National Federation of the Blind Scholarships
Deadline: March 31
The National Federation of the Blind has the largest scholarship program for legally blind post-secondary students in the country. The Federation grants thirty scholarships annually to legally blind persons in higher education from college freshmen to doctoral candidates. The scholarships range in value from $3,000 to $12,000, and generous donors like the internationally famous scientist and thinker Dr. Ray Kurzweil often enhance these values with additional gifts. Federation scholarship winners also win a trip to the organization’s annual convention and the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with the nation’s most dynamic leaders of the blind community. Winning a Federation scholarship is a lifetime distinction since winners must compete in a pool of 500 applicants. Winning is also an honor since the selection process is performed by successful blind persons. Winners recognize that they have been chosen by their blind peers who are not fooled by lowered expectations of blind people but rather seek out true quality.
Visit the scholarship program’s website for more information.
(updated 1.2.17)