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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
</font> <br><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330 <br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
</font><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
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<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Announces <br>
2011 Scholarship Program Winners<br><br>
</b></div>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>Baltimore, Maryland (May 13,
2011):</b> The</font> National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the
nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, today announced
the winners of its 2011 Scholarship Program, which awards thirty
scholarships each year to recognize achievement by blind scholars.
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">The winners are listed below in
alphabetical order with their home states and vocational goals:<br><br>
</font> <br><br>
§ Yasen Angelov, FL: certified public
accountant (CPA)<br><br>
§ Jessica Beecham, TN: therapeutic
recreation specialist for persons with disabilities<br><br>
§ Mary Billington, NY:
educational policy and management specialist<br><br>
§ David Bouchard, MS: teacher of
orientation and mobility <br><br>
§ Christine Daniels, CO:
scientist/professor of cellular and molecular biophysics<br><br>
§ Roberto Diaz, CT: teacher of
American history to at-risk youth<br><br>
§ Aleeha Dudley, OH: equine
veterinarian<br><br>
§ Heather Edwards, SC: disability
services coordinator <br><br>
§ Christopher Fountain, VA: family
and marriage counselor<br><br>
§ Brenton R. Fuchs, CT: business
administration and marketing <br><br>
§ Diane Graves, IN: social services
administrator <br><br>
§ Michelle Hackman, NY: scientist
specializing in behavioral science<br><br>
§ Shafeka Hashash, NJ: lawyer or
international relations specialist at the UN<br><br>
§ Carry Joanis, NY: MBA-credentialed
financial analyst or product manager<br><br>
§ Kathleen Katulak, NY: teacher of
the blind and educational researcher<br><br>
§ Catherine Lei, CA: patent attorney
and expert in the physical sciences<br><br>
§ Ma’ayan Malter, IL: professor of
economics <br><br>
§ Daniel Martinez, TX: teacher of
blind students<br><br>
§ Ryan T. McBee, OR: elected
politician or political consultant<br><br>
§ Julie McGinnity, MO: vocal coach,
professional singer, and German translator<br><br>
§ Terence Meehan, CA: medical doctor
involved in clinical research and teaching <br><br>
§ Sylvia Modesitt, MO:
scientist/professor of astrophysics or molecular biology<br><br>
§ Justin Salisbury, CT: professor of
quantitative economics<br><br>
§ Kyle Shachmut, MA:
administrator/professor of educational media and technology<br><br>
§ Amber K. Sherrard, LA:
nutritionist<br><br>
§ Sandra Sommers, OH: physical
therapist <br><br>
§ Mikaela Stevens, ID: motivational
public speaker <br><br>
§ Kristina Vu, TX: lawyer<br><br>
§ Henry Wedler, CA: professor of
chemistry<br><br>
§ Matthew C. Yeater, IN: minister and
evangelist <br><br>
<br><br>
“These students represent academic excellence, and many of them are
doubtless future leaders of this nation’s blind,” said Dr. Marc Maurer,
President of the National Federation of the Blind. “They are
forging a path in disciplines as varied as economics, molecular biology,
physical therapy, law, and nutrition. They are proof of our
conviction that we, the blind of this nation, can compete on terms of
equality with our sighted peers, and we are very proud of their
accomplishments.” <br><br>
<br><br>
In July each winner will attend the NFB’s seventy-first annual national
convention in Orlando, Florida, where the Scholarship Committee will
spend several days getting to know each student and then decide which
scholarship (ranging in value from $3,000 to $12,000) to award each of
them. The scholarship winners will then be announced at the banquet
of the NFB convention on Friday, July 8.<br><br>
<br><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">For more information on the National
Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program, visit
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</a>
. <br><br>
</font> <br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's
blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of
the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in
the United States for the blind led by the blind. <br><br>
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