In 2009, Janice Starling-Williams (pictured) founded the St. Petersburg All Kidney Patients Support Group to offer assistance to kidney patients in the Tampa Bay Area with Emma L. Walker.
TAMPA BAY — Emma L. Walker was the co-founders of All Kidney Patients Support Group (AKPSG) in St. Petersburg. In 2006, she became a dialysis patient due to complications from heart surgery. Walker did not let her weekly dialysis treatment slow her down; however, she loved to travel, visit family and friends but most importantly she loved to give back to her community.
Janice Starling-Williams
In 2009, Janice Starling-Williams and Emma Walker founded the St. Petersburg All Kidney Patients Support Group to offer assistance to kidney patients in the Tampa Bay area at various stages of dialysis and transplantation. On May 30, 2017, Walker unexpectedly passed away. One of the causes of her death was due to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Although she is no longer with us, Walker will always be remembered for the work she did for the community and with patients facing ESRD.
In honor of their mother and her love for her community, Walker’s three daughters, Antionette L. Wiggins, Janice L. Grant and Kimberly A. Swain, would like to continue her work to support the community in the form of scholarships.
Each year her daughters have committed to donating $1,000 to the AKPSG, which will award two educational scholarships. There is no specific course of study required, and the money can be used in whatever way that student feels will benefit them the most. The two $500 scholarships are awarded each year in September.
Eligible students must write an essay of no fewer than 600 words on: “What is kidney disease and how can you help your community become more aware of the causes?”
Thinking outside the box is encouraged. Email your essay to akpsg@earthlink.net.
To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be at least 17 years of age:
This scholarship provides financial assistance for dialysis and transplant patients as well as living donors to pursue post-secondary education.
Applicants must be high school or home-schooled seniors or enrolled in college, and must be legal residents of U.S. residing in the state of Florida.
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You must include a copy of your college acceptance letter, signed commitment letter or other documents showing commitment to attend
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Have a cumulative GPA 2.5 or higher
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Can demonstrate a need for financial assistance
