<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">This is great news. Congratulations to Tashara and all the other scholarship winners!</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Judy Hamilton</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 6:47 PM Denise Valkema via NFBF-Leaders <<a href="mailto:nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org">nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Let’s congratulate Tashara Cooper, secretary treasurer of our Central Florida chapter, for being a 2021 Scholarship Program Finalist! <br><br><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Denise Valkema, President<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">National Federation of the Blind of Florida<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><a href="mailto:President@nfbflorida.org" target="_blank">President@nfbflorida.org</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">(305)972-8529</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><a href="http://WWW.NFBFLORIDA.ORG" target="_blank">WWW.NFBFLORIDA.ORG</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Follow us @nfbflorida<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in"><span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)">Live the life you want.</span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org" target="_blank">webmaster@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> May 12, 2021 at 6:18:34 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Denise Valkema <<a href="mailto:valkemadenise@aol.com" target="_blank">valkemadenise@aol.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Congratulations to the 2021 Scholarship Program Finalists</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org" target="_blank">webmaster@nfb.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<h1><span style="font-size:24pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Congratulations to the 2021 Scholarship Program Finalists</span></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b>Baltimore, Maryland (May 12, 2021):</b> The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation’s leading advocate for equal education of the blind, today announced the finalists for its annual scholarship program, which provides financial assistance and connects students with mentoring and other resources. The thirty scholarship finalists are listed below in alphabetical order with their home states and vocational goals.</span></span></p>
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<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Maryam Abdul Sattar, California: Social Worker/Advocate</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Christopher Abel, Georgia: Financial Planner</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kaleigh Brendle, New Jersey: Disability Rights Attorney</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Samantha Chase, Montana: Behavioral Health</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tashara Cooper, Florida: Modeling/Simulation</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Shannon Donahue, Washington: Pediatric Mental Health Counselor</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lizzie Dunn, Michigan: Social Work</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Christina Ebersohl, Illinois: Musician/Musical Education Advocate</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Maya El Cheikh, New York: Law/Advocacy</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lucien Gandarias, Washington: Quantum Physics Researcher/Professor</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Joel Gomez, California: Industrial Engineer</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Michael Jaden Gretchokoff, Mississippi: Emergency Services Dispatcher</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Manahil Jafri, New York: Public Policy/Disability Rights Advocate</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Peter Jansen, Michigan: Medical Research</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Adi Lemmon, Pennsylvania: Elementary Teacher</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Eric Mandell, California: Physics</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Haylee Mota, Rhode Island: Mechanical Engineer</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Lizzy Muhammad-Park, Maryland: Foreign Service Officer</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Demetria Ober, Texas: Social Work/Medical Interpretation</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Treasa Marie Praino, New Jersey: Policy/Human Rights Advisor</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Stephen Proski, Arizona: Visual Artist/Disability Arts Advocate</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tina Reisner, Utah: Cane Travel Instructor</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Syed Mahmud Rizvi, Massachusetts: Civil Rights Attorney</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Megan Swanson, California: Instructional Designer</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Kinshuk Tella, Ohio: Environmental Professional</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sam Theoharis, New York: Civil Rights Law</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Zachary Ryan Thibodeaux, Texas: Public Policy</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tanya Wigfall-Harrington, Pennsylvania: Disability Consultant</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Mirranda Williams, Georgia: Geriatric Behavioral and Mental Health/Social Work</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left:56px"><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chantale Zuzi, Massachusetts: Diplomacy, United Nations</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">“The scholarship program is one of our most important initiatives, and these blind students are facing and overcoming many barriers and challenges due to the pandemic and its impact on higher education,” said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We are therefore proud to honor these blind scholars, each of whom are raising expectations and expanding possibilities. The accomplishments of these outstanding students are proof that we, the blind of this nation, can live the lives we want; blindness does not hold us back.”</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">For more information about the National Federation of the Blind scholarship program, visit <a href="http://nfb.org/scholarships" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">nfb.org/scholarships</a>.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:14pt"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">###</span></b></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-size:20pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">About the National Federation of the Blind </span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21179&qid=5318826" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">nfb.org</a>.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=21180&qid=5318826" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span></span></p>
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