Sarepta Therapeutics Announces 25 Recipients of Route 79 Duchenne Scholarship Program for 2026-2027
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRPT), a company focused on precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, has announced the 25 recipients of its Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. The annual scholarship initiative supports students pursuing postsecondary education while recognizing the academic ambitions, resilience and community contributions of individuals and families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, 20 scholarships will be awarded to individuals living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while five scholarships will be presented to siblings of individuals living with Duchenne. Each selected student is eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $5,000 to help support their educational journey.
The announcement marks the ninth year of the Route 79 scholarship program, which was established to recognize and encourage individuals living with Duchenne as they pursue higher education and work toward their personal and professional goals.
Route 79 Marks Its Ninth Year
Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program was created to recognize students living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are pursuing education after high school. Over the years, the program has highlighted students who continue to pursue academic opportunities despite the challenges associated with living with a rare neuromuscular disorder.
The program was expanded in 2022 to include siblings of individuals living with Duchenne. The expansion recognized that a Duchenne diagnosis can affect an entire family, including brothers and sisters who may experience their own personal, emotional and family-related challenges while supporting a loved one.
Since that expansion, the scholarship program has provided an opportunity to recognize siblings alongside individuals directly living with Duchenne. The 2026-2027 class continues this approach, with five scholarships specifically designated for siblings.
Sarepta said each scholarship recipient will receive up to $5,000, providing financial support as students pursue their postsecondary education at colleges and universities across the United States.
Supporting Higher Education and Future Goals
Higher education can represent an important step toward independence, career development and personal growth. For students living with Duchenne, pursuing college or other postsecondary education can require determination and careful planning, making recognition and financial support particularly meaningful.
The Route 79 program seeks to help students continue their educational ambitions while recognizing the accomplishments they have already achieved.
The 2026-2027 recipients are attending a diverse range of institutions, from major public universities and private colleges to community colleges and online education programs. Their areas of study and individual academic interests reflect the varied aspirations of students within the Duchenne community.
This year’s class includes both new scholarship recipients and students who have previously received support through the program. According to Sarepta, the continued participation of repeat recipients demonstrates an ongoing commitment to higher education among individuals living with Duchenne.
Sarepta Highlights Student Resilience and Advocacy
Diane Berry, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief global policy & advocacy officer at Sarepta Therapeutics, said the company and the independent selection committee were pleased to recognize the 2026-2027 Route 79 recipients.
Berry noted that the ninth-year class reflects the continued commitment of students to their education and future plans. She also highlighted the fact that the group includes both new and repeat recipients.
According to Berry, the students’ essays offered perspectives on personal growth, advocacy and efforts to create meaningful change in their own lives and in the communities around them.
The company also connected this year’s scholarship announcement with the theme of World Duchenne Awareness Day, “Access Saves Lives.” Sarepta said the theme serves as a reminder of the strength, insight and resilience demonstrated by members of the Duchenne community.
The scholarship program, therefore, is not solely focused on academic achievement. It also recognizes the broader contributions that students make through advocacy, community participation and their efforts to shape their own futures.
Independent Committee Selects Scholarship Recipients
Recipients of the Route 79 scholarships are selected by an independent committee composed of members of the Duchenne community.
The selection process considers several aspects of each applicant’s background and achievements. These include academic performance, involvement in the community, the applicant’s personal essay and a letter of recommendation.
An important component of the process is the use of de-identified submissions. Applications are presented to the selection panel without identifying information indicating whether an applicant has received or plans to receive a Sarepta therapy.
This approach is designed to ensure that the selection committee evaluates applicants based on the criteria established for the scholarship rather than their treatment history or relationship with Sarepta.
The process gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their academic accomplishments, personal experiences, community involvement and aspirations through their applications.
Charles Cooley Shares His College Experience
Among this year’s recipients is Charles Cooley, a rising sophomore at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, who lives with Duchenne.
Cooley is pursuing a degree in Biology, a field he selected because it brings together his interest in knowledge and his fascination with the natural world.
Reflecting on his college experience, Cooley said he feels fortunate to be studying a subject he genuinely cares about while learning alongside classmates and professors who share similar interests.
He also described the importance of finding a supportive academic environment where he feels connected to others who share his interests.
Cooley said that college has given him the opportunity to find a community where he can learn, grow and pursue subjects that matter to him. His experience illustrates one of the central themes of Route 79: students living with Duchenne can pursue ambitious academic goals and participate meaningfully in higher education.
His selection as a 2026 Route 79 recipient also reflects the broader range of educational paths being pursued by members of the Duchenne community.
20 Students Living With Duchenne Receive Scholarships
The 2026-2027 Route 79 scholarship class includes 20 individuals living with Duchenne who are enrolled at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The recipients are:
- Selim Argun — Emmanuel College
- Caleb Beebe — Union University
- Brian Brown — Colby-Sawyer College
- Easton Coleman — University of Colorado Boulder
- Jared Conant — University of Southern Maine
- Charles Cooley — Southern Methodist University
- Corbin Fanning — Texas A&M University-College Station
- Jaden Hui — McHenry County College
- Aidan Leffler — University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Alexander Llauro — California Lutheran University
- Ryan Lugo — SUNY New Paltz
- Heath Myers — Pennsylvania State University-Penn State World Campus
- Thomas Parzymieso — Canisius College
- Nicolas Raymond-Paez — Harford Community College
- Evan Riley — University of Maine
- Ryan Schultz — Rowan University
- Naya Singhania — San Jose State University
- Connor Vassigh — University of Houston-Downtown
- Caulder Williams — Life University
- Mykhailo Yelizarov — J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Together, the students represent a broad range of educational institutions and demonstrate the diversity of academic pathways available to individuals living with Duchenne.
Five Scholarships Recognize Duchenne Siblings
The Route 79 program also recognizes siblings of individuals living with Duchenne. Five students have been selected for the 2026-2027 Route 79 Sibling Scholarship.
The recipients are:
- Jenna Austin — Duquesne University
- Isabelle Bolton — Iowa State University
- Sara Mouser — University of Iowa
- Megan Parzymieso — Xavier University
- Giovanna Vasconcelos da Costa e Silva — University of Florida
The inclusion of sibling recipients reflects the program’s recognition that Duchenne can influence the lives of entire families. Siblings may have experiences and responsibilities shaped by their family’s journey with the disease, while also pursuing their own education and future goals.
By including siblings within Route 79, the program extends its recognition beyond individuals diagnosed with Duchenne and acknowledges the wider family community.
Education as a Pathway to Opportunity
The 2026-2027 Route 79 recipients are pursuing higher education at institutions with different academic environments and educational models. Their participation illustrates the variety of ways students can continue their education and work toward long-term career objectives.
For students living with Duchenne, academic achievement can be an important avenue for developing independence, building professional skills and contributing to their communities. Financial assistance through programs such as Route 79 can provide additional support during this stage of life.
The scholarship also gives students an opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives. Through personal essays submitted as part of the application process, this year’s recipients discussed themes including personal development, advocacy and creating positive change.
The announcement of the 25 Route 79 scholarship recipients represents another milestone for Sarepta’s Duchenne Scholarship Program as it enters its ninth year.
With 20 scholarships going to individuals living with Duchenne and five supporting siblings, the 2026-2027 program recognizes both the educational achievements of people directly affected by the disease and the experiences of their families.
The program’s independent selection process, which evaluates academic records, community involvement, personal essays and recommendations while keeping treatment information separate from the panel, is intended to focus attention on applicants’ achievements and potential.
As the recipients begin or continue their studies during the 2026-2027 academic year, Sarepta said it remains inspired by their dedication to education, advocacy and personal growth.
The Route 79 program ultimately reflects a broader effort to recognize educational achievement within the Duchenne community. By providing scholarships of up to $5,000 to selected students, the initiative aims to help recipients pursue their academic goals while celebrating the resilience and determination they demonstrate throughout their educational journeys.
For Sarepta, the ninth year of Route 79 also provides an opportunity to recognize the students’ contributions to their families, schools and communities. As the 25 scholarship recipients move forward with their education, their experiences and accomplishments continue to highlight the importance of supporting educational opportunity for individuals and families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
About Route 79, The Duchenne Scholarship Program
The Route 79 program is designed to help students living with Duchenne and siblings of individuals living with Duchenne pursue their post-secondary educational goals. Scholarship recipients are chosen by an independent committee of Duchenne community members based on an applicant’s community involvement, personal essay, and recommendation letter.
The underlying cause of Duchenne is a difference in the gene coding for dystrophin. Dystrophin is an essential protein that plays a pivotal role in muscle structure, function and preservation. The numerical significance of the scholarship’s name, Route 79, ties to the 79 exons of the dystrophin gene. For more information, visit sarepta.com/route79.
About Sarepta Therapeutics
Sarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold a leadership position in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and are building a robust portfolio or programs across muscle, central nervous system and cardiac diseases.