L.I.F.E. received close to 100 applications from college students with lupus throughout the country. Due to the quantity of outstanding applicants selecting the winners has proven to be difficult. Therefore, the 2014 L.I.F.E. Scholarship Committee--for the first time--has chosen to announce the 31 finalists.

Being selected as a finalist is a considerable honor as the competition is at an all-time high. The following finalists’ applications have been nothing short of amazing. The essays on "How Lupus has Affected Your Life" are inspirational. The letters of recommendation, grades, and volunteer work/community service are all remarkable.

Funding for this year allows us to offer L.I.F.E. Scholarships to 16 of the 31 finalists.

The winners will be announced by August 15th. If you are not selected as a winner, we strongly encourage you to apply again in 2015.

Outstanding job to all of the finalists! Thank you for sharing your story and for continuing to persevere despite the setbacks of lupus.

1. Alexandra Schueszler Kent State University, OH

2. Allie White University of Arkansas

3. Brina Olunkwa Hofstra University, NY

4. Davis Vertin University of Central Florida

5. Destinee Osborne Massachusetts College of Art and Design

6. Destini Thomas University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, OH

7. Eilen Cabrera Johnson and Wales University, FL

8. Ewodaghe Harrell Brown University, RI

9. Gianna Raponi Rollins College, FL

10. Haley Hahn University of Illinois

11. Jacqueline Saunders Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, MI

12. Jolene Milewski Temple University Tyler School of Art, PA

14. Katelynn Henderson University of New Mexico

15. Lauryn Bille University of Nebraska- Lincoln

16. Linda Zhang University of California- Berkeley

17. Mariana Lombardi University of Pennsylvania

18. Mattie Newman Harvard University, MA

19. Natasha Dunkoh Columbia College Chicago

20. Natasha Pacheco University of Massachusetts Lowell

21. Patricia Lawlis University of Chicago

22. Powers Brennan University of Massachusetts Amherst

23. Robyn Doughty St. Olaf College, MN

24. Ronald Echols Atlanta Metropolitan State College, GA

25. Savannah Valentin The College at Brockport, State University of New York

26. Shayna Spencer University of Rhode Island

27. Sydney Rizzo College of Charleston, SC

28. Tamara Hill Mohave Community College, AZ

29. Trang Nguyen George Mason University, VA

30. Vanessa Fuentes Baylor University School of Law, TX

31. William Aguilar John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY