When you speak with Alexa Breske, her excitement about pharmacy and patient care is palpable. Currently completing her clinical rotations, Alexa’s days begin early and run long as she works 40 hours a week on rotation, with online classes woven through her schedule. Yet, despite the relentless pace, Alexa is committed to soaking in every moment before earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth next spring. 

“I haven’t stopped really since May,” says Alexa. “But I don’t mind because all of this really energizes me.”  

That energy comes from pursuing career goals that have been inspired and informed by her own personal experience. Alexa was diagnosed shortly after birth with phenylketonuria (PKU), a metabolic condition that prevents the body from breaking down a specific amino acid and severely restricts her ability to consume protein.  

“I am so grateful for the positive impact healthcare has had on me, but I’ve also found that I’ve often had to be my own advocate,” she says. “As a future pharmacist, I want to be an advocate for my patients and help them pursue all their healthcare goals.” 

Alexa is one of five students to receive support from BioMarin’s RARE Scholars program for the 2025-26 academic year. The program was created to offer financial assistance to U.S. college students with rare genetic conditions – including achondroplasia, Batten disease, hemophilia A, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and PKU. Since 2018, the program has given more than $175,000 to over 30 students, like Alexa, who have shown outstanding leadership and participation in school and community activities. 

“Each year, the recipients of the RARE Scholars award demonstrate remarkable achievements, and the current cohort sets an outstanding standard,” says Marni Kottle, Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at BioMarin. “We are honored to contribute to their educational journeys as they pursue their academic and professional aspirations, and we’re excited to be able to double our contributions to this year’s recipients.” 

For Alexa, a two-time recipient of the award, the sense of validation and recognition she has received as a RARE Scholar has had a profound impact.  

“It’s a huge plus for me knowing that others can see that I’m working toward something that will continue to give back to other patients and the general public as well,” she says. 

Will McClintock: Blending Technology, Advocacy and Community in His PKU Journey 

For Will McClintock, the summer before his junior year at the University of Washington was a time of growth and discovery. While living at his fraternity, Will worked as an intern at flok, a nonprofit supporting the PKU community, and held a part-time job at Dispatch Care, a healthcare startup focused on improving nurse call systems. 

Flok Family Camp was another new experience, as Will attended the annual summer program supporting individuals with PKU and other inherited metabolic conditions for the first time.  

“I had a blast meeting new faces and hanging out with the flok team and my fellow interns,” he shares. “I loved the full buffets of low-protein food, which is a rare treat for those of us living with PKU. I really wish I had been able to make it out when I was much younger, but it’s never too late to start.” 

This school year, Will, a three-time RARE Scholars award recipient, is excited for a curriculum focused on computer science — his passion and the basis for both his summer job and internship.  

“Pretty much all my credits are directed at computer science classes,” he says. “It’s exciting to learn what I want and apply those skills at work and in class.” 

Managing PKU as a college student brings its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to food and scheduling. For Will, maintaining a varied supply of specialty foods is essential. He credits his fraternity chef for taking a genuine interest in PKU and making low-protein meals part of the daily routine.  

Will’s advice to others is simple, but powerful: Educate campus staff about PKU and advocate for your needs. By reaching out to housing services, he secured access to a private kitchen and formula storage area, and through Disability Resource Services, he gained priority registration, ensuring his schedule accommodates his health needs.  

“Almost everyone I’ve come across on campus is willing to help once they understand,” he notes. 

Amid demanding jobs and academic pursuits, Will has found time for another passion project: leading the renovation of a music room in his fraternity house. With support from alumni and fellow members, he’s transforming the space into a music production and recording studio.  

“It’s been super cool to not only work on this frequently, but also have a more organized place to play music with a bunch of friends,” he says. 

Brian DuVal: On The Front Lines of Patient Advocacy 

Brian DuVal is in the final year of his Master of Public Health program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Living with hemophilia A, an inheritable bleeding disorder that can inhibit the body’s ability to clot and lead to uncontrolled bleeding and irreversible joint damage, has influenced his academic path and career ambitions.  

Prior to and during his MPH program, Brian has earned several internships and employment opportunities in healthcare and public health sectors, including roles with patient advocacy organizations and the biotech industry. 

“These experiences have allowed me to explore various functions within healthcare and biopharma,” says Brian, who received a RARE Scholars award for the second time. “I’ve had some incredible opportunities that have allowed me to continue to demonstrate my passion for health policy, public affairs and patient advocacy. 

In the next year of his MPH program, Brian plans to take law, business and public health classes, in addition to continuing his work as a research assistant on drug pricing and access. He’ll be completing his capstone project with the Vanderbilt Hemophilia Treatment Center before seeking career opportunities to influence health policy. 

“I’m really motivated to use all the things I’ve learned from firsthand experience dealing with health systems as well as my MPH program to make it easier for people like me to access life-changing treatment and care,” says Brian. 

Annika Koch: Finding Balance Between Academic and Creative Pursuits 

Growing up in San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast, Annika Koch’s childhood was defined by family, creativity and the ocean. Summers as a children’s beach lifeguard and instructor and a lifelong love for drawing and painting nurtured her personable nature and creative spirit. 

Annika’s journey toward nursing was inspired by both a high school anatomy class and her personal experience with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. Interactions with empathetic medical professionals have shaped her career aspirations and her understanding of the power of empathy in healthcare.  

“Achondroplasia is an important part of who I am, but it doesn’t define me,” Annika says. “That said, I’m immensely grateful for the important medical care I have received over the years.” 

As she settles into her first year at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Annika seeks balance: pursuing academic excellence while enjoying campus life. One way she plans to keep that balance is by tapping into her creative side. Annika relishes her artistic ability and touts her innate sense of color theory for her ability to mix and match colors to create different visual effects or evoke emotions. 

Advocacy is central to her goals, especially for people living with rare conditions. Her participation in a clinical trial allowed her to educate and support other families of children with achondroplasia as they navigated treatment options. Annika is motivated to address healthcare disparities, believing everyone deserves quality care regardless of background. 

“I would like to work toward solutions for healthcare disparity and solve fundamental inequities in care,” she says. “Everyone, regardless of race, gender identity and geographic location should be entitled to quality healthcare.”  

Allyson Chan: New Experiences, Renewed Ambition 

For Allyson, a RARE Scholars honoree for the second time, attending Occidental College last year as a freshman meant immersing herself in a new environment, learning the rhythms of campus life and taking advantage of new opportunities. 

Allyson writes for the university’s student newspaper, The Occidental, covering culture, community and news as she builds journalism experience.  

“It’s been a lot of fun,” says Allyson, who lives with MPS IVA, a rare, progressive condition that can impact organs, bones and other parts of the body. “What I gain from each story varies, but I always appreciate the chance to learn from others, especially those with different backgrounds.” 

Over the summer, she had the opportunity to serve as a judicial intern at the Santa Clara Superior Court under the Honorable Roberta S. Hayashi.  

“It was an amazing opportunity and gave me the chance to see the field of law from a different perspective,” Allyson says. “People usually only hear about trials and judgments, so seeing the pre-trial process and all the documents involved gave me a much better understanding of legal procedures as a whole.” 

Inside the classroom, Allyson’s interests remain clear – to pursue a career as an attorney. 

“I’m still very interested in attending law school,” says Allyson, “The opportunities I had this summer with the court solidified that for me.”  

Learn more about the RARE Scholars program, including how to apply. Students who wish to be considered for the 2026-27 academic year can submit applications beginning Feb. 28, 2026.