,000 in support of their academic goals.

“Many students today are balancing a mix of in-person and remote education in addition to managing part-time jobs and extra-curricular activities. In normal circumstances, it can be challenging for students to juggle all that is part of getting an education, and with the added physical and emotional burden of living with a skin condition during a worldwide pandemic, it’s even more difficult,” says Scott Hirsch, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Bausch Health, and president, Ortho Dermatologics, in a news release. “We are excited to continue the Aspire Higher scholarship program in 2021 and to assist deserving students as theywork to achieve their academic goals.”

To apply for the 2021 scholarship, students are required to submit letters of recommendation along with a long-form essay describing the impact of their dermatologic condition and the role that a dermatologist, physician assistant or nurse practitioner has played inhelping to treat their condition. Scholarships are open to applicants who have been accepted to, or students currently attending, an accredited, nonprofit, two-or four-year college, university or advanced (post-high school) vocational or technical school for the 2021-2022 academic year. Scholarships are availablein the following three categories:

• Undergraduate Scholar Awardsfor students pursuing undergraduate degrees
• Graduate Scholar Awardsfor students pursuing graduate degrees
• Today's Woman Scholar Awards for students who are mothers pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees

“For severa lyears, I’ve tackled a chronic skin disease while fighting to accept myself with this condition,” explains Magdalena Augustine, a 2020 Aspire Higher scholarship recipient.”The Aspire HigherScholarship Program has made that fight so much easier by recognizing students like me who are living with skin conditions and helping to support our higher education aspirations.”

Students can apply for the Aspire Higher scholarship through May 31, 2021, and winners will be announced in July2021. To learn more about the scholarship, including eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, and to see stories from previous winners, please visit www.AspireHigherScholarships.com.