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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please spread the word widely!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Up to four scholarships will be awarded: one in the amount of $3,000.00, 2 in the amount of $1,500.00, and one in the amount of $1,000.00. Up to three of these scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an academic degree at a college or university. One of the scholarships will be awarded to a student pursuing a trade through a vocational training program —for example, in cosmetology, massage therapy, information technology, culinary arts, or another trade.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please read all instructions carefully and pay close attention to the deadlines.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Scholarship application deadline: February 15, 2026. No late application materials will be considered.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As a scholarship applicant, you must:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Be legally blind in both eyes;</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or be attending or planning to attend school in Massachusetts;</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Plan to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in the 2026-2027 academic year *or* plan to pursue a vocational trade at a training facility during 2026 or 2027 through a training program lasting 6-36 months;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Have not previously won a NFBMA scholarship twice for the same degree or vocational training program.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To apply for a scholarship, you must: <o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Complete the </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnnPuVIutta_h38GnT7t-TqdUuAoPWoqfTZN7Ja2Ijdg226Q/viewform?usp=sf_link">NFBMA Scholarship Application Form</a><span style='color:black'>. Submit the form no later than February 15, 2026;</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><a name="_Hlk179297344"><span style='color:black'>Email proof of legal blindness and most recent transcript to </span></a><a href="mailto:scholarships@nfbma.org"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk179297344'>scholarships@nfbma.org</span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk179297344'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk179297344'><span style='color:black'> no later than February 15, 2026;</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk179297344'></span><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='color:black'>Arrange for three reference letters from professors, trainers, counselors, and/or employers who have worked with you within the past year to be sent to </span><a href="mailto:scholarship@nfbma.org">scholarships@nfbma.org</a><span style='color:black'> with the word “reference” and your name in the subject line no later than February 15, 2026;</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Participate in a 30-minute interview with a member of the scholarship committee in February or early March 2026;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Participate in the entire National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts state convention, to be held in-person from Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 at<span style='font-size:9.5pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Woburn, MA. All applicants will be expected to attend the convention and participate in all activities of the convention, including a breakfast specifically for scholarship applicants. Scholarship winners will be announced at the convention banquet.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have any questions, please send an email to the scholarship committee at <a href="mailto:scholarships@nfbma.org">scholarships@nfbma.org</a> with the word “scholarship” in the subject line.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please help us spread the word about the scholarship program so that we can reach as many students as possible. We look forward to welcoming an exceptional class of scholarship applicants at our convention in March of 2026!<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>