Future Reflections Convention Report 2007
The National Federation of the Blind will award thirty scholarships and other gifts totaling $150,000 or more to the nation’s top blind college students during its 2008 annual convention. Most notable is the Dr. Kenneth Jernigan Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $12,000. In addition to a scholarship, each winner will be brought to the 2008 National Federation of the Blind convention in July at Federation expense, providing an excellent opportunity for high-level networking with active blind people in many professions and occupations.
In order to apply, applicants:
1. Must be legally blind.
2. Must be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course
of study in a degree program at a United States institution in the fall of the
2008-2009 academic year, except that one scholarship may be given to a person
employed full-time while attending school part-time.
3. Must be willing and able to participate in the entire NFB national convention
and in all scheduled scholarship program activities.
The NFB may award up to three scholarships to men and women who have already received one Federation scholarship in the past if enough strong and worthy candidates apply. Individuals receiving a second NFB national scholarship are recognized as tenBroek fellows.
Legally blind students, from high school seniors to grad school attendees, are encouraged to go to <www.nfb.org/scholarships> to apply for the 2008 NFB Scholarship awards. Complete the official 2008 scholarship application form online; then print out and mail the completed print copy with the required attachments to NFB Scholarship Committee, National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.
If using a computer is not an option, contact the committee chairman for print documents. Please note that all scholarship documentation must be received by March 31, 2008. Students are invited to ask their state NFB affiliates to determine if they are eligible for a scholarship offered to blind students in that state.
NFB scholarship applicants should submit only one application. When the thirty top applicants chosen as winners attend the weeklong 2008 NFB national convention, members of the Scholarship Committee and other NFB leaders will interact with them throughout the week in order to award the specific scholarships based on merit.
What kind of student wins an NFB scholarship? What fields of knowledge have they studied? Read about past NFB national scholarship recipients in August-September issues of the Braille Monitor. Many blind leaders throughout the country have been recipients of scholarships from the National Federation of the Blind. Perhaps you have what it takes to earn this prestigious honor.
Awards include the $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship, one
scholarship of $10,000; two scholarships of $7,000 each; four scholarships of
$5,000 each; and twenty-two scholarships of $3,000 each. Following is a list
of the scholarships:
Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship of $12,000--In memory of the man
who changed perceptions about the capabilities of the blind in this country
and throughout the world, this scholarship is given yearly by the American Action
Fund for Blind Children and Adults, a nonprofit organization that works to assist
blind people. Kenneth Jernigan is viewed by our field as the most important
figure in the twentieth century in the lives of blind people. The Action Fund
wishes to keep fresh and current in the twenty-first century the understandings
he brought to the field and thus has endowed this scholarship dedicated to his
memory and to the continuation of the work he began. No additional restrictions.
Charles and Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship of $10,000--First
established by Charles Owen in loving memory of his blind wife and now, along
with a second scholarship in a different amount, endowed by his last will and
testament to honor the memory of both. In founding the scholarship, Charles
Owen wrote: “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 general or cultural education.”
Two National Federation of the Blind Scholarships of $7,000--No
additional restrictions.
Hank LeBonne Scholarship of $5,000--Hank LeBonne was a man
who loved life and loved the National Federation of the Blind. His last wish
was that his remaining assets be used to help young blind men and women have
the same opportunities in life he had enjoyed. No additional restrictions.
Jennica Ferguson Memorial Scholarship of $5,000--Given to keep
alive the memory of a young woman who dealt with her blindness and terminal
illness with a grace and strength she frequently assured others she drew from
the Federation and from her faith in God. No additional restrictions.
Michael Marucci Memorial Scholarship of $5,000--Given by Marie
in memory of her husband Michael (like Marie, a longtime dedicated and valued
member of the NFB of Maryland), the winner of this scholarship must be studying
a foreign language or comparative literature; pursuing a degree in history,
geography, or political science with a concentration in international studies;
or majoring in any other discipline requiring study abroad. The winner's file
must also show evidence of competence in a foreign language.
National Federation of the Blind Scholarship of $5,000--No
additional restrictions.
Hermione Grant Calhoun Scholarship of $3,000--Dr. Isabelle
Grant endowed this scholarship in memory of her daughter. The winner must be
a woman.
Kuchler-Killian Memorial Scholarship of $3,000--This scholarship
is given in loving memory of her parents, Charles Albert Kuchler and Alice Helen
Kuchler, by Junerose Killian, dedicated member of the NFB of Connecticut. No
additional restrictions.
Charles and Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship of $3,000--First
established by Charles Owen in loving memory of his blind wife and now, along
with a second scholarship in a different amount, endowed by his last will and
testament to honor the memory of both. In founding the scholarship, Charles
Owen wrote: “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 general or cultural education.”
E. U. Parker Scholarship of $3,000--Endowed by his wife, who
joined him in a lifetime of Federationism, this scholarship honors a longtime
leader of the National Federation of the Blind whose participation stood for
strong principles and strong support of the Federation's work. No additional
restrictions.
Guide Dogs for the Blind Dorthea and Roland Bohde Leadership Scholarship
of $3,000--Established in 2006 to promote the independence of blind
students, this scholarship is awarded to scholars in any field that requires
postgraduate education, with, should other factors be equal, a preference for
those who have chosen to use a guide dog as their primary travel aid.
Howard Brown Rickard Scholarship of $3,000--Winner must be
studying or planning to study in the field of law, medicine, engineering, architecture,
or the natural sciences.
National Federation of the Blind Computer Science Scholarship of $3,000--Winner
must be studying in the computer science field.
National Federation of the Blind Educator of Tomorrow Award of $3,000--Winner
must be planning a career in elementary, secondary, or postsecondary teaching.
Fourteen National Federation of the Blind Scholarships of $3,000--No
additional restrictions.
All scholarships awarded to blind women which are not otherwise endowed
are made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of Dorothy R. Olson.
Those requiring additional information about the NFB’s scholarship program may
contact the committee chairperson, Anil Lewis, by calling his office in Georgia
at (404) 371-1000, or sending an e-mail to <[email protected]>.