The Craig H. Neilsen Visionary Prize launched in 2020 to celebrate influential voices in the world of spinal cord injury. The Prize was created to honor the legacy of Craig H. Neilsen and is awarded to individuals who embody the values that were important to him during his lifetime.
Each prize winner is awarded $1 million, respectively.
2024 Visionary Prize Recipient
Jennifer French
Jennifer French is the Founder and Executive Director of Neurotech Network, a non-profit dedicated to improving access to neurotechnology for people with neurological conditions. She is also a founding member and past president of NASCIC, where she has helped foster collaboration across the spinal cord injury community. After a snowboarding accident in 1998 left her with tetraplegia due to a spinal cord injury, Jennifer became the first woman to receive the Implantable Stand & Transfer System, allowing her to stand and walk down the aisle at her wedding.
In addition to being an accomplished sailor, winning a silver medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games, she is also the 2012 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year; the first woman with a disability to receive this distinction. Jennifer co-founded the Warrior Sailing Program to provide wounded veterans with opportunities to connect through sailing. Jennifer is a passionate advocate, speaker, and author of On My Feet Again: My Journey Out of the Wheelchair Using Neurotechnology. Together with Dr. Hochberg & Dr. Lennerz, Jennifer recently launched the Implantable BCI Collaborative Community (iBCI-CC), a multi-stakeholder forum dedicated to advancing regulatory science in iBCIs. She holds an MBA from Wichita State University and a Bachelor’s in Aviation Science from Bridgewater State University.
About the Prize
The Craig H. Neilsen Visionary Prize was established in 2020 to honor the memory and legacy of our Founder, Craig H. Neilsen. Created to reflect his dreams for the spinal cord injury (SCI) community, Prize recipients are influential voices for the world of SCI, unafraid to take bold risks. They also show great potential to expand or advocate for new ideas to enrich lives affected by SCI.
The Prize highlights values that were important to Craig in his lifetime. Recipients reflect many of the qualities that Craig was well known for, such as extraordinary determination, inexhaustible passion, and an ability to inspire. This unrestricted $1 million award is meant to draw attention to and celebrate passionate individuals advancing the world of SCI.
Selection Process
-
Nominators solicited by the Foundation
The Foundation DOES NOT accept unsolicited nominations for the Prize. -
Selection Committee evaluation
The names of the nominators, nominees, and Selection Committee members will not be disclosed. -
Awardees announced
Prize winners will later be announced publicly on our website.
The Ideal Nominee
Individuals are chosen based on the influence and distinctiveness of the person’s contributions. There is no restriction on the specific profession of people considered for this Prize, as the world of SCI is made up of artists, athletes, clinicians, scientists, writers, and others. Ideal Prize nominees are mid-career individuals committed to SCI, with the potential to remain influential in the field as their work continues to evolve.
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited nominations for the Prize.
Nominations emphasize:
- A body of work that has positively affected the SCI community and demonstrates creative/out-of-the-box thinking
- Reflection/embodiment of the Foundation’s values
- Potential to make an impact on people living with SCI
- Ability to facilitate the nominee’s growth and influence on the SCI community
Prize Eligibility:
- The individuals must live and work in the U.S. or Canada
- Nominees can come from any field, but must have a meaningful connection to the SCI community