NFB Scholarships

NFB Scholarships

Future Reflections Jan/ Feb/March 1985, Vol. 4 No. 1
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NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Each year the National Federation of the Blind offers a broad array of scholarships. These
scholarships are bestowed at the Federation's Annual Convention in early July and are given to blind
persons pursuing or planing to pursue a full-time post-secondary course of training or study. We
are currently offering the following:
1. American Brotherhood for the Blind Scholarship. A scholarship, in the amount of $6,000, has
been endowed by the American Brotherhood for the Blind, a private agency which works to assist blind
persons. Applicants for this scholarship must be studying (or planning to study) at the post
secondary level. There is no restriction as to sex, graduate or undergraduate level, or field of
study.
2. National Federation of the Blind Merit Scholarships. Twenty of these scholarships (four in the amount of $3,000; nine in the amount of $2,500; and eight in the amount of $300) will be given
this year. Applicants for these scholarships must be studying (or planning to study) at the post
secondary level There is no restriction as to sex, graduate or undergraduate level, or field of
study.
3. Howard Brown Rickard Scholarship. This scholarship in the amount of $2,300 this year is awarded annually. Only students in certain fields of study are eligible because the donor of the
scholarship wanted to encourage the blind to enter those fields. The scholarship was established by
Thomas R Rickard in honor of his father, Howard Brown Rickard. Any legally blind university student
in the professions of law, medicine, engineering, architecture, or the natural sciences, including
undergraduates in these fields, is eligible to apply.
4. Hermione Grant Calhoun Scholarships. Two of these scholarships (each in the amount of $2,300 this year) are awarded annually. Dr. Isabelle Grant established the Hermione Grant Calhoun Scholarships
in memory of her daughter. These scholarships are awarded to blind female students for education
at the college level.
5. Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship in the amount of $1,500 is given annually. This scholarship is given in memory of Melva T. Owen, who was widely known and loved among
the blind. She and her husband Charles Owen became acquainted with increasing numbers of blind
people through their work in the 'Voicepondence" Club. In the words of Charles Owen, "There shall be
no limitation as to field of study, except that it shall be directed towards attaining financial
independence, and shall exclude religion and those seeking only to further their general or cultural
education.,"
Criteria. All scholarships administered by the Federation are awarded on the basis of academic
excellence, service to the community, and financial need.
Membership. The National Federation of the Blind is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities
for all blind persons. In furtherance of this goal, we have established our scholarship program.
Recipients of Federation scholarships need not be members of the National Federation of the
Blind.
Deadline. Applications for National Federation of the Blind scholarships must be submitted by March
31 of the year in which the scholarship is to be awarded. Applications for scholarships will be accepted from July 1 through March 31 for scholarships to be awarded in July.
Application. To apply for National Federation of the Blind scholarships, complete and return
the application on the reverse side of this sheet. Multiple applications are unnecessary. The
Scholarship Committee will consider each applicant as a candidate for all scholarships for which he
or she qualifies. Please provide all the information requested where applicable to you. Please
attach to your application all the additional documents requested on the application. Send the
completed application and attachments to:
Miss Peggy Pinder, Chairman
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Committee
1005 Nebraska Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51105
Reapplication. In the past we have often awarded scholarships to persons who were applying for the
second or third time, Applicants must re-submit their applications each year by March 31 to be
considered for scholarships to be awarded in July. Persons who have previously applied and who have
not been granted scholarships are encouraged to apply again.
Winners. Each year our Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and selects the top candidates
as scholarship winners. These winners, the same number of winners as there are scholarships to
award, will be notified of their selection as winners by June 1 and will be brought to the National
Federation of the Blind convention in July at Federation expense. This is in addition to the scholarship
grants. Regardless of precisely which scholarship a winner receives, it is a mark of distinction
and an honor to be chosen as a Federation scholarship winner. The winners are America's
finest blind students.
The Convention is the Largest gathering of blind persons (more than 2,000) to occur anywhere in
the nation each year. You will be able to meet with other blind students and exchange information
and ideas, and you will also be able to meet and talk with blind people who are successfully
functioning in your chosen profession or occupation. Federal officials, Congressmen and Senators,
and the makers and distributors of new technology attend Federation Conventions. Above all, a broad
cross section of the most active segment of the blind population of the United States will be
present to discuss common problems, exchange information and ideas, and plan for concerted action.
It is an interesting and exciting week.
Awards. The day before the Convention Banquet the Scholarship Committee will meet to determine which
winners will receive which scholarships. The scholarship awards will be made during the Banquet.
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