Scholarship Description
The American Foundation for the Blind administers a scholarship
program for deserving students. Each year individuals who are blind or
visually impaired can apply for financial awards to support their
post-secondary education.
General Requirements:
- Completed scholarship application form for 2007. Online applications
are preferred.
- An essay: a typewritten statement of no more than three
double-spaced pages which must include the field of study you are
pursuing and why you have chosen it, your educational and personal
goals, your work experience (if applicable), extracurricular
activities, and a statement about how the scholarship award will be
used. (The essay must be in an electronic format and must be sent
either by e-mail to
jpacker@afb.net
or by postal mail on a CD or diskette. E-mail is highly preferred).
- Official transcript(s): an official original transcript from the
school you are presently attending and most recently attended.
Undergraduates should include undergraduate and high school
transcript(s); graduate students should include graduate and
undergraduate transcript(s). High school students should submit high
school transcripts only.
- Proof of post-secondary acceptance: a letter or documentation from a
college or university admissions office establishing that you have
been accepted to post-secondary studies in an accredited program.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation: letters from academic advisors,
teachers, or rehabilitation counselors.
- Proof of legal blindness: a statement prepared by an ophthalmologist
or optometrist certifying that you are legally blind (i.e., have a
best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye,
and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the better eye).
OR
Official letter from a state or private agency for the blind,
certifying that you are legally blind.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship: only the following items will be accepted
-- a photocopy of a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or a
U.S. passport. Exception: U.S. citizenship is not required for the
Ferdinand Torres Scholarship.
- Economic Need (if applicable): In order to be eligible for
scholarships requiring proof of economic need, a FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) form must be submitted.
Website Address
http://www.afb.org/scholarships.asp