The Jan Egerton and Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship offers four scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S. in memory of mesothelioma advocates, Jan Egerton and Don Smitley, aimed at raising awareness about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. The scholarship supports educational efforts related to mesothelioma, with a detailed essay contest where finalists are awarded up to $2,500, and encourages sharing personal stories related to asbestos disease and its impact.

1. Jan Egerton & Don Smitley
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2. MESOTHELIOMA
SCHOLARSHIP
Mesothelioma Help is pleased to announce the “Jan Egerton and Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship.”
We are proud to offer 4 scholarships in the names of these two mesothelioma warriors.
Enter Now
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3. Essay Contest
The scholarship is available to students in colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Our goal is to help the educational efforts of students while raising awareness of mesothelioma, provide information about its
prognosis and the dangers of being exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects men and women – both young and old.
Scholarship
Scholarship Finalists
Past Scholarship Winners
Prizes
1st - $2,500
2nd - $1,250
3rd - $750
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4. 4th - $500
Important Dates and Deadlines
Essay submissions open: Mar. 7, 2019
Essay submissions close: Mar. 25, 2019
Essay judging complete: Apr. 18, 2019
Top 4 finalists notified: Apr. 21, 2019
Winners announced: May 16, 2019
Type of Scholarship
Each winner of this essay contest will be awarded a check from the law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP.
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5. 2018 Scholarship Winners
Mesothelioma Help is pleased to announce the 2018 Scholarship Finalists
2018 Scholarship Finalists
In Remembrance Of
These funds must be used to pay for college tuition ONLY.
One (1) essay per student is allowed.
Eligibility
This essay contest is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are 18-years-old or older and are currently enrolled
in a college or university located within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. U.S. territories are excluded.
Previous first place winners are not eligible for participation.
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6. Jan Egerton battled mesothelioma for over 10 years and during that time she dedicated her life to raising awareness of the
dangers of asbestos and to championing the researchers to continue to focus on finding a cure and new treatments for the cancer.
Jan’s husband said, “I know Jan would be delighted to have this accolade, and I would be honoured for you to use Jan’s name.
This is a legacy of which she would be proud.”
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7. Don Smitley spent his days enjoying time with his family, his dog, Charley, and playing in his bluegrass band, The Dunbar Boys.
No one ever heard Don complain or wonder, “Why me?” while he fought mesothelioma. But everyone that knew him would say
that faith and a positive attitude carried him through each day.
Don’s daughter, Jennifer Gelsick, chronicled her family’s journey during mesothelioma, and now discusses life after losing a loved
one to mesothelioma through her blog.
“We are so honored to have Dad’s name on the scholarship. It’s such a perfect way to remember and honor him,” said Jennifer.
Jennifer will is one of the essay judges.
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8. Essay Topic
Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year.
The only established cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Most victims were unwittingly
exposed to asbestos at work or while serving in the military.
Still others developed mesothelioma through exposure from family members coming home from work with
their clothes covered in asbestos fibers.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the annual number of
mesothelioma deaths is increasing.
According to experts, over 20 million people in the United States are at risk of developing malignant
mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.
We believe it is important to get the facts out about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, and
especially, to help educate young Americans.
Please address some or all of the following questions in your essay:
Share your personal story dealing with asbestos disease or cancer. Talk about how it affected your
life and how/whether it impacted your education/career choice.
What do you hope to do with the education you are receiving to help cancer patients?
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9. Why is raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of asbestos and the impact
of mesothelioma on a family important?
What would you say to someone who is fighting mesothelioma or to a family member who recently
lost a loved one to the disease?
Details
The essay must be no fewer than 750 and no more than 1,500 words long.
Length Judging Selection Notification
Length
To Apply to the Essay Contest
1. Read the Rules below
Tell Us About Yourself
Scholarship Opportunity *
What drew you to this scholarship contest?
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10. Email
Phone
Photo *
Please send a small photo (head shot) and a couple sentence bio of yourself that will be posted on MesotheliomaHelp.org
with your essay in the case you are selected as a finalist.
Name
First Last
Address *
Street Address
City State
ZIP Code
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11. Drop files here or
Select files
Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf.
Short Biography *
Your bio may be edited for length if necessary.
Education
College & University
Major
Your Essay Submission *
Please upload your scholarship essay
No file chosenChoose File Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf.
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12. Class *
Freshman
Mesothelioma
What did you know? *
Did you know what mesothelioma was before entering the contest?
What did you learn? *
After writing your essay, what do you know now about the disease that you didn't before?
Asbestos & Mesothelioma Awareness *
Are you doing anything different now to help raise awareness of mesothelioma?
Your message to victims & families. *
What message would you give to families fighting mesothelioma?
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13. After you enter your information you will receive additional materials in accordance with our privacy policy.
Submit Your Application
General Rules
Essay must solely be the original work of the contestant. Plagiarism will result in disqualification and
may be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Decisions of the judges are final.
Employees of Belluck & Fox, LLP, Consultwebs.com, Inc., their boards of directors and immediate family
members are not eligible for this essay contest. Immediate family members of the judges are not eligible
for this essay contest.
All federal, state, local and other taxes and charges on prizes will be the sole responsibility of the
contestant.
All submissions become property of the Belluck & Fox, LLP, law firm to use, reproduce, or distribute as it
sees fit in its sole discretion, although authorship may be acknowledged.
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14. By accepting a prize, winners grant to Mesothelioma Help the right to edit, publish, copy, display and
otherwise use their essay in connection with this contest, and to further use their names and
biographical information in promotional materials without further compensation or permission, except
where prohibited by law.
Mesothelioma Help will make every reasonable attempt to read and have judged every essay, but
Mesothelioma Help is not responsible for failure to read and/or judge an essay.
Any prize or other item to which a contestant may become entitled as a result of his/her participation in
this contest is subject to immediate revocation in the event of a discovery of a contestant’s failure to
comply with these rules.
The number of prizes may be changed at Mesothelioma Help sole discretion.
By participating in this essay contest and/or accepting a prize, contestants agree to indemnify, defend
and hold harmless Mesothelioma Help, its managers, members, directors, officers, and employees, from
and against any and all liability and costs in connection with any claim from any liability, injury, damages,
cost or expense, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of or connected to participation in this
contest or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prizes.
Under no circumstances shall Mesothelioma Help, its managers, members, directors, officers,
employees, agents, investors or licensors, be liable to the contestant for any indirect, punitive, special or
consequential damages.
Depending on the number of responses, Mesothelioma Help may institute a cutoff at which time we will
refuse to receive additional new applications. Therefore, if you are interested in participating in this
essay contest, you should submit your application as soon as possible.
If there are changes to these Rules they will be sent by email and will be considered read and accepted
by the contestant. If they are not acceptable, the contestant may withdraw from this essay contest.
Any dispute arising from this contest will be determined according to the laws of the State of New York,
without reference to its conflict of law principles. The contestant’s participation in the contest shall
constitute consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County,
New York, and agreement that such courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all such disputes.
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15. Scholarship Contest FAQs
Must I have any personal cancer experience to apply?
I am a foreign student. Am I eligible?
How do I submit my essay?
I am an international student. Am I eligible?
I am a U.S. college student attending an international campus. Am I eligible?
I am a part-time student. Am I eligible?
I am only 17-years-old but I have been accepted to a university. Am I eligible to apply?
I am a high school student, but I am also taking college courses. Can I apply?
If I am enrolled in a nursing program or technical school, can I apply?
Must I have any personal cancer experience to apply?
No. If you are writing a personal mesothelioma survivor story, the subject can be someone you know.
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16. I am a college senior or graduate student and I am graduating this semester. Am I eligible?
Can the money received from the scholarship be used to pay tuition for a summer study
abroad program or overseas study?
What about legal status? I am an immigrant and/or I don’t have a Social Security number. Am I
eligible?
Where will the top four finalist’s essays be posted for the voting portion of the contest?
What is the #hashtag that will be used to promote the essays?
Will MesotheliomaHelp.org publicize the #hashtag and essays?
What websites (pages) count toward a citation for my essay?
May I write the essay as a short story?
May I include accounts of people I know who have gone through cancer treatments?
What type of permission?
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17. We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate
treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
Free Mesothelioma Patient
& Treatment Guide
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18. Download Now
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The information provided by Mesothelioma Help is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Mesothelioma Help is sponsored by Belluck & Fox, LLP
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