AbbVie Launches 2016 Thriving Student Scholarship Contest to Award Two Inspirational Students with Cystic Fibrosis $24,000 Each in Educational Funds

- 40 AbbVie CF Scholars were each awarded $3,000 scholarships earlier this year and are now eligible to compete to win an additional $21,000 scholarship via the contest

- Cast your vote to help determine the Thriving Graduate and Undergraduate Students

- More than $2.6 million in scholarships have been awarded over the 24-year history of the program

News provided by

AbbVie

Sep 13, 2016, 12:00 ET

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced the launch of the 2016 Thriving Student Scholarship Contest designed to grant $24,000 in educational funds to two exceptional students with cystic fibrosis (CF). Earlier this year, AbbVie selected 40 undergraduate and graduate students living with CF to each receive a $3,000 AbbVie CF Scholarship for the upcoming school year based on their academic excellence, extracurricular activities and creativity. These AbbVie CF Scholars now have the opportunity to earn the title of 2016 Thriving Undergraduate or Graduate Student, along with an additional $21,000 in scholarship funding.

The public is encouraged to visit the AbbVie CF Scholarship website (www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com) today through Friday, October 14, 2016 to cast a vote and help determine which students will earn a total of $24,000 for use toward their educational dreams.

The AbbVie CF Scholarship, which has honored and supported young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) as they pursue higher education for the last 24 years, is part of AbbVie's ongoing commitment to the CF community, which is comprised of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Today, nearly half of the CF population is age 18 or older.¹

"I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at five years old. Since then, I have dedicated my life to staying healthy and maintaining a strong, positive mentality so that I can achieve my goals," said Mary Grace Bernard, 2015 Thriving Graduate Student. "Being awarded the AbbVie CF Scholarship has helped me to follow my dreams, and provided the financial support needed to pursue my passion for art."

The motivating stories and extraordinary accomplishments of this year's AbbVie CF Scholars can be found on the AbbVie CF Scholarship website (www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com). Here, the public is encouraged to browse the profiles of these inspirational students and vote for their favorite undergraduate and graduate student. The public may also place a vote via text message by texting the student's unique ID number provided online to "23000."

The Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Students will be named based on a combination of their academics, achievements, creative presentation and the number of votes cast. AbbVie will announce the 2016 Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Student winners in October.

About Cystic Fibrosis¹

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of those living with this condition. In patients with CF, a thick, sticky mucus is produced in certain organs throughout the body, most commonly the lungs and digestive system. The mucus build-up in the lungs can cause difficulty breathing and may lead to life-threatening lung infections. In the digestive system, the thick mucus may prevent proper food digestion, potentially leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.

About the AbbVie CF Scholarship

The AbbVie CF Scholarship was established 24 years ago in recognition of the financial burdens many families touched by CF face and to acknowledge the achievements of students with CF. Since its inception, the scholarship program has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships.

It is not necessary for scholarship applicants to have taken, currently take, or intend to take in the future, any medicine or product marketed by AbbVie, and this is not a consideration in the selection criteria. More information about the AbbVie CF Scholarship criteria and application can be found at www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com.

About AbbVie

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

References
1.	Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. About Cystic Fibrosis. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Available at: https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/Diagnosed-with-Cystic-Fibrosis/. Accessed July 2016.