[NFBNJ] Updated Scholarships page

[joe ruffalo]

Greetings to all!
Brian has updated the scholarship page for your review.
Please share.

We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference
Joe Ruffalo, President 
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey 
973 743 0075
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
www.nfbnj.org
Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.
Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking 
www.carshelpingtheblind.org 
or call 855 659 9314


**

Scholarships
The National Federation of the Blind believes in investing in the future by supporting the college education of deserving legally blind students.  Our state and national scholarship programs are the most generous in the country.



When a national scholarship application is completed and forwarded to the committee, the applicant has the opportunity to win a national and or a state scholarship. Complete one application and you can win two scholarships! To learn more about the NFB National Scholarship and to download an application form, please visit www.nfb.org/scholarships. Deadline for national scholarship applications is March 31st.

The 2017 state scholarship finalists are Alyssa Shock, Andrew Chin, Ilire Goca, Claress Knight, and Sena Pottackal. We will announce which of our five state scholarships these individuals will receive during the 41st NFBNJ State Convention.

2017 National Scholarship Winner Alyssa Shock
The national scholarship committee met during the weekend of April 28th at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, to review the scholarship applications and determine this year’s winners. We received a call from a national scholarship committee member informing me that Alyssa Shock of Dumont and a member in the Northeast Chapter is one of the thirty members of the national scholarship class of 2017. With over 600 applications to review, being one of the thirty is outstanding! We have provided a brief summary of Alyssa’s interests, goals and leadership skills. Congratulations, Alyssa!

Alyssa Shock is a psychology major at Fairleigh Dickinson University. At FDU, she is a member of the Honors’ Program, and she does a 1 hour radio show every week on one of the HD channels at the radio station. Outside of FDU, she volunteers for a Sexual Violence Resource Center. She has also just received an internship working with children, and is looking forward to starting this new adventure. This is extremely relevant to her career goals as she plans to have a career working with children in her future.

Outside of FDU, Alyssa Shock is also a member of the Northeast chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey. She has been a member of this organization since high school, and has enjoyed her experiences with them. Alyssa was a member in the Leadership Education Advocacy Determination (LEAD) program for high school students with vision loss. LEAD allowed her to meet many great people, learn new things, and make memories which will last a lifetime. When not studying or taking part in other extra-curricular activities, Alyssa enjoys spending her free time reading, socializing with family and friends, and listening to music. She also enjoys skydiving, and other thrill-seeking activities.

Congratulations Alyssa!



Please also read:

·         National Convention Reflections From National Scholarship Winners

·         The Secret to Winning a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship

·         The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund

National Convention Reflections From National Scholarship Winners
To read the national convention reflections from our national scholarship winners, please visit our Reflections from National Scholarship Winners page.

The Secret to Winning a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship
by Cayte Mendez
Reprinted from the Braille Monitor, December 2017

>From the Editor: Cayte Mendez is the chairperson of one of the most important committees of the National Federation of the Blind. She and her committee are charged with advertising our scholarship program and choosing thirty students who demonstrate academic success, leadership, and commitment to helping others. Here is Cayte’s announcement about the 2018 scholarship program:

Each July at the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind, our organization awards a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars. Our thirty scholarships, of which the $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship is the largest, are all substantial and prestigious enough to inspire any student to complete a competitive application. The NFB Scholarship Program is our investment in the future of blind people who demonstrate scholastic aptitude, leadership, and service. I encourage every blind college student to apply. 

What exactly is the secret to winning an NFB scholarship? Over the years I have heard quite a bit of speculation regarding the answer to this question. To be sure, there are some non-negotiable eligibility requirements. All applicants for these scholarships must:

·         be legally blind

·         reside in one of our fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico

·         be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time postsecondary course of study in a degree program at an accredited United States institution in the 2018-2019 academic year

·         participate in the entire NFB national convention and in all scheduled scholarship activities if chosen as a finalist

While these are the concrete requirements, what exactly is the secret to becoming an NFB scholarship winner?

Many think the single key to becoming a scholarship winner is a high grade point average. While an applicant’s GPA certainly has value because it demonstrates his/her ability to learn and be successful academically, this is by no means the only attribute that influences the decisions of the scholarship committee. Likewise, others believe that the secret to winning is abundant participation in extracurricular activities. Recognizing an applicant’s willingness to take on commitments outside of school and/or work can help the committee develop a portrait of a well-rounded individual; however, this is also not sufficient in itself to justify a scholarship award.

Still others think the magic scholarship winning ingredient is an applicant’s level of commitment to the NFB. It is certainly true that the scholarship program provides our organization with a tremendous opportunity to develop future leaders of the National Federation of the Blind, but scholarship awards are by no means restricted to members of the organization. The National Federation of the Blind is dedicated to creating opportunities for all blind people. Recipients of NFB scholarships need not be members of the National Federation of the Blind. Many of our past winners were not even aware of the NFB before they applied for our scholarships. 

Finally, there are those who speculate that the committee looks for winners among applicants from specific fields of study or specific demographics. However, over the years, students of all ages and in widely differing fields have become finalists. The class of 2017 included students entering their freshman year, as well as older students who were nearly ready to write their PhD dissertations. Past scholarship winners are working toward credentials for employment in many diverse fields. 

So what exactly is the secret to becoming an NFB scholarship finalist? It is just this—you must apply! Each November the new, updated scholarship application forms are posted on the web at www.nfb.org/scholarships, along with important information about the contest, links to information on past winners, and a page of frequently asked questions. The application form for 2018 is already online. It will remain up until March 31. The process can be initiated with an online application, which we prefer, or students can ask for a print application by contacting our scholarship office at scholarships at nfb.org or by calling (410) 659-9314, ext. 2415.

A complete application consists of the official application form and a student essay, plus these supporting documents: student transcripts, one letter of recommendation, and proof of legal blindness. The student must also complete an interview with the president of the applicant’s state of residence or the state where he or she will be attending school. High school seniors may also include a copy of the results of their ACT, SAT, or other college entrance exams. 

Unfortunately, some applications are incomplete, so the committee is unable to consider them fairly. Applicants must ensure that all of the required information and supporting documentation has been received by our scholarship office either online by midnight EST, March 31, or by mail postmarked by March 31. Students should carefully consider who can do the best job of writing their letter of reference. A letter should support the application by being full of facts and observations that will help the members of the committee see the applicant as a smart, active student and citizen. Students can write their essays using word processing software. They should remember to use the spell checker (or a human proofreader) before uploading, printing, or copying and pasting it into the online application form. 

In an effective essay the applicant will talk about his or her life in a way that gives the committee insight into him or her. The essay should cover the ways in which one lives successfully as a blind person and describe the applicant’s personal goals for the future. Information about positions of leadership is especially helpful. Committee members give the essay a great deal of attention. 

The NFB scholarship committee is comprised of dedicated, successful blind people who will review all applications and select the top thirty applicants who will become the scholarship class of 2018. Note that students submit just one application to the program; the scholarship committee will choose the thirty finalists from all applications received. These thirty scholarship finalists will be notified of their selection by telephone no later than June 1. 

Finally, during the annual convention held July 3 through July 8, 2018, in Orlando, Florida, the scholarship committee will decide which award will be presented to each winner. Attending and participating in the entire NFB national convention is one of the requirements to become an NFB scholarship winner. Of course, attending the convention is also a significant part of the prize.

The National Federation of the Blind’s national convention is the largest gathering of blind people to occur anywhere in the world each year, with 2,500 or more people registered. Those chosen as scholarship finalists will have the opportunity to network with other blind students, to exchange information and ideas, and to meet and talk with hundreds of blind people who are successfully functioning in many occupations and professions. Our past winners often comment that the money was quickly spent, but the contacts they made and the information they gathered at convention have continued to make their lives richer than they ever imagined.

Often students apply more than one year before winning a scholarship, so applicants are encouraged to reapply. The NFB may award three or more scholarships to men and women who have already received one Federation scholarship in the past if their scholarship and leadership merit another award. Individuals receiving a second NFB national scholarship are recognized as tenBroek Fellows.
So now you know the secret. The key to success for the NFB scholarship program is as straightforward as carefully reading the application on our website and then providing all of the required information and supporting documentation before the deadline of March 31. I look forward to receiving your applications!

The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
Reprinted from the Braille Monitor

Allen HarrisFrom the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan Fund Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of honoring our former president and longtime leader by establishing a program to promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration and learning occur. Here is Allen’s announcement about the 2018 Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Program:

Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have not done so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship grant. Perhaps this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida, enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at the largest and most important yearly convention of blind people in the world.

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room for a week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won’t pay all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400 to $500 per individual. 

We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention mentor, someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to share money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive agenda in the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the amazing experience that is convention week.

Who is eligible?
Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for funding assistance?
·         You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below.

·         You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.

·         You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He or she must add a president’s recommendation and then email both letters directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your president must forward the two letters no later than April 15, 2018.

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

·         Your full name and all your telephone numbers—label them—cell phone, home, office, other person (if any);

·         Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address;

·         Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter president, if you attend a chapter;

•Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person’s phone number;

·         Your specific request, and explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget for yourself.

The body of your letter should answer these questions:
How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want to attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share or give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.

When will I be notified that I am a winner?
If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter with convention details that should answer most of your questions. The committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15, but you must do several things before that to be prepared to attend if you are chosen:

·         Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from attending, you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for roommates of your own to reduce the cost.)

·         Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by May 31.

·         Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.

·         If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a grant this year.

How will I receive my convention scholarship?
At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with the amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will be listed in the letter we send you. The committee is not able to provide funds before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate to assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or credit card.


What if I have more questions?
For additional information email the chairman, Allen Harris, at kjscholarships at nfb.org or call his Baltimore, Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, extension 2415.

Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the most important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in Orlando.

 
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