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[Smyth, Charlene R]

Clarksburg Native Honored By Largest Organization Of The Blind
Written by Kiley Putnam
Last updated on July 24, 2015 @ 7:29PM
Created on July 24, 2015 @ 6:20PM



Blindness is considered a disability, but a young woman from Clarksburg is showing the nation this is not the case.

22-year-old Brianna 'Bre' Brown received the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship earlier this month during The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) 2015 National Convention in Orlando, FL.

Brown is a 2011 graduate of Clarksburg's Liberty High School and is currently a junior at Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, where she is majoring in special education.

Brown was born completely blind, but instead of looking at it as a disability, she said it's only makes her stronger.

"I think it made me the person I am today, blindness is not a terrible thing, whenever I learn something new I just don't give up," said Brown.

Brown's parents said growing up she was just like any other kid, full of life and energy.

"Very outgoing, very rambunctious, even when she was a little kid, completely blind, she would still roller blade, she would still ride her bicycle. She keeps going, nothing holds her back," said David Brown, Bre's father.

"I think that being visually impaired myself, in a way, helped me to have a blind child because she had to do chores like every other child, I expected her to do her best in school," said Diane Corbitt, Bre's mother.

Brown has always kept a busy schedule, she played the trumpet in the marching band for all four years of high school, was in school plays and eventually joined the NFB.

"I went to a chapter meeting in 2009, after that I was hooked, I knew that I had found the right place for me," said Brown.

Since joining the NFB, she completed a rigorous nine-month training program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, LA.

Also, for the past four years, she has returned to the Louisiana Center for the Blind to work as an instructor in a summer program for blind children.

"It is one of the challenging, yet one of the most rewarding jobs I have done, and it's so awesome to see when a student realizes the confidence he or she has gained," said Brown.

This year, Brown was selected as one of the 30 finalist to attend the Federation's 2015 National Convention. The finalists are awarded scholarships ranging in value from $3000 to $12,000.

She was the one recipient choose to receive the Jernigan Scholarship, the highest award of $12,000.

It is presented in honor of the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, a lifelong leader of the National Federation of the Blind, who served as its president from 1968 to 1986.  Dr. Jernigan has been described as the most influential blind American of the Twentieth Century.

Brown's family, friends and mentors couldn't be more proud of all she's accomplished.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for her, I feel blessed to be a part of of her life," said Connie Baker, Brown's Braille Aid Specialist.

"I'm just so proud of her," said Corbitt.

"It's just amazing, it shows that all her effort and time she's spent on it has been well worth it," said David Brown.



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