Scholarship Program for Blind People - National Federation of the Blind 2011

he National Federation of the Blind has announced the winners of its 2011 Scholarship Program. For the full list of winners, please read the official press release.The 2012 Scholarship Program will run from the first week of November 2011 to the deadline of March 31, 2012.

30 SCHOLARSHIPS

To recognize achievement by blind scholars, the National Federation of the Blind annually offers blind college students in the United States the opportunity to win one of thirty national scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

All applicants for these scholarships:

1. must be legally blind (PDF document) in both eyes, and
2. must be residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and
3. 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 2011 scholastic year, except that one scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending school part-time, and
4. must participate in the entire NFB national convention and in all scheduled scholarship program activities.

In addition to a scholarship, each winner will receive assistance to attend the 2011 National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention in July, providing an excellent opportunity for high-level networking with active blind persons in many different professions and occupations. 

PROGRAM TIMING

• November 2010: The program for 2011 commences. Applications available online and, upon request, in print.
• March 31, 2011: Deadline for all documents from the applicants and applicants must have requested an interview.
• April 2011: Interview reports are required by mid-April. In late April, the NFB Scholarship Committee chooses the 30 winners for 2011.
• May 2011: After all 30 winners are personally notified that they are a scholarship winner this year, the complete list of winners for 2011 is posted on www.nfb.org/scholarships.  Applicants who are not listed here did not win an NFB scholarship in 2011.
• July 2011: Winners enjoy the week-long 2011 NFB Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, with more than 2,500 people in attendance.
• After convention the scholarship checks are sent directly to the winners in time for their 2011 fall semester.

2011 Deadline: Scholarship applications and documents
must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than March 31, 2011.

What kind of student wins an NFB scholarship?  You may read about past NFB National Scholarship recipients in August-September "convention issues" of the Braille Monitor.

• Braille Monitor August-September 2010
• Braille Monitor August-September 2009
• Braille Monitor August-September 2008

Each year, information on the NFB Scholarship Program is made available online, in print, and in a fall issue of the Braille Monitor (available in large print, in Braille, on cassette, and online).  Subscribe to a free e-mailed copy of the Braille Monitor (11 issues per year) to know when to apply for each year's contest and to read other news of interest to blind Americans. 

TO APPLY FOR AN NFB SCHOLARSHIP, BEGIN HERE:

• Confirmation of Legal Blindness (PDF document). Are you eligible?
• "The Secret to Winning a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship" by Scholarship Chairperson Patti S. Gregory-Chang, Esq.
• Submissions Checklist. A complete application consists of one Scholarship Application Form (either online or print), one essay, other documents as detailed in this checklist, and one interview.  Complete applications tend to have an advantage in the competition.  The NFB Scholarship Committee takes no responsibility for notifying you if required information is missing from your application.
• Frequently Asked Questions (Scholarships FAQ). Answers include useful advice for any applicant.
• 2011 Scholarship Application Form, online edition.  The application period is open from November through the following March.  (Complete either the online edition or the print edition)
• 2011 Scholarship Application Form, print edition.  The application period is open from November through the following March. (Complete either the print edition or the online edition.)
• 2011 List of Scholarships, $12,000 to $3,000.  Fill out only one application for the program to be in competition for all 30 scholarships.
• Podcast -- THRU OUR EYES with host Joe Ruffalo interviews NFB Scholarship Program Chairperson Patty Chang, Esq., on an Internet radio program (October 27, 2010).

All questions should be directed to the chairperson.  E-mail is preferred.
Chairperson Patti Chang, Esq.
NFB Scholarship Program
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
   at Jernigan Place200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Office: (410) 659-9314, extension 2415
E-mail: scholarships@nfb.org

Source: http://www.nfb.org