[il-talk] We have an IL finalist

Sat May 17 14:34:58 UTC 2014

Please note that we have an IL finalist.  Her name is Lucy Sidi.  Please make her welcome.  

Patti Gregory Chang
NFBI President
NFB Scholarship Committee Chair 

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Announces 2014 Scholarship Program Finalists
Date: May 14, 2014 7:39:51 AM CDT
To: "State President, Puerto Rico" <arguza at attglobal.net>, "State President, Nebraska" <amy.buresh74 at gmail.com>, "State President, Connecticut" <erival at comcast.net>, "State President, Arizona" <krezguy at cox.net>, "State President, New York" <office at nfbny.org>, "State President, Oregon" <president at nfb-oregon.org>, "State President, Kentucky" <cathyj1949 at gmail.com>, Charlene Smyth <cs.nfbwv at verizon.net>, "State President, Delaware" <da.briddell at gmail.com>, "State President, Vermont" <deannaljones at comcast.net>, "State President, North Dakota" <diverson at midco.net>, "State President, Idaho" <elsiedickerson at ymail.com>, "State President, Ohio" <peduffy63 at gmail.com>, "Schroeder, Fred" <fschroeder at sks.com>, "State President, North Carolina" <ghraynfbofnc at charter.net>, "State President, Missouri" <gwunder at earthlink.net>, "State President, Montana" <jkaldrich at samobile.net>, "State President, Pennsylvania" <president at nfbp.org>, "State President, Tennessee" <nfb.tennessee at gmail.com>, "State President, Minnesota" <jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>, "State President, Alaska" <jnhburton at gci.net>, Joe Ruffalo <nfbnj at yahoo.com>, "State President, Wisconsin" <johnfritz66 at gmail.com>, "State President, Wyoming" <kthornbury at bresnan.net>, "State President, South Dakota" <gatorbumps at rushmore.com>, Kimberly Flores <kimberly.aguillard at gmail.com>, "State President, Massachusetts" <kshachmut at nfbma.org>, "State President, Maine" <leonproctorjr at yahoo.com>, "State President, California" <mwillows at sbcglobal.net>, "State President, Maryland" <melissa at riccobono.us>, "State President, Iowa" <michael.nfbi at gmail.com>, "State President, Washington" <k7uij at panix.com>, "State President, Hawaii" <nanifife at aol.com>, "State President, Louisiana" <pallen at lcb-ruston.com>, "State President, South Carolina" <parnell at sccoast.net>, "State President, Illinois" <pattischang at gmail.com>, "Brown, Ron" <RB15 at iquest.net>, "State President, Mississippi" <sgleese at city.jackson.ms.us>, "State President, Colorado" <slabarre at labarrelaw.com>, "State President, Alabama" <joy.harris at dwx.com>, "State President, Arkansas" <tosheeler at cox.net>, "State President, District of Columbia" <callaway.shawn at gmail.com>, "State President, Florida" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>, "State President, Georgia" <gscott at nfbga.org>, "State President, Michigan" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>, "State President, Nevada" <realhappygirl1 at gmail.com>, "State President, New Hampshire" <cemcnabb21 at yahoo.com>, "State President, New Mexico" <avigil74 at gmail.com>, "State President, Oklahoma" <jmassay1 at cox.net>, "State President, Rhode Island" <silvara at cox.net>, "State President, Utah" <baconev at yahoo.com>, "State President, Kansas" <topage at swbell.net>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Announces 
2014 Scholarship Program Finalists
Baltimore, Maryland (May 14, 2014): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, today announced the finalists for its 2014 Scholarship Program, which awards thirty scholarships each year to recognize achievement by blind scholars.  The students are listed below in alphabetical order with their home states and vocational goals. 

Alex Anderson, NJ:  Lawyer
Anna “Anya” Avramenko, KS:  Court interpreter for Russian, Ukrainian, and Spanish
Cynthia Bennett, WA:  Human-centered technology researcher and designer
Shawn Berg, WA: Mechanical engineer designing airframe parts and systems
James Boehm, TN:  Vocational rehabilitation counselor
Candice Chapman, MN:  University counselor
Alan Chase, NC:  Public school superintendent
Craig Cooper, OR:  Social studies teacher (grades 6-12)
Hayden Dahmm, PA:  Environmental engineer
Jonathan Franks, TX: Licensed clinical social worker for children
Cathy Gaten, CA: Rehabilitation counselor
Austin Hicks, FL:  Professor of computer science and cutting-edge researcher
Stanley Ingram, PA:  Information Technology (IT) project manager
Meesha Johnson, NY: Attorney in the field of human services
Amber Kraft, ND: Computer programmer
Rebecca Leon, TN: Social worker, bilingual in English and Spanish
Paige “Alana” Leonhardy, ID: Psychologist for violence survivors
Katelyn MacIntyre, AZ: concert vocalist and music educator
Derek Manners, MA:  Administrative lawyer specializing in public policy on employment
Yevgeniya “Zhenya” Pankova, MA: Math teacher or special education teacher
Sarah Patnaude, VA: Civil rights attorney
Emily Pennington, OH: Lawyer specialist for accounting and taxes
Deja Powell, UT: Orientation and mobility instructor and teacher of blind students
Amanie Riley, NY: Teacher of the blind and visually impaired
Lucia Sidi, IL: Civil rights attorney for disabled clients
Mark Turley, UT: High school math teacher
Anna Walsh, AL: Lawyer
Beverly Weiler, CO: Mental health counselor for troubled adolescents
Isaiah Wilcox, GA: Contract specialist with an MBA
Justin Williams, SC:  Vocational rehabilitation counselor

“These students represent academic excellence, and many of them are doubtless future leaders of this nation’s blind,” said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind.  “They are forging a path in disciplines as varied as mechanical engineering, social work, special education, law, and information technology.  They are proof of our conviction that we, the blind of this nation, can live the lives we want; blindness does not hold us back. We are very proud of their accomplishments.” 

In July each finalist will attend the NFB’s seventy-fourth annual national convention in Orlando, Florida, where the Scholarship Committee will spend several days getting to know each student and then decide which scholarship (ranging in value from $3,000 to $12,000) to award each of them.  The scholarship winners will then be announced at the banquet of the NFB convention on Sunday, July 6.

For more information on the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program, visit www.nfb.org/scholarships. 

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent and successful. 