[Nfbv-announce] Brief description of proposed changes to Virginia scholarship program

[Chris Walker]

Dear Virginia affiliate,



After Chris Walker distributed of the proposal for the 2017-2018 academic
year Virginia James F. Nelson scholarship program, several people emailed
me to ask what the proposed changes are to the program. I Recognize it can
be difficult to discern the proposed changes without a side by side
comparison, so I’ve list below a brief description of the most important
way in which the program would change if the proposal is adopted by the
affiliate board:



1.       The affiliate would pay to bring scholarship applicants to the
state convention, not just scholarship winners. Previously, only the
individuals selected as finalists -  usually 2 or 3 students – would
receive financial assistance to attend state convention. By extending this
offer to all applicants, it creates an incentive to apply and to show up
and participate in our state convention activities.


2.       Winners are not announced in advance of state convention, and
final decisions are made by the scholarship committee during the state
convention. Previously, winners were announced prior to convention. This
incentivizes attendance of the applicants, and will increase participation
in state convention and beyond.


3.       Applicants must be qualified, and register online and purchase a
banquet ticket during the early registration period, which typically ends a
week or two prior to the start of convention. This demonstrates good faith
on the part of the applicant that they will attend, as they will be
reimbursed for this expense only when they arrive and participate in state
convention.


4.       there are some limits on how many times one can apply and how many
times one can win a scholarship to keep costs under control and to reduce
the chance for abuse. Previously, there were no official limits on how many
times one could either apply or win a James F. Nelson scholarship. By
capping the number of times one can apply before winning to three, it
reduces the chance of individuals applying for several years for the
primary purpose of receiving financial support to attend the state
convention. Similarly, one can only win two Virginia scholarships, after
which they are no longer eligible to apply. Individuals may petition for
the right to apply if circumstances are warranted – for example, they are
returning to school after a  significant period of time has elapsed, and
they are looking to change careers, get an advanced degree, or other
extenuating circumstances. These limitations are designed to strengthen the
intent of the program which is to grow the affiliate , promote division and
chapter development, and cultivate future leaders of the organization; not
to be simply a source of financial aid.



A couple of other items to note in the proposal:

·         The proposal indicates that up to three (3) scholarships may be
awarded. This is to allow discretion for the scholarship committee to award
fewer than three scholarships if circumstances are warranted. For example,
if there are not three qualified applicants, as defined by the proposal;
or, if there are not three applicants that the committee feels meet the
merit or participation standards.

·         *The proposal states that up to three applicants will share a
room at convention in order to control costs. There are a few situations in
which this may not be the case, such as an applicant must bring under age
children, or are traveling with a spouse, but in both cases only half the
room rate will be covered by the affiliate.

·         The proposal makes it clear that all decisions by the Virginia
scholarship committee are final.



Once more for your convenience, the proposal follows:



National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

James F. Nelson Scholarship Program

Proposal for the academic year 2017-2018



The NFB of Virginia scholarship committee:

Brian Miller, Ph.D., chair

Tasha Hubbard

Patrick Johnson, Ph.D.

Derek Manners, esq.

Jennifer Shields



The scholarship committee was charged by the Virginia affiliate board to
explore innovative approaches to the scholarship program for the coming
academic year, with particular attention to increasing the number of
applicants, to build local chapters, and strengthen the student division as
well as the affiliate as a whole. With that charge in mind, the committee
proposes to the affiliate board that Virginia adopt a modified version of
the program successfully implemented in Massachusetts in 2014. The proposed
program would include the following elements:



·         The NFB of Virginia will offer up to three merit-based
scholarships in the amount of $1,500 chosen from a pool of qualified
applicants. A qualified applicant means: An individual who is a resident of
Virginia, and/or will be a full time student in Virginia in the academic
year 2017-2018; is certified legally blind; and attends and participates
fully in the 2017 NFB of Virginia state convention.

·         Applications will be accepted beginning in May, pending board
approval, with a deadline of early October. The scholarship committee hopes
to have a list of individuals who have applied for national scholarships to
ensure they are aware of the opportunity to apply for the Virginia state
scholarship as well.

·         In order to win a scholarship, qualified applicants must attend
the state convention in the fall. The state affiliate will cover most of
the basic expenses for attending state convention. This would include room,
some meals (including banquet), and registration. Up to three applicants
would share a room to minimize expense. Applicants who travel with their
spouse to convention may have their own room, but the affiliate will only
pay for half the cost of the room. Similarly, if an applicant brings a
child  to convention, they may share the room with a spouse or care-giver,
but only half the cost of the room will be covered. The affiliate will not
cover the cost of day care, although applicants will be informed that very
affordable day care is available at convention.

·         The scholarship committee, working closely with the student
division and affiliate board and chapter leaders, will make every effort to
connect applicants to their nearest local chapter to seek assistance with
transportation to the state convention.

·         An application will not be considered complete until the
applicant has pre-registered for the state convention and purchased a
banquet ticket. These expenses will be reimbursed at convention, and will
serve as a mark of good faith that the applicant will attend.

·         Applicants would be expected to participate in scheduled
convention activities, which may include a student breakfast; an applicant
mixer with the committee and affiliate board members; the student division
lunch; and any other activities the committee or affiliate board deems
appropriate.

·         Final selection of scholarship winners from the qualified
applicants would be determined by the scholarship committee prior to the
banquet at the state convention in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Scholarship
winners would be announced by the scholarship committee chair during the
banquet. Checks would be mailed to winners shortly following the conclusion
of the convention. All decisions of the scholarship committee are final.

·         To preclude potential abuse of the affiliate’s support of
convention attendance, individuals may apply no more than three times in
the course of their current academic program. Individuals who have already
won two scholarships from the affiliate may not apply. Exceptions to these
rules may be granted in rare instances by petition to the affiliate
president or a designated board member who may then recommend an exception
be considered by the scholarship chair in consultation with the scholarship
committee.



Estimated cost:



·         $4,500 if three scholarships are awarded.

·         Approximately $250 per applicant who attends the convention.

·         $200 total for the applicant breakfast.

·         Assuming a minimum of ten applicants, with three scholarships
awarded, the approximate total cost would be $7,200. This cost would rise
with the number of applicants.