Dialogue
A publication of Blindskills Inc.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
POST SECONDARY STUDENTS

American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005; 202-467-5081; 800-424-8666 (2:30 to 5:30 p.m., EST); Web site www.acb.org. Awards scholarships annually to legally blind students in undergraduate, graduate, technical, and vocational studies. The scholarship awards range from $500 to $4,000. Application deadline is March 1.

A number of affiliates of the ACB offer scholarships to students in their states. Some of the state affiliates that offer scholarships are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. For further information, please contact the local chapter of the ACB or the ACB national office.

***

American Foundation for the Blind, Attn: Julie Tucker, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001; 212-502-7661; 800-232-5463.

***

Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship. Awarded to blind students who wish to study in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

***

Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship. Awarded to a full-time graduate student who is legally blind and who represents evidence of economic need.

***

Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship. Awarded to legally blind undergraduate or graduate women who are studying religious or classical music.

***

R.L. Gillette Scholarship. Awarded to legally blind undergraduate women who are studying literature or music.

***

Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship. Awarded to legally blind undergraduate or graduate students studying in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of persons who are blind and visually impaired.

***

Rederick A. Downes Scholarship. Awarded to persons who are 22 years of age or less, legally blind, and enrolled in a course of study leading to credentials in a profession or vocation.

***

TeleSensory Scholarship. Awarded to blind undergraduate students studying in any field.

***

Ferdinand Torres AFB Scholarship. Awarded to a full-time post-secondary student who is legally blind and who presents evidence of economic need. Preference will be given to applicants residing in New York City metropolitan area and new immigrants to the U.S.

***

The ASCAP Foundation, 1 Lincoln Plaza, New York, NY 10023; 212-621-6219. Administers and provides educational scholarships, workshops, and other programs for music students and aspiring composers and songwriters in a variety of musical genres.

***

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired; 206 North Washington Street, Suite 320, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-548-1884. Ferrell Scholarship Fund. Two $500 awards available biennially to legally blind students preparing for careers in education or rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired children or adults.

***

Blinded Veterans Association, 477 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001-2694; 202-371-8880. Kathern F. Gruber Scholarships. Awards 12 scholarships of $2,000 each to dependent children and spouses of blinded veterans.

***

Christian Record Services, Inc., 4444 South 52nd Street, Lincoln, NE 68516; 402-488-0981. Offers scholarships and student loans to blind undergraduate students studying in any field.

***

Dayton Amateur Radio Association, 45 Cinnamon Court, Springboro, OH 45066. Amateur radio licensees graduating from high school are eligible for $2,000 scholarships. DARA offers eight scholarships each year.

***

Delta Gamma Foundation, 3250 Riverside Drive, Columbus, OH 43221; 614-481-8169. Ruth Billow Memorial Fund. Provides grants to Delta Gammas pursuing professional training in areas working with blind or visually impaired people, seeking to restore or maintain their sight, experiencing financial difficulties due to their responsibility directly related to visually impaired dependents, or for elderly Delta Gammas.

***

Foundation for Exceptional Children, 1920 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22091; 703-620-1054. Stanley E. Jackson Scholarship Awards and Infinitec Scholarship Awards. Awards five $1,000 scholarships to entering freshmen in each of the following categories: Students with disabilities, ethnic minority students with disabilities, gifted/talented students with disabilities, ethnic minority gifted/talented students with disabilities, and students with disabilities using an augmentative communication device. Application materials must be postmarked by February 1.

***

Foundation for Science and Disability, Inc., Richard Mankin, Chair, Grants Committee, 503 N.W. 89 Street, Gainesville, FL 32607; 352-374-5774. Awarded to graduate students or college seniors who are enrolled in, or have been accepted to, a graduate or professional program in science, computer science, math, engineering, or medicine. The grants are for $1,000, and up to three are available.

***

George Washington University, Disability Support Services, Rice Hall, Suite 401, 2121 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052; 202-994-8250. Barbara Jackman Zuckert Scholarship. Awarded to blind part-time students attending George Washington University. Application deadline is the last week of May.

***

Jewish Braille Institute of America, Gerald M. Kass, Executive Vice President, 110 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016; 212-889-2525. Awards scholarships to blind and visually impaired students who seek to become rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators, or Jewish communal professionals. Funds available for professional training only.

***

Kiwanis International, Key Club Department, 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196; 317-875-8755, ext. 247. Awards scholarships to high school seniors entering college who have been members of Key Club for at least one year.

***

The Lighthouse, Attn: Communications Department, 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022; 212-821-9557. Awards grants to legally blind students who are U.S. citizens, residents of New York metropolitan/tri-state area, and are pursuing studies in academic or vocational programs at either the college entry, undergraduate, or graduate level.

***

Lions Clubs International, 300 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL 60521-8842; 708-571-5466. Awards financial assistance such as scholarships or funds for the purchase of equipment. Contact your local Lions Club or contact Lions Clubs International for the local phone number.

***

National Tour Foundation, Inc., 546 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40508; 800-682-8886. Provides scholarships to physically or sensory challenged college students studying travel and tourism.

***

North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind, 309 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27606; 919-733-9700. Provides vocational rehabilitation assistance to eligible North Carolina residents who are legally blind or suffering from a progressive eye disorder leading to blindness. Students must be enrolled in undergraduate, or graduate studies in a North Carolina school.

***

Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1200 West Godfrey Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141-3399; 215-276-6214. Awards Rehabilitation Services Administration scholarships to graduate students studying Rehabilitation Teaching, Orientation and Mobility, and/or Vision Rehabilitation at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

***

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Attn: Molly Patullo, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; 609-452-0606. Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Award. Nine awards are given annually in three categories: three Scholastic Achievement Award winners receive $6,000 each; three Special Honors winners receive $3,000 each; and three Honors winners receive $1,000 each. Applicants must be legally blind, registered with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, hold a bachelor's degree, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

***

The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Award awards six scholarships, three for $3,000 and three for $2,000, to high school seniors who attain a 3.0 grade point average. Scholarships are awarded to students who have been members of RFB&D at least one year prior to the filing date, which is February 21, 1999, for the coming scholastic year.

***

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Scholarship Department, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201; 847-866-3000. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide for either two or three years of degree-oriented study in another country. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships provide for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country.

***

Scripps College for Women, Office of Admission, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711; 909-621-8149; 800-770-1333. Juliet Esterly Scholarship. Awarded to blind and visually impaired women enrolled at Scripps College who have demonstrated scholastic abilities and personal qualities essential for success in their chosen field. Preference is given to blind/visually impaired women, but may be awarded to sighted applicants studying in a field of service for the blind.

***

U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, 33 North Institute, Colorado Springs, CO 80903; 719-630-0422. Arthur E. Copeland Scholarship. Awarded to a legally blind male who has participated in USABA sports programs, is a current USABA member and has been for at least one year prior. Helen Copeland Scholarship. Awarded to a legally blind female who has participated in USABA sports programs, is a current USABA member and has been for at least one year prior.

***

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Student Financial Assistance Programs, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. Provides a FREE cassette containing information on federal, state, and private sources of financial aid for visually impaired post-secondary students.

***

Vanderbilt University, Department of Special Education, Box 328 Peabody, Nashville, TN 37203; 615-322-8150. Awards scholarships and fellowships to students interested in pursuing studies in the education of children and youths with visual disabilities.

***

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, P.O. Box 2000, Champlain Mill, Winooski, VT 05404; 802-655-9602; 800-642-3177. Vermont Association of the Blind: Charles E. Leonard Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must be blind or visually impaired, from Vermont, a child of a blind or visually impaired Vermonter, or a Vermonter attending college to pursue a career in education or rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired people. Applications are due May 1 of each year.

***

Very Special Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC 20566. Panasonic Young Soloists Award. Awards scholarships to a student with a disability who wishes to pursue his or her interest in music. The award is intended to recognize a student with a disability who has exhibited unique talents as either a vocalist or instrumentalist.

***

Western Michigan University, Department of Blind Rehabilitation, Kalamazoo, MI 49008; 616-367-1000. Awards several scholarships to blind and visually impaired students studying at the graduate level in the field of blind rehabilitation at Western Michigan University.