UCB Announces the 2009 Winners of their Family RA Scholarship

DAYTON, OH — Watching her mother live with the pain and difficulty of RA is what drives Taylor Guerrant to become a pediatric rheumatologist. Guerrant is one of 31 students around the country whose lives are impacted by RA and who have won a 2009 ...

Taylor Guerrant

Ohio Student heading to Wright State University

DAYTON, OH — Watching her mother live with the pain and difficulty of RA is what drives Taylor Guerrant to become a pediatric rheumatologist. Guerrant is one of 31 students around the country whose lives are impacted by RA and who have won a 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship. Guerrant is using her $10,000 award to begin her studies at Wright State this fall.

Guerrant calls her mom her best friend and said it was difficult to see her recover from multiple surgeries and sometimes just deal with the simple strains of daily life. The two have volunteered for the Arthritis Foundation, at their church, and with other charitable organizations around Dayton.

In school, Guerrant, an honor roll student, was a member of the volleyball, softball, and soccer teams and an officer in the Calculus and Heritage Clubs. She had perfect attendance throughout high school.

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AURORA, IL — Kristen Hartman wants to change the way health insurance works. But she is not a political activist trying to change the world. Rather, she is a college student with RA. And she is learning the hard way that insurers make ...

Kristen Hartman

Illinois Student continuing at Northern Illinois University

AURORA, IL — Kristen Hartman wants to change the way health insurance works. But she is not a political activist trying to change the world. Rather she is a college student with RA. And she is learning the hard way that insurers make it very difficult for people with chronic illnesses to get or afford health insurance coverage.

Diagnosed at the tender age of 5, Hartman tried to stay active, as a child and teen, in sports and other physical activities such as dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading. She was able to continue some of these activities, even rising to captain of her high school cheerleading squad. But as a young adult, she changed her focus to advocacy work. She volunteers with the Arthritis Foundation and speaks to conferences and patient groups about arthritis.

Since her father lost his job last year, along with the family's healthcare coverage, she has also learned to push for better insurance access for people with chronic illnesses. She has written and visited with senators and congressmen trying to share her concerns with the way insurance companies have treated her since her father's job loss.

It is this advocacy work that has her looking to complete a master's degree in public health after she graduates from Northern Illinois.

Her academic and advocacy work led Hartman to be named one of the 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship winners. She received $10,000 toward her academic expenses at NIU.

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CHICAGO, IL — There are times when Lydia Hernandez is embarrassed that she has to rely on her husband Wilson and her 7-year-old daughter for help when dealing with her RA. But Hernandez also looks at it as motivation...

Lydia Hernandez

Chicago student continuing at University of Phoenix

CHICAGO, IL. — There are times when Lydia Hernandez is embarrassed that she has to rely on her husband Wilson and her 7-year-old daughter for help when dealing with her RA. But Hernandez also looks at it as motivation. "I do everything for my family and I want them to see that I am doing my best to be successful and lead a normal life," says Hernandez of her battle against RA and her drive to complete a master's degree in early childhood education.

In addition to raising 2 daughters, she is expecting a third in December. Hernandez also has the difficult task of caring for her 3-year-old daughter, who was recently diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Despite a lot of trips to doctors, Hernandez finds time to volunteer at her older daughter's school and to sit on the committee that organizes Arthritis Foundation fundraising walks in Chicago.

Her drive has resulted in her winning a 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship. Hernandez will receive $10,000 to put toward her studies at the University of Phoenix.

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ATLANTA, GA — Being diagnosed with RA at 9 years old was not the childhood Erin Hoysa and her parents had hoped for. She was forced to take a lot of pills and get a lot of shots that forced her to skip the fun and games many of her classmates were ...

Erin Hoysa

Virginia student continuing graduate education at Emory

ATLANTA, GA — Being diagnosed with RA at 9 years old was not the childhood Erin Hoysa and her parents had hoped for. She was forced to take a lot of pills and get a lot of shots that forced her to skip the fun and games many of her classmates were participating in. But as she grew into high school, she learned to become an advocate for arthritis awareness by participating in walks and raising money for the local Arthritis Foundation. Hoysa hopes to convert those experiences into a life of service to other RA patients by completing her master's degree in public health at Atlanta's Emory University with the help of the UCB Family RA Scholarship.

Hoysa is one of 31 students around the country that were awarded $10,000 for demonstrating academic excellence while living beyond the boundaries of a chronic illness. "I love volunteering and trying to make a difference, but hope is my favorite word and I always hope that I am able to help change things for the better," said Hoysa.

Hoysa still enjoys swimming and taking spin classes. She even volunteered at a camp for children with arthritis while doing graduate research work at Emory, and she continues to raise awareness on the Arthritis Foundation's Young Professionals Board.

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LYNNFIELD, MA — Boston University's Stefanie Imbrescia has faced a lot of obstacles in her life. She was diagnosed with RA as an infant. Her childhood was filled with doctor appointments, physical therapy, countless medications, and surgeries ...

Stefanie Imbrescia

Massachusetts student continuing at Boston University

LYNNFIELD, MA — Boston University's Stefanie Imbrescia has faced a lot of obstacles in her life. She was diagnosed with RA as an infant. Her childhood was filled with doctor appointments, physical therapy, countless medications, and surgeries. She could not participate in activities such as soccer, Girl Scouts, and bike riding. But instead of letting her medical conditions define her, she fought back by staying active and working to promote awareness that arthritis is "not just something that happens to old people."

Imbrescia became involved in a skiing program for youth with disabilities and participated in karate and therapeutic horseback riding. She also turned into a fundraiser as a Youth Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and continues to raise donations during Boston's annual Arthritis Walk. She also spends time as a mentor to a young woman with developmental disabilities. "I always enjoyed working with and helping other people and I want to especially help people like myself," said Imbrescia.

As a result of her academic and community success, Imbrescia has been awarded a UCB Family RA Scholarship for 2009. She will receive $10,000 to assist with her studies to become an occupational therapist at BU.

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SUDBURY, MA — Meara Jones was a 28-year-old newlywed when her doctor told her something that she almost couldn't believe. She had RA. The terrifying thoughts followed: Would she be a burden to a new husband? Would she be able to have a family? ...

Meara Jones

Massachusetts student continuing at Babson College

SUDBURY, MA — Meara Jones was a 28-year-old newlywed when her doctor told her something that she almost couldn't believe. She had RA. The terrifying thoughts followed: Would she be a burden to a new husband? Would she be able to have a family? Would she be confined to a wheelchair? While these fears were legitimate, Jones did not let them define her and as a result, now, 6 years later, she is the proud mother of a 3-year-old girl, an MBA student and a 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship winner.

Jones is a former opera singer who now works in scientific sales in the biotech industry. She hopes to continue in the life sciences arena once she completes her MBA.

"I am always willing to take a leap of faith and that has helped me get through my fight with rheumatoid arthritis," said Jones. "I want to enjoy my life and family and that's what motivates me."

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PEORIA, IL — Many students join in causes to better their communities, but for one Bradley graduate student it went beyond simply helping others: she started her own service agency. Michelle Kosner started Paws Giving Independence, a guide dog service that ...

Michelle Kosner

Illinois student continuing at Bradley University

PEORIA, IL — Many students join in causes to better their communities, but for one Bradley graduate student it went beyond simply helping others: she started her own service agency. Michelle Kosner started Paws Giving Independence, a guide dog service that places service dogs into the homes of disabled people free of charge. And despite long hours with the dogs, she also finds time to volunteer at the Easter Seals Children's Hospital. At school she is a Bradley Fellow who has been on the deans list the past 3 years.

She has accomplished all of these things while fighting RA. Kosner was diagnosed with arthritis at the tender age of 3 and used her parents' motivation and her doctors' advice to keep active. She is an avid volleyball player and continues to participate with such organizations as Habitat for Humanity and the Kappa Delta Sorority.

Because of her community service and academic achievements, Kosner was recently recognized as one of the 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship winners. Kosner will receive $10,000 to put toward her educational goals of earning a master's degree in physical therapy.

"What motivates me is a passion for what I am doing," says Kosner. "I want to show people that there aren't limitations or reasons why you can't accomplish what you want to do."

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CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland Heights resident Mallory Kremer is close to attaining her goal of becoming a physician and overcoming the difficulties of living with RA ...

Mallory Kremer

Ohio student continuing at Case Western Reserve

CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland Heights resident Mallory Kremer is close to attaining her goal of becoming a physician and overcoming the difficulties of living with RA.

Kremer was diagnosed with RA at the age of 10. This kept her from doing some of the things that her classmates did, but she refused to be pitied. "I tried to hide the disease as much as I could," said Kremer. "I didn't want people to know, and wanted to be treated exactly like my classmates—to do everything that everyone else did."

Now in her third year of medical school at Case Western Reserve, Kremer has been awarded a UCB Family RA Scholarship.

Kremer, who enjoys gardening, modern dance, and ballet, is not sure which specialty she will go into, but she is certain she will be involved in giving back to the community where she lives.

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PORTLAND, OR — Body building and basketball aren't normally associated with arthritis patients, but one Oregon student is proving you can be successful at those physical activities while being treated for RA. He is Ethan Landstrom and he is one of ...

Ethan Landstrom

Oregon student continuing at Mt. Hood Community College

PORTLAND, OR — Body building and basketball aren't normally associated with arthritis patients, but one Oregon student is proving you can be successful at those physical activities while being treated for RA. He is Ethan Landstrom and he is one of the 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship winners. Landstrom will receive $10,000 to continue his goals of going into exercise physiology and sports nutrition.

Landstrom was diagnosed with RA while he was still a toddler. Because his knees would not bend past 90 degrees, he had to learn how to ride a bike differently from his friends. He remembers a woman discounting his RA saying he was ‘too young' to have arthritis. Later in high school because of his weak knees he had to alter the way he ran to compete in track and field events. Despite these challenges, he still plays basketball, even entering a recent 3-on-3 competition this summer.

"I like to believe you can always improve," said Landstrom. "I want to constantly improve. I'm not going to let RA define me."

Landstrom has also been very active volunteering at a horse ranch, the Salvation Army, and the American Diabetes Association, as well as doing relief trips to Louisiana and Mississippi to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

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EDISON, NJ — The time between the joy of experiencing the birth of her son and being unable to walk unassisted was only a few short weeks for Laura Matusiak-Lindsay. Matusiak-Lindsay led a perfectly normal life and delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy in 1988....

Laura Matusiak-Lindsay

New Jersey student continuing at Middlesex County College

EDISON, NJ — The time between the joy of experiencing the birth of her son and being unable to walk unassisted was only a few short weeks for Laura Matusiak-Lindsay. Matusiak-Lindsay led a perfectly normal life and delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy in 1988. But 2 weeks later she was forced into complete disability as her body's joints began to fail her. It was later determined that her problem was caused by RA. After a series of misdiagnoses, she wound up in the offices of Dr. Nayan Kothari. His aggressive treatment plan got Matusiak-Lindsay off the disability rolls and back into life. It is this perseverance that earned her a spot among the 2009 class of UCB Family RA Scholarship winners.

Matusiak-Lindsay went on to work in retail management for several years before RA finally forced her to take time off from work. She raised her son. She learned to play billiards, rose to the semi professional level, and was featured on a documentary about the Women's Professional Billiard Association. She also became a spokesperson for people with RA, appearing at patient events to share her story and doing radio and television interviews including a segment on Good Morning America.

"Winning this scholarship is really a life changing event," said Matusiak-Lindsay. "Having arthritis is a blessing and a curse, but I am grateful for the people I have met and the opportunities I was afforded by being an arthritis patient."

In 2001, she started a new medication that worked so well, she was able to go back to work and is working for a privately held security company as well as a major manufacturer of ATM machines while she pursues a degree in landscape architecture.

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