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<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><a href="nfb.org"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:220px; margin:0px; width:200px" /></a></td>
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<h1><span style="font-size:28pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Celebrate Outstanding Blind Students</span></span></h1>
<h2><span style="font-size:22pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Precious Perez of Massachusetts Awarded Top $12,000 Scholarship</span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><strong>Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2021):</strong> The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the premier membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, today announced the winners of its 2020 named scholarships, which were awarded at the kickoff meeting of the organization’s Washington Seminar on February 8. The winner of the organization’s top prize of $12,000, donated by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults and named in memory of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, is Precious Perez, an aspiring music educator from Massachusetts.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Here is an alphabetical listing of the other winners, with their home state and career goal or field of study. Unless otherwise indicated, each student received a $3,000 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship:</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Deiascha-Britte Bancayanvega, California: Healthcare Inclusion (Edith R. and Alvin Domroe Foundation Scholarship, $3,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Robert (Rob) Blachowicz, Arkansas: Counseling</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Christopher (Chris) Bove, Rhode Island: Public Service</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Brianna (Bri) Broadwater, Maryland: Psychologist or Education</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sean Carlson, Oregon: Vocational Rehabilitation Instructor</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Natalie Charbonneau, Oregon: Animal Genetics and Conservation Research (Oracle Scholarship for Excellence in a STEM Field, $8,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Moreblessings Chikavanga, Texas: Civil Rights/Disability Law (Charles and Betty Allen Scholarship, $3,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Kevin Darcy, Colorado: Anthropology Professor (Pearson Scholarship, $5,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Matthew Duffell-Hoffman, South Carolina: Electrical Engineer</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Paxton Franke, North Dakota: Forensic Pathology (National Federation of the Blind Leadership Scholarship, $5,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Lauren (Elaine) Hardin, Georgia: Higher Education Student Affairs Administrator</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Kaitlyn (Kat) Hippe, Wisconsin: Linguistics and Education (Charles and Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, $3,000) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Emily Kiehl, Ohio: Information Technology</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Josh Loebner, Tennessee: Inclusive Technology</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sara Luna, Illinois: Museum Accessibility (E.U. and Gene Parker Scholarship, $3,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Victor Marques, Michigan: Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and Access Technology Specialist (JAWS for Windows Scholarship, $5,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Griffin Miller, Pennsylvania: Actuary</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Jillian Milton, New Jersey: Product Development</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Marissa Nissley, New Jersey: Attorney</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Sherry Pablo, California: Public Health, Health Policy and Management (special scholarship for first responders and others affected by COVID-19, $3,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Teresita Rios, California: Attorney</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Dannielle Schutz, Nebraska: Medical Scientist</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Nicolas (Nick) Spohn, Pennsylvania: Mechanical Engineer (National Federation of the Blind STEM Scholarship, $3,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Logan Stenzel, Minnesota: Finance and Technology Entrepreneur (Oracle Scholarship for Excellence in Computer Science, $8,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Marie Villaneda, Indiana: Orientation and Mobility Instructor (Mimi and Marvin Sandler Scholarship, $5,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Monica Wegner, Minnesota: Corporate Attorney (Charles and Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship, $10,000)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Alek Wolfe, Vermont: Broadcasting</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Brayan Zamarripa, Oklahoma: Media Production (Dr. Adrienne Asch Memorial Scholarship, $3,000)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The scholarship program is one of our most important initiatives,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We are proud to honor these blind scholars, who are studying everything from media production to genetics 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.”</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">###</span></span></p>
<h2><strong><span style="font-size:22pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">About the National Federation of the Blind</span></span></strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">The National Federation of the Blind, 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 premier 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://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19939&qid=4862307'
rel='nofollow' style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">nfb.org</a>.</span></span></p>
<h2><strong><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:22pt">Contact:</span></span></strong></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19940&qid=4862307' rel='nofollow' style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span></span></p>
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