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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B353B'>The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for post-secondary students. The deadline to apply for both scholarship programs is March 31, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B353B'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:27.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0B0D0F'>National Scholarship Program:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B353B'>Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based scholarships totaling $240,000. <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Each scholarship recipient will receive $8,000 and additional prizes.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and community service.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and attend the NFB National Convention, where they are mentored by blind role models.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by 11:59PM on March 31, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>To be eligible, applicants must:<o:p></o:p></span></li><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Be legally blind in both eyes;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the Fall of 2026 (a few scholarships may be awarded to an individual who attends school part-time with certain parameters);<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Be age 18 before July 3, 2026; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind (and all scholarship activities) in Austin, Texas from July 3 through 8, 2026 (scholarship finalists will receive convention grants).<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>To apply, submit an application using the online application system at <a href="https://scholarships.nfb.org/"><span style='color:#1475AD'>https://scholarships.nfb.org/</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B353B'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:27.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0B0D0F'>State Scholarship Program:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B353B'>The NFB of Maryland will award up to four scholarships of $4,000 each as part of the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program. NFBMD may award a scholarship to a former McCraw scholarship recipient. <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Scholarships are merit-based and awarded based on academic achievement, community involvement, and leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Application materials must be submitted (online only) by 11:59PM on March 31, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>To be eligible, applicants must:<o:p></o:p></span></li><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Be legally blind in both eyes;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>reside in Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at a school in Maryland;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>be age 18 prior to July 3, 2026;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time or part-time, post-secondary course of study in a degree program in the Fall of 2026 and Spring of 2027 (priority will be given to full-time students); and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Austin, Texas from July 3 through 8, 2026 and the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Maryland in February 2027 (scholarship finalists will receive convention grants).<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#2B353B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>To apply, submit an application using the online application system at <a href="http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply"><span style='color:#1475AD'>http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></ul><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><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>