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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
</b> <br>
<b>CONTACT: <br>
</b>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="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>
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<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Announces 2016
Scholarship Program Finalists<br>
</b></div>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (June 22, 2016):</b> The
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">National Federation of the Blind</a> (NFB),
the nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, today
announced the finalists for its 2016 Scholarship Program, which awards
thirty scholarships each year to recognize achievement by blind scholars.
The students are listed below in alphabetical order with their home
states and vocational goals.<br>
<ul>
<li>Tara Abella, IN: Elementary/Special Education Teacher
<li>Justine “JJ” Aragon, CO: Rehabilitation Counseling
<li>Deniz Aydemir-Doke, PA: Higher Education
<li>Samrawit Biyazin, OR: Certified Public Accountant
<li>Megan Borella, CA: Business or Information Systems
<li>Riki Danielle Burton, KY: Teaching Blind Students
<li>Brennan Carman, NY: Medical Research
<li>Merry-Noel Chamberlain, NE: Higher Education
<li>Nathan Clark, MD: Juvenile Probation Officer
<li>Elif Emir Oksuz, OH: Mental Health Counselor
<li>Laura Etori, NJ: Actuary
<li>Jameyanne Fuller, NH: Law
<li>Deanna Greco, NJ: Brain Research
<li>Maria “Conchita” Hernandez, DC: Research
<li>Nazanin Heydarian, TX: Medical Research
<li>Sharon Jose, VA: Computer Science Engineer
<li>Matthew Miller, IL: Actuary
<li>James Garret Mooney, AZ: Law
<li>Kathryn Olsen, IA: Physical Therapist
<li>Chelsea Page, LA: Blind Instruction and Early Intervention
<li>Precious Perez, MA: Professional Performer/Music Educator
<li>Donna Posont, MI: Naturalist
<li>Syed Rizvi, MA: Health Informatics and Data Analytics
<li>Joe Dexter Rowell, MA: Public Interest Law
<li>Kartik Sawhney, CA: Software Development
<li>Kennedy Stomberg, MN: Research
<li>Corgan Waters, TN: Pathology
<li>Kathryn Webster, CT: Actuarial Science Consulting
<li>Kassidy Wilde, UT: Psychology
<li>Johna Wright, GA: Blind Education
</ul> <br>
“The scholarship program is one of our most important initiatives,” said
Mark A. Riccobono, President of
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice">the National Federation of the
Blind</a>. “We are proud to honor these blind scholars, who are studying
everything from elementary education to software development, 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.”
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Each finalist will attend the NFB’s seventy-sixth annual
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/convention">national convention</a><u>,</u>
beginning June 30, 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 National Convention on Tuesday, July 5.<br>
<br>
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>.
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<div align="center"><b>###<br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind <br><br>
</b>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.<br>
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