Application Instructions
The Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship is for students who have or have had a close family member such as a spouse, parent or guardian, child or grandparent diagnosed with ALS and who want to pursue a degree in the medical profession as a result of their experience.
Applicants must be:
- A close relative of a person who has been diagnosed with ALS. (Families of every tradition will be considered.)
- A legal resident of Florida.
- Currently majoring in any medically-related or social work degree or attending any medically-related certification programs.
- Any age of student may apply - scholarships are not restricted to graduating high school seniors, high school graduates or current undergraduates.
- Applicants must attend or be accepted to school full-time (as defined by the educational institution) at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school located in the U.S.
All interested students must complete an application and submit it by mail or email along with:
- A current, complete official transcript of grades (Grade reports are not acceptable. Official transcripts must display student name, school name, degree program, grade and credit hours earned for each course, and term in which each course was taken.)
- A 500-word essay describing how the student’s experience with ALS has impacted him/her and his/her decision to enter the medical or social work field
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- Other requirements as listed on the application
The application will open on March 18, 2024, and the deadline is Monday July 8, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. ET.
"Pursuing my lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) has been a challenging yet fulfilling journey, especially over the last eight years. After becoming a mom, returning to school seemed nearly impossible without financial backing. Thankfully, once I began my full-time graduate program, I was awarded The Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship, which generously covered an entire semester's tuition.
This scholarship is a testament to the compassion of the ALS Association and the families affected by ALS who are committed to paying it forward and aiding those who have encountered significant life challenges. My mother's ALS diagnosis sparked my aspiration to become an RDN in June 2014. My dream is now on the path to realization in May 2025, thanks to the support from The ALS Association and the Rick and Sherry Murray family.
I am deeply passionate about supporting mothers, children, and families in disease prevention through evidence-based nutrition education and am immensely grateful for the opportunity to advance in this field."
- Emily Torres, 2023 Recipient of The Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship
Rick and Sherry Murray's Story
Rick and Sherry Murray met and were married in 1964. Upon his retirement, Rick and Sherry returned to Jacksonville, Florida, where they had served their first tour of duty nearly three decades earlier. Their active lifestyle of tennis and traveling was curtailed in 1999, after Rick received an ALS diagnosis and an estimated three more years to live. Rick nearly tripled that prognosis, and the couple found new ways to stay active during that time.
Together, they became tireless advocates for ALS research and awareness by participating in Walks, giving speeches to support groups, visiting with congressional representatives, publishing the motivational book - Rick’s Reflections - and helping organize the first Lou Gehrig Day for the Jacksonville Suns. In fact, Rick attended the ALS awareness event at the Suns’ ballpark in 90-degree heat, just three days before he died.
Following his passing, Sherry doubled her community involvement and philanthropic efforts, especially focusing on spouses who lost their loved one to ALS. A lifelong learner and educator herself, Sherry was especially eager to assist others in achieving their dreams by expanding their educational opportunities. To this end, she established several scholarships, including the ALS Medical Futures Scholarship in 2013.
Rick and Sherry’s three children and eight grandchildren keep their philanthropic spirit alive through numerous causes and scholarships. They are proud to continue this scholarship, now named The Rick and Sherry Murray Medical Futures Scholarship, which is designed to help the spouses, children, and grandchildren of those who are living with ALS or have lost their battle, and whose lives have been changed as a result of that experience - thus impacting their decisions to enter the medical field as a way of making a difference for future patients of any disease.
