Vote to Help Award a $21,000 AbbVie CF Scholarship to Two Inspirational Students with Cystic Fibrosis Pursuing their Goals of Higher Education

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Aug 19, 2013, 10:55 ET

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie has selected 40 exceptional undergraduate and graduate students living with cystic fibrosis (CF) to each receive a $2,500 AbbVie CF Scholarship for the 2013-2014 school year based on their academic excellence, extracurricular activities and creativity. The AbbVie CF Scholars are now competing for two additional scholarships for a total award of $21,000 each and the title of 2013 Thriving Undergraduate or Graduate Student. From now until Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, please vote at www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com for two outstanding and inspirational scholars.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Today, more than 45 percent of people living with CF are aged 18 or older.

"We continue to be impressed with the caliber of the AbbVie CF Scholarship applicants. These students have achieved tremendous personal and academic success, while living with cystic fibrosis, a physically and emotionally challenging disease," said Jim Hynd, vice president, Endo-Metabolic, and GI Care, AbbVie. "AbbVie is pleased to celebrate the unique achievements of these remarkable students and support their educational endeavors."

The AbbVie CF Scholarship website, www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com, showcases the motivating stories and extraordinary accomplishments of this year's scholars and instructions on how to vote. The public is encouraged to cast its vote for a favorite undergraduate and graduate student online at www.AbbVieCFScholarship.com and via text message. To place a vote via text message, text 23000 with the unique ID provided online for the specific scholar (e.g., VOTE1, VOTE2, etc.). AbbVie will announce the 2013 Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Student winners in October.

More than 500 students with CF have received an estimated $2.4 million in educational funding throughout the 21-year legacy of the scholarship program. It was 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 was not a consideration in the selection criteria.

"The AbbVie CF Scholarship provided me with needed financial support to help achieve my educational goals and follow my passion for biology," said 2012 Thriving Graduate Student, Wesley McSparin. "It's really great to see that the program continues to offer a new class of scholars the opportunity to pursue their educational aspirations, and I look forward to voting for a Thriving Undergraduate and Graduate Student."

About Cystic Fibrosis
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. More than 70 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age two.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott. 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. In 2013, AbbVie employs approximately 21,000 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.

SOURCE AbbVie