EFI Recognizes Two Epilepsy Scholarship Winners

Amanda Thomas has always dreamed of becoming a pediatric nurse. Now, as the winner of the 2005-2006 Gregory Gile Scholarship, she is on her way to fulfilling that dream while she attends North Idaho College for the fall 2005 term. Her studies will prepare her for acceptance into a nursing program.

In her scholarship application, Amanda gave a brief history of her seizure disorder. Initially she outgrew the absence seizures she had as a child only to have her seizures return during Amanda's middle school years. And return they did, generalized tonic clonic seizures this time and much more difficult to control. This led to different medications which did not control her seizures, and to the frustrations that accompany poor seizure control. As she put it in her application essay, she struggled with "learning." But this made her work harder.

There was no giving up, no time to feel sorry for herself. Amanda became an active participant in her medical treatment. At school she sought tutoring and participated in a number of school and community activities. She was involved in Key Club and was lieutenant governor of the Pacific Northwest chapter. She was a teen volunteer at the Kootenai Medical Center putting in over 900 volunteer hours. Her grades improved, and eventually she was able to maintain an impressive grade point average.

As her teacher at Coeur d'Alene High School, Donald Walters, said in his recommendation, "If you are looking for a mature, dependable and outstanding young person, you need look no further than Amanda Thomas. She is an excellent candidate for the scholarship." Her neurologist, Dr. Michael Coats, summed it up by saying, "I can think of no one who would be more deserving of a scholarship than Amanda. She would reflect credit on your organization should she receive your scholarship.?

The Gregory Gile Memorial Scholarship committee concurred with these accolades and awarded Amanda Thomas the scholarship for 2005-2006. The Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho and all the epilepsy community congratulate this outstanding young woman. Good luck, Amanda!