Abigail Wolfe, a native of Livonia, Michigan, sits by a sunlit window wearing a bright orange winter jacket. Her face is brimming with life and personality. By looking at her, you wouldn’t think that she had battled cancer for most of her life.

Abigail was diagnosed with cancer when she was 13 months old and stopped treatment when she was about 3 years old. She returned annually to the long-term care clinic for a check-up, and met with her primary surgeon. "I remember I was about 13, and he said that I was cured. I was like, ’Wait. Say that again. I don’t believe you.’ That was a very funny experience."

Abigail just completed her first year at Michigan State University. She is studying to become a doctor and is a recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Young Survivor Scholarship Program. To date, more than 800 scholarships have been awarded to students in the Great Lakes area.

"It has taken so much pressure away," she said. "I say that I’m here on the graces of other people. There was great financial need for me and my family and it gave me the opportunity to come here and to not worry. I think that you can get here without scholarships but the pressure that you have on yourself, you don’t want to deal with that when you’re 18."

Scholarships are available annually, based on financial need. Eligibility requires residency in Michigan or Indiana. The student must be a cancer survivor age 20 or under. They must also be attending or planning to attend a university in Michigan or Indiana as a full time student with 12 or more credit hours. The scholarship is for tuition only. Academic performance, community service, and leadership qualities are also taken into account.

Abigail jokingly added another way that the scholarship has helped her. "I mean, it sounds silly, but Monday morning when I don’t want to wake up for class, I remember that I’m here because of other people and that gets me out of bed. And when I don’t want to do chemistry at one o’clock in the morning because I have a test the next day, I’m like, ’Dang it! Dang the American Cancer Society and them helping me! Now I really have to study and do well’," she laughed.

With this program your American Cancer Society hopes to express the belief that life after cancer is rewarding. It also encourages the recipients to become advocates for the American Cancer Society, raising public awareness on cancer related issues. Abigail hopes to participate in Relay For Life this year. "The things that (ACS) has made me feel...I would love to give that to another person."

If you are a young cancer survivor and would like to apply for the scholarship program, visit www.cancer.org/scholarships or call 1-800-723-0360. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.

Pictured: Abigail Wolfe