2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Winners Announced

ATLANTA, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- UCB, Inc., a global leader in the research and development of medications to treat immunology disorders, today announced the winners of its 2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program for outstanding individuals affected by this condition. UCB has selected 31 winners to receive a scholarship worth up to $10,000 to help them seek personal growth through higher education.

The scholarship winners include Crohn's disease patients, as well as family members and caregivers. They were selected not only for their academic ambitions but also for their demonstrated determination to live beyond the boundaries of Crohn's disease, as shown in their applications and essays.

"Through their present accomplishments and future dreams, this year's scholarship winners are bringing to life UCB's vision, a world where those affected by Crohn's disease are no longer limited by this condition," said Greg Duncan, UCB President for North America. "We are working hard to develop treatment options and patient programs that assist patients to make this a reality. Our scholarship winners are proving every day that this is possible."

For five years, UCB has awarded more than 400 scholarships — totaling more than $3 million — to individuals living with Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and epilepsy, as well as their caregivers and family members.

31 Winners, 31 Unique Stories

The winners of the 2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program have all overcome significant challenges and achieved impressive accomplishments in ways as individual as they are. Among them are:

• Matt Arnoldy, an avid scuba diver and environmental advocate who has traveled the world to help save the rain forest and provide humanitarian assistance

• Vikram Chander, who rebuilt the homes of his family and several family friends following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and is now dedicated to providing affordable housing to aid the recovery of New Orleans

• Blair and Brook Euteneuer, twin sisters who volunteer their time to support organizations such as the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and the Special Olympics USA National Games

• Keri Gurule, a busy mother committed to becoming a registered pediatric nurse, dedicated to using her personal experiences living with a chronic disease to help young patients

Additional winners are as follows:

Using Facebook to Inspire and Inform

UCB is harnessing the power of social media to spread the scholarship winners' inspiring examples and messages by launching a Facebook page for the 2010 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program.

The scholarship page will provide a space for current and previous scholarship winners to share their victories while living with a chronic disease. It also will feature a captioned photo album of the 2010 winners; videos of 2010 scholarship winners; updates from current and previous scholarship winners; and links to press releases and media coverage.

In addition, the scholarship page will keep Facebook users up-to-date on the application process for the 2011 awards.  

2011 Scholarship Application Now Available

The 2011 UCB Crohn's and Me Scholarship Program is now open for applications. The downloadable application and more information about the program can be found at www.CrohnsandMe.com as well as Facebook.

UCB offers support to people living with chronic diseases, along with their families and friends, through a broad range of programs that foster independence and empowerment. The UCB Family Scholarship Program™ is just one such program; for information on others, visit www.UCB-usa.com/patients.

About Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease is a chronic, progressive, destructive disorder that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, most commonly at the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and beginning of the large intestine (the colon). If not effectively treated, it may result in the need for surgery and hospitalization. Crohn's disease has been estimated to affect as many as half a million Americans. People with Crohn's can experience an ongoing cycle of flare-up and remission throughout their lives.

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About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8 000 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of EUR 3.1 billion in 2009. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

For further information on UCB products, please visit www.UCB.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, effects of future judicial decisions, changes in regulation, exchange rate fluctuations and hiring and retention of its employees.

SOURCE UCB