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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m delighted to announce that Maryland has some up and coming scholars among us, and this years’ scholarship class is outstanding.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are very fortunate to have two NFB National Scholarship finalists this year who are from Maryland.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Millie Rivera will be working towards a Masters in Theology and Biblical Studies at either Moody Theological Seminary or Trinity Theological Seminary. Millie is a TenBroek fellow, having previously won a national scholarship. Millie is in her second career after retiring as an attorney from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Millie is a member of the NFB of Maryland Board of Directors, President of the TLC Chapter, and also a graduate of the Louisiana Center for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Akliesia Teshome will be entering her junior year at Boston University, where she is studying Business with a focus on Data Informatics. Akliesia is well known to many of us, as she was in several of our youth programs, including the Maryland Mentoring Program. Akliesia is also a graduate of the Louisiana Center for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have a fabulous John T. McCraw Scholarship class as well this year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shuketha Johnson will be completing her final year of two Masters programs, one in Addiction Counseling and the other in Licensed Clinical Therapy at Coppin State. She is a Board Member of the Greater Baltimore chapter, and she has previously won this scholarship in the past.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Iva Rakic is an incoming freshman at the University of Maryland. Iva will be studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. Iva moved to the United States from Bosnia just two years ago. She is new to the Federation but has already attended a meeting with her local chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oso Ozo-Onyali will be attending her junior year at the University of Delaware. She is studying Psychology and Criminal Justice, with a Disability Studies minor. Oso is a Board Member of the Maryland Association of Blind Students and led the Logistics Committee for the 2024 NFB Mid-Atlantic Student Seminar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You will get to know these five students over the coming weeks and months, starting with our NFB National Convention. They are dynamic, energetic, and enthusiastic. Congratulations to the 2025 Maryland Scholarship Class!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>