Meet Jacob
2026 Scholar
Ewing Sarcoma Survivor
Thanks to a generous survivorship program grant from Hyundai Hope On Wheels, twenty-three survivors were welcomed into the 2026 Children’s Cancer Cause College Scholars Program, representing both organizations’ strong investment in survivors and belief in their bright futures.
Each of these students receive a financial scholarship to help with academic expenses, and each Scholar commits to undertaking a volunteer project of their choosing related to childhood cancer advocacy.
When Jacob was 11, he developed significant pain in his right femur. One night, the pain became unbearable.
He was taken to the emergency room and diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. “Despite the horrific diagnosis, I was lucky: the cancer had been caught ‘early’ and it was localized,” he told us.
Treatment included 14 rounds of chemo and two surgeries. When he was healthy enough, he underwent an above-knee amputation. The COVID pandemic hit just as he was about to begin physical therapy.
“I was terrified,” he remembers. “I had just come off of very dangerous, and immune system-threatening drugs. Being placed in the middle of a pandemic was not ideal.”
Impatient with waiting for therapy - “I couldn’t sit around any longer” - he taught himself how to use his new prosthetic leg.
Today, Jacob is cancer-free and planning to study journalism at Penn State University.
Jacob’s Advocacy Project
Jacob is continuing a podcast that he launched in 2024, dedicated to sharing powerful stories of resilience, hope, and determination. “The Motivational Mic” features guests with inspiring stories about the challenges they’ve overcome and lessons learned from hard battles.
“I was young when I got sick, but I quickly learned the importance of community,” Jacob said. “I made a promise back then, that if I survived, I wouldn’t take anything for granted. I am committed to paying it forward.”
Visit Jacob’s website to explore available podcast episodes.
