Shire, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce that it has launched its 2013 ADHD Scholarship Program.

The program is for individuals in the United States diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who are pursuing higher education at a college, vocational school or technical school.

Since the start of the program in 2011, Shire has announced 75 national scholarship award recipients and 10 employee award recipients.

The Shire ADHD Scholarship includes a $2,000 monetary award and offers a prepaid year of ADHD coaching services.

The ADHD coaching services are provided by the Edge Foundation and are intended to assist the scholarship recipient with the transition to higher education.

Fifty one-time scholarships will be awarded in June 2013. The deadline to apply is March 27.

For information on eligibility requirements, the scholarship application process and more, visit www.ShireADHDscholarship.com .

The scholarship program has already made an impact on past recipients and their families.

Karen Peterson, the parent of a 2011 scholarship recipient, said, “I am thankful that Shire offers a scholarship and coaching services to help my child pursue higher education.”

“This scholarship allows Shire to continue to recognize and support the individuals who work hard to overcome the challenges of ADHD, and help them continue their educational pursuits,” said Mike Yasick, Senior Vice President of Shire’s Behavioral Health Business Unit.

The Shire ADHD Scholarship also includes weekly sessions with an ADHD coach from the Edge Foundation.

In addition to weekly coaching sessions, ADHD coaches offer support to students via e-mail and phone to help students meet their goals. This support may be important for students transitioning to the higher education environment because they have more free time and less adult supervision.

Robert Tudisco, executive director of the Edge Foundation, said, “At Edge we are proud to be a part of Shire’s genuine commitment to these students. Any scholarship offers access to higher education, but this program is unique in that it offers not just access but the support that these students need.”

The Edge Foundation is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that offers support for students with ADHD. The Edge Foundation’s primary mission is to provide access to qualified, professional coaches for students with ADHD as part of their multimodal treatment program.

For more information about the Edge Foundation, visit www.edgefoundation.org .