TOOELE — Mikelle Rogers sees her narcolepsy diagnosis not as a disability, but as an opportunity.

The Tooele teenager is enrolled in the Applied and Computational Mathematics Emphasis, or ACME, program in her freshman year at BYU.

She said she wants to use her degree to help other people who live with the condition.

“I’m hoping to choose some sort of emphasis that will help me to be in a position to where I can hopefully be part of the team that cures narcolepsy,” she said. “I would love to be able to help those who are in my shoes to not have to go through narcolepsy anymore.”

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder in which those diagnosed sometimes experience excessive sleepiness, hallucinations and sleep paralysis.

Earlier this year, Rogers was awarded a Jack and Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship from the non-profit Project Sleep.

Julie Flygare, who was diagnosed with narcolepsy 10 years ago, founded Project Sleep in 2014. The organization works to raise awareness not only for narcolepsy but also for the importance of sleep in general.

Since it began, the organization has awarded 36 Jack and Julie Narcolepsy Scholarships to students living with narcolepsy.

The unusual awards are given to high school seniors who are about to enter their first year in college, Flygare said.

Transitioning from high school to college is difficult for anyone, but for students living with narcolepsy, it’s even more complicated, Flygare said.

“We really want to encourage kids to know that they can succeed,” she said.

The awards are $1,000 and are given based on students’ grades and scores on the SAT or ACT, Flygare said. Applicants also must write an essay in the form of a letter written to themselves on the day they were diagnosed with narcolepsy.

“I’m 10 years into my diagnosis, and sometimes I’m reading the essays and the advice they’re giving themselves is advice I need to hear as well,” Flygare said. “I’m just always so struck by how incredibly mature these students are.”

Rogers said living with narcolepsy and balancing a busy college schedule is tough. Even with a full eight hours of sleep, she has to take naps throughout the day to maintain her energy.

On top of that, Rogers has to make sure she takes medications and vitamins and finishes all her schoolwork.

Narcolepsy can be frustrating because it’s an “invisible” condition, Rogers said. Unlike other conditions or injuries, no one can tell just by looking at someone that they have narcolepsy. Because of that, Rogers said some people might be quicker to question why she takes naps.

Though it’s a struggle, Rogers said living with the condition allows her to empathize more with other people.

“It gives me a lot more empathy for people who have disabilities because there are so many things out there in the world and we need to give people the benefit of the doubt for their actions,” she said.

Rogers said people shouldn’t be afraid to do difficult things, such as going to college. Everybody has a personal challenge, but they can get through it with help and support from people around them, she said.

“I know that there are people who are willing to help,” she said. “If you have a disability, it’s okay. You just have to own it and keep going forward.”

If you’re a high school student about to enter college, or if you’re a parent to one, here are some other unusual or quirky scholarships to keep in mind:

Duck Tape "Stuck At Prom" scholarship

A few rolls of duct tape can earn you up to $10,000 — yes, 10 grand — in Duck Tape's “Stuck At Prom” contest.

If you’re creative enough to craft a full prom outfit out of duct tape, all you need to do is submit a photo of yourself and your prom date on stuckatprom.com. Prizes range from $1,000 to $10,000. There’s also a prize for single duct-tape enthusiasts.

Doodle 4 Google

Google asks kids across the country to come up with Google Doodles and awards scholarships for students about to enter college.

Last year, Google asked kids in grades K-12 to create a Google Doodle based on their visions for the future. The doodles included drawings about the return of extinct animals, increased sustainability and a peaceful future.

National Potato Council scholarship

The National Potato Council awards a scholarship every year to a graduate student who is pursuing a research project that will benefit the potato industry. So if spuds are your specialty, keep this $10,000 award on your radar.

American Fire Sprinkler Association scholarship

The American Fire Sprinkler Association awards 15 scholarships ranging from $1,000-2000 each year. The awards are open to students who are pursuing a degree from a college or trade school.

Greeting Card scholarship

The Gallery Collection awards a $10,000 scholarship, plus a $1,000 gift to the winning applicant’s school, to the student who submits the best artwork, photo or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card. If you’re an aspiring artist or photographer, a $10,000 check could be greeting you in the future.

Coffeeforless.com “Hit The Books” scholarship

Coffee retailer CoffeeForLess.com awards up to $500 for costs of books and materials for students who write a short essay about the importance of education in their lives. If you’re a caffeine connoisseur and you can incorporate your love for coffee into your essay, you get bonus points.

Funeral Service Education scholarship

The American Board of Funeral Service Education awards winners up to $2,500 in scholarships applied directly to tuition. The group has been awarding scholarships since the 1960s. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a funeral service or mortuary science education program.

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship

How would you survive if your college campus suddenly became overrun by the undead? Unigo wants to know, and you could win $2,000 if you’ve got the best apocalypse plan.

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