Honorable Mention Winner
Steven Cohen
University of Florida
Senior in Business Administration
4.0 GPA

When Steven Cohen’s friend Daniel Heidenberg died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Cohen took action. He obtained permission from his high school’s student council to form a club in Daniel’s honor, Friends for Life of America. Later, he created a chapter of Friends for Life when he entered the University of Florida.

Almost eight years later, this small high school club has evolved into the largest completely student-run global organization involving more than 50,000 college students. As its founder and current chairman of the national board, Cohen, 22, continues on as an integral part of Friends for Life, earning over $65,000 to fund research grants, improve patient services, and better community programs. The organization also collects hats, stuffed animals, and scarves to give to patients undergoing cancer treatments.

“Through his dedication to Friends for Life, Steven has shown that he’s a servant to our community, the nation, and the world,” says Lauren Bissonnette, undergraduate academic advisor in the business school.

Cohen received a University Scholars Program Grant to study the effects of Medicare extending its coverage to all oral anti-cancer drugs. With the hope of inspiring support for the Access to Cancer Therapies Act, Steven allowed his research findings to be published in the Journal of Undergraduate Research.

“This research is especially important because cancer is disproportionately a disease of the elderly, with 60 percent of all cancer diagnoses made in persons of age 65 or older,” Cohen says. “Medicare’s non-coverage of new oral therapies obligates patients to choose between substantially greater out-of-pocket costs or less effective treatments.”

At UF, Cohen saw that many future student leaders needed help developing their leadership skills. He decided to form the Gator Consulting Group in 2003. It aims to help younger student leaders develop their skills and find a forum in which to exercise those abilities. As an honors student, he also began to mentor new students in the honors program when he became involved in Honors Ambassadors. Cohen also donated time to the American Cancer Society to help lobby Congress to pass key legislation bills that benefit cancer patients and their families.

“Steven is one of the most gifted student leaders I’ve known in 30 years of teaching,” says Sheila Dickison, associate provost and director of the university honors program. “He’s also a genuine entrepreneur who sees opportunities and knows how to make the most of them.”

As a member-at-large of Student Government since 2000, Cohen decided to run for leadership position. He served as a student senator from 2001-2002 through SG, where he joined the Campus Safety Cabinet. Along with the Florida Department of Transportation, University Police Department, and university administrators, he organized the installation of more crosswalks and wider bike paths in high traffic areas.

“His commitment to leadership at the University of Florida is quite commendable,” says Jeanna Mastrodicasa, associate director of the UF honors program.

In recognition of his community involvement, many organizations have awarded Steven accolades, including the Governor’s Points of Light Award, J. Wayne Reitz Undergraduate Scholar, and the Golden Gator Award. Cohen’s growing list also includes being an Honorable Mention at the 2003 Florida College Student of the Year Awards. He was also selected as a 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Torchbearer for inspiring others to make a difference in another person’s life. USA Today chose Cohen as one of the nation’s top 20 college students by placing him on the 2004 USA Today All-USA College Academic First Team.

“In the future, I’ll continue to create programs that improve the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients across the country and around the world so that other children and adults have the opportunity to experience what Daniel Hedienberg could not—a long, fulfilling life,” Cohen says.

As a reward for all of his service, Cohen has earned several scholarships including Florida Bright Futures, Toyota Community Scholar, and the Distilled Spirits Wholesalers of Florida Scholarship. These scholarships cover 80 percent of his college expenses, the rest paid with his summer job earnings. –JT

Contact Cohen at sdcohen@ufl.edu.