Alpha-1 is one of the most common, serious, genetic diseases affecting people of Northern European descent. It is believed Alpha-1 may affect as many as 100,000 people in the United States alone.
Symptoms usually appear during peak earning and child rearing years.
These symptoms have also been known to encourage career changes for the individual with Alpha-1 or their spouse. The frequent burden on costly medical intervention directly affects post-high school funds. As a result, this fund has been established for affected persons in an effort to aid in their pursuit of knowledge and their ability to be independent, contributing members of society. This scholarship honors the memory of Peter Smith, who believed that knowledge is power. To that end, he wrote, edited, and published the Alpha News from 1989 through 1992.