<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a>Hi all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is
pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the 2027 - 2027
academic year. Please spread the word widely!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">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. Up
to three of these scholarships will be awarded to college and university
students, and at least one of these scholarships will be awarded to a student
attending a trade school or vocational training program (for example, in
cosmetology, massage therapy, information technology, culinary arts, etc.). Please
read all instructions carefully and pay close attention to the deadlines.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Scholarship application deadline: January 15, 2027. No late
application materials will be considered.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">As a scholarship applicant, you must:</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">ˇ<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Be legally blind in both eyes;</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">ˇ<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Be currently enrolled or will be enrolled
full-time in a college or university in Massachusetts for the full 2027 - 2028
academic year; or will be attending a vocational training program in
Massachusetts during the 2027 - 2028
school year (note: the total duration of this program must be at least six
months).</p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">ˇ<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">
</span></span>Have not previously won a NFBMA scholarship
twice for the same program.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To apply for a scholarship, you must: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Noto Sans Symbols"">\u25cf<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="color:black">Complete the </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6O_D7l6IP1BQgtz_ePcgki8VT030QZGx-Jt9X_-00UejVfA/viewform" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">NFBMA
Scholarship Application Form</a><span style="color:black">. This form includes
four required documents, which can either be uploaded directly to this form or
be emailed to </span><a href="mailto:scholarships@nfbma.org" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">scholarships@nfbma.org</a><span style="color:black">. All application materials must be received by January 15,
2027 in order to be considered;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Noto Sans Symbols"">\u25cf<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span>Participate
in a 30-minute interview with a member of the scholarship committee after
submitting a completed application.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Four scholarship finalists will be chosen from the
applicants. In order for finalists to receive their scholarships, they must participate
in the entire National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts state convention, to be held in-person from February
26 \u2013 February 28 in Peabody<span style="font-size:9.5pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">. All finalists
will be expected to attend the convention and participate in all activities of
the convention. Finalists will receive a travel stipend and have hotel lodging
covered. Award amounts will be announced for each finalist at the banquet of
the convention.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">If you have any questions, please send an email to <a href="mailto:scholarships@nfbma.org" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">scholarships@nfbma.org</a> with the word
\u201cscholarship\u201d in the subject line.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We look forward to welcoming an exceptional class of
scholarship applicants at our state convention, and please forward this announcement widely!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Cheers,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gene</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">--</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Gene S-H Kim | Chairperson, NFBMA scholarship committee</p></div>