Education Aid's Scholarship Recipients

Education Aid scholarship recipients represent the students and families at the heart of our mission. Each award helps reduce financial barriers that can interrupt access to education, therapy, specialized services, and other essential supports.

 

Through donor-funded scholarships, Education Aid provides timely assistance to families working to maintain critical support for children with specialized learning, developmental, therapeutic, and educational needs.

2026 Support a Special Student Scholarship Recipient

Samantha DiCiurcio

Delray Beach, Florida

 

Education Aid is proud to announce that Samantha DiCiurcio, a single mother from Delray Beach, Florida, has been selected as the recipient of our 2026 Support a Special Student Scholarship, awarded on behalf of her daughter, a Palm Beach County student who relies on ongoing therapy, specialized educational support, and structured summer programming.

 

For many children with special learning and developmental needs, even short interruptions in therapy, educational support, or structured care can affect communication, behavior, academic progress, independence, and daily stability. The Support a Special Student Scholarship was created to help prevent those interruptions during the summer months, when families often face increased costs and fewer consistent support options.

 

Samantha applied for the scholarship as a single mother working to maintain the services her daughter needs to continue making progress in therapy, school, and daily life. Her application reflected the difficult choices many families face when trying to balance essential therapy services, educational support, safe summer programming, and the financial realities of daily life.

 

Through this scholarship, Education Aid will provide $3,000 in support across June, July, and August 2026, helping Samantha’s family maintain access to important therapeutic and educational services during the summer months.  These supports are not optional — they are essential.

 

This scholarship will help provide stability, continuity, and relief so Samantha’s daughter can continue growing, learning, and receiving the support she needs.

“Your generosity and support mean more to my daughter and me than words can express. This scholarship will help provide the educational resources and support she needs to continue growing, learning, and reaching her full potential. We are truly grateful for your kindness.”
— Samantha DiCiurcio, scholarship recipient

 

Education Aid congratulates Samantha and her family, and we are deeply grateful to every family who applied for this scholarship. Each application shared a powerful story of love, advocacy, perseverance, and commitment to helping a child access the support they need.

While only one recipient could be selected for this award cycle, the need remains great. Education Aid is committed to growing this scholarship program so we can help more students and families in the future.

 

Scholarship Period

June, July, and August 2026
 

Award Amount

$3,000

About Education Aid's Support a Special Student Scholarship

The Support a Special Student Scholarship is a vital part of Education Aid’s mission to help students and families overcome financial barriers that can interrupt access to education, therapy, specialized services, and other essential supports.

This scholarship provides direct financial assistance to families whose children require specialized educational support, therapy services, early intervention, adaptive learning resources, individualized academic support, or specialized Pre-K–12 educational environments designed to support their development.

For families navigating special learning needs, these services are often not extras — they are lifelines. Consistent access to therapy, educational support, and structured programming can strengthen communication, learning, independence, confidence, and long-term success.

Each scholarship helps remove financial barriers so students can continue receiving critical support without disruption. Sponsors may choose to fund a single student, support a summer scholarship, or contribute to the general scholarship pool, creating immediate and lasting impact for students and families who depend on specialized education and therapy support.

Education Aid is currently working to raise funding to support a full year of services for one student, or as many summer scholarships as possible based on available funds.

Support This Scholarship

Additional Scholarship Opportunities Announced Here Throughout the Year. Don't Forget to Check For Updates!

 

How Education Aid Scholarships Are Awarded

Scholarship awards are based on:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Therapy or educational support requirements
• Risk of interruption in services
• Available funding

 

Questions or Support

If you have questions about a scholarship or need assistance with an application, please contact Karyn Balfour at:

Email: kbalfour@educationaid.org

CREATE YOUR OWN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Education Aid partners with companies, organizations, and individuals to design scholarship programs that reflect their mission, values, and communities they care about.

Custom scholarship programs offer meaningful impact while also providing visibility and purpose-driven engagement. Programs may be named, mission-aligned, or focused on a specific population, field of study, or geographic area. Many partners value the opportunity to support education in a way that is both socially responsible and authentically aligned with their brand.

If you are interested in creating a scholarship program, sponsoring an existing initiative, or making a general contribution, please contact Karyn Balfour at kbalfour@educationaid.org.