Ryan Hawn Memorial Scholarship

The Ryan Hawn Memorial Scholarship is provided by The Flying Pigs Foundation, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization established in memory of Ryan Michael Hawn. Christopher and Jennifer Hawn, co-founders of the foundation, welcomed their son Ryan in 2009. At just three months old, he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type I, a devastating muscle disease that causes profound weakness. Ryan celebrated his six-month birthday with his loving parents and family, but he passed away peacefully in their arms the following day, on July 28, 2009.

Though his life was brief, Ryan’s legacy endures through the deep love he inspired and the unwavering commitment of his parents to support others facing similar challenges. In his honor, The Flying Pigs Foundation continues to raise awareness, fund research and resources for muscle diseases (particularly in the Greater St. Louis area), and award this annual scholarship to graduating high school seniors diagnosed with a muscle disease.

Although Ryan was very young when he passed away, the Hawn family continues to draw inspiration from the resilience of individuals and families who face the daily challenges of living with a muscle disease. In his memory, we are committed to supporting graduating high school seniors as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. By helping to offset the costs of pursuing post-secondary education, we hope to ease some of the burdens they carry and honor the strength exemplified by those in the muscle disease community. The scholarship recipient will be announced and awarded in May.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Be a current Missouri resident and High-school Senior living with a diagnosed muscle disease. You must have one of the diagnoses on this link to qualify for this scholarship. https://www.mda.org/disease/list
  2. Plan to attend an undergraduate program in a 2 or 4-year University/College or Technical College in the fall of the academic year following high-school graduation.

Donor
The Flying Pigs Foundation
Award
$1,000
Deadline
04/30/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Provide the name of the muscle disease or neuromuscular condition for which you have been medically diagnosed.
  2. Provide the year (or approximate year) you were diagnosed.
  3. Submit a 500-1000 word essay describing how your muscle disease has impacted you, your aspirations for continuing education, and how you plan to use the scholarship award.
  4. Provide a short narrative about yourself as we really like to get to know our applicants.
  5. Photo: Upload a recent digital photo (JPEG format) of yourself.
  6. SCHOLARSHIP CENTRAL RECOMMENDATION: Enter the name and e-mail address of an instructor, counselor, advisor, supervisor or other similarly qualified individual who will submit a recommendation on your behalf. NOTE: As the applicant, it is your responsibility to inform that person to watch for an email sent on your behalf that will explain how to complete this process.
  7. APPLICANT SIGNATURE: By entering my full name below, I authorize the Flying Pigs Foundation to examine, verify and discuss my academic and/or financial records and other information which applies to the consideration of this application. I certify that all answers are accurate and truthful to the best of my knowledge, and that all information in the application and essays are my own work. I understand that the decisions made regarding my participation in this program are made by the Flying Pigs Foundation in reliance upon the truth and correctness of my statements. I agree to allow The Flying Pigs Foundation to share my name and picture on the foundation facebook page and website if awarded as the recipient.
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