Children’s Cancer Cause awards record 23 scholarships to cancer survivors

By AI, Created 12:26 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – Children’s Cancer Cause named 23 College Scholars for 2026, its largest class yet, with support from Hyundai Hope on Wheels. The scholarships back childhood cancer survivors in higher education and fund advocacy projects that aim to expand survivorship support and awareness nationwide.

Why it matters: - The 2026 College Scholars class is the largest in Children’s Cancer Cause history, signaling growing support for childhood cancer survivors entering college and leadership roles. - The program pairs financial help with advocacy training, giving survivors tools to address long-term medical, educational and emotional challenges after treatment. - Hyundai Hope on Wheels’ grant expands survivorship support at a time when more survivors are navigating adulthood, college and long-term follow-up care.

What happened: - Children’s Cancer Cause announced 23 recipients of its annual College Scholars Program on May 28, 2026. - The scholarships went to childhood and adolescent cancer survivors nationwide. - Hyundai Hope on Wheels provided a survivorship program grant that helped make the 2026 cohort the largest in the program’s history. - Since 2018, the program has awarded 91 scholarships.

The details: - Each scholar designs and completes a community impact project tied to cancer advocacy and awareness. - One recipient, Kaleolani Ilac, is a childhood brain tumor survivor studying political science at UCLA. - Ilac plans to host an advocacy workshop in his hometown to help other young survivors speak up for change. - Other 2026 projects focus on survivorship research, creative storytelling, awareness campaigns, peer support groups and community bone marrow drives. - Alumni have gone on to medical school, pediatric oncology research and local public office campaigns. - Children’s Cancer Cause says the program is designed to build a new generation of leaders with advocacy experience. - Steve Wosahla said childhood cancer survivors face long-term financial, medical, educational and psychosocial challenges that extend beyond treatment. - Wosahla said the scholarships help survivors pursue goals while becoming leaders and advocates on campus and in their communities. - Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a nonprofit supported by Hyundai Motor America and more than 855 U.S. dealers. - Hyundai Hope on Wheels has committed more than $300 million to pediatric cancer research, survivorship and family support since 1998. - John Guastaferro said Hyundai Hope on Wheels is committed to advancing research, supporting families and standing with the healthcare community in the fight against childhood cancer. - Children’s Cancer Cause has expanded survivorship resources for young adults, including educational tools and self-guided courses through Childhood Cancer Survivorship. - The resources help survivors navigate long-term follow-up care, late effects, mental health and the transition into adulthood. - More information on the 2026 scholars and their projects is available at the full scholar list.

Between the lines: - The scholarship program does more than reduce tuition pressure; it turns survivors into public-facing advocates with practical experience. - The mix of research, storytelling and community organizing suggests the program is building a broad pipeline of survivor leadership. - Hyundai Hope on Wheels is using survivorship support to complement its research funding, widening its role beyond treatment to life after cancer.

What’s next: - The 2026 scholars will complete their volunteer and advocacy projects over the coming year. - Children’s Cancer Cause will continue expanding survivorship education and young adult support resources. - The organization will likely keep using the scholarship program to identify future advocates, researchers and public leaders.

The bottom line: - Children’s Cancer Cause is using scholarships to do more than fund college — it is investing in the next generation of survivor advocates.