[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Recognizes Thirty Outstanding Blind Students
National Federation of the Blind
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Fri Aug 4 04:43:13 UTC 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
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<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind Recognizes Thirty Outstanding Blind Students
Maureen Nietfeld of Colorado Awarded Top $12,000 Scholarship
Baltimore, Maryland (August 3, 2017): The
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the
nations oldest and largest organization of blind
people, today announced the winners of its 2017
scholarships, which were awarded at the
organizations recent national convention in
Orlando. The winner of the organizations top
prize of $12,000, donated by the American Action
Fund for Blind Children and Adults, is Maureen
Nietfeld of Colorado, who is studying human
nutrition and dietetics and specializing in the
care of organ transplant patients. "When I lost
my sight I dreamed of being confident, and I
dreamed of being independent and successful. I
dreamed of being able to go back to work and go
to school," said Ms. Nietfeld. "Thank you to the
National Federation of the Blind for helping me to make my dreams a reality!"
Each of the other twenty-nine winners received,
at a minimum, a National Federation of the Blind
Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. In addition
to their scholarship, each received a $1,000
check and plaque from inventor and futurist Dr.
Ray Kurzweil, a Google Chromebook laptop, a
$1,000 cash award from Google, and a certificate
towards the purchase of a Talking LabQuest from
Independence Science, for a total award for each
winner with a minimum value exceeding $5,000.
Here is an alphabetical listing of the other
winners, with their home state, career goal, and
scholarship name and amount (where appropriate):
Lindsay Ball, ME: Adaptive physical education teacher
Cricket Bidleman, CA: Anthropology professor
($3,000 Charles and Betty Allen Scholarship)
Katherine Brafford, CA: Work at the
intersection of science and religion ($8,000
Oracle Scholarship for Excellence in Computer Science)
Aneri Brahmbhatt, IL: Record label manager
Shannon Cantan, HI: Business administration
($5,000 Charles and Melva T. Owen Scholarship)
Melissa Carney, CT: Clinical psychologist
Trinh Ha, AR: Dietitian
Afton Harper, MO: Journalism
Qusay Hussein, TX: Psychologist
Catherine Jacobson, MN: Healthcare policy analyst
Cassandra Mendez, OH: Assistive technology
developer ($3,000 Expedia Scholarship)
Tabea Meyer, CO: Advocate for marginalized
groups ($5,000 Charles and Melva T. Owen Scholarship)
Ibeth Miranda, TX: University professor
Regina D. Mitchell, NV: Psychologist ($8,000
Oracle Scholarship for Excellence in a STEM Field)
Jackie Mushington-Anderson, GA: Braille
instructor ($10,000 JAWS for Windows Scholarship)
Efose Oriaifo, VA: Biotechnology
Chelsea Peahl, UT: Law/Advocacy ($5,000 Pearson Scholarship)
Gloria Rodriguez, WA: Disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness
Carla L. Scroggins, CA: International politics
($3,000 Charles and Melva T. Owen Scholarship)
Luke Schwink, KS: Athletic marketing/Player
development ($5,000 Mimi and Marvin Sandler Scholarship)
Alyssa Shock, NJ: Child psychologist
Heather Simmons, CA: Literature professor
($3,000 Larry Streeter Memorial Scholarship)
Wayne Smith III, MD: Computer engineering/Data
security ($3,000 Expedia Scholarship)
Andrew Sydlik, PA: English teacher or
disability advocate ($3,000 Adrienne Asch Memorial Scholarship)
Sophie Trist, LA: Novelist
Rachel Wellington, GA: STEM career ($3,000 NFB
Science and Engineering Division Scholarship)
James N. Yesel, ND: Entrepreneur ($3,000 E. U. and Gene Parker Scholarship)
Zeynep S. Yilmaz, AZ: Rehabilitation counselor education
Ayoub Zurikat, TX: Mental health care provider
The scholarship program is one of our most
important initiatives, said Mark A. Riccobono,
President of the National Federation of the
Blind. We are proud to honor these blind
scholars, who are studying everything from
biotechnology to sports marketing, and in so
doing raising the expectations of what blind
people can achieve. Their accomplishments are
proof of our conviction that we, the blind of
this nation, can live the lives we want; blindness does not hold us back.
Several hundred students competed for the
scholarships. A committee of blind persons
representing a cross section of the NFB
membership, including several former scholarship
winners, narrowed the field to thirty finalists.
Each finalist was then given roundtrip
transportation, hotel accommodations, and
assistance to attend the National Federation of
the Blind National Convention in Orlando, where
the committee spent several days getting to know
each student. Only after that process was
complete did the committee decide which
scholarship to award each finalist. Nearly three
thousand blind people attended the convention,
the largest gathering of its kind in the United States this year.
Special thanks go to the Jesse and Hertha Adams
Charitable Trust for its support of the National
Federation of the Blind scholarship program.
###
About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind 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.
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