[Njabs-talk] American Foundation for the Blind scholarships

Mary Fernandez trillian551 at gmail.com
Wed Feb 18 22:00:51 UTC 2009


AFB 2009 Scholarship Application


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are now accepting applications for the 2009 AFB scholarships.
Please read through the instructions carefully, as our application
process has changed from previous years.

It is in your best interest to review the entire application before
submitting the application. Most of AFB's scholarships are designated
for specific fields of study. Please read the scholarship descriptions
carefully, so that you choose scholarships that are available for your
field of study. You will only be considered for the scholarships that
you select on the application.

APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY AFB NO LATER
THAN APRIL 30, 2009.

THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE
COMPLETE WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND MEET ALL SCHOLARSHIP
REQUIREMENTS.

THE AFB SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOT SEND REMINDERS OR NOTICES TO
STUDENTS WHO ARE MISSING DOCUMENTATION. It is your responsibility to
make sure that your documentation is in order. When you submit your
application, a checklist will be sent to you via email which will
guide you in assembling your scholarship packet.

General Requirements: You may use this application form to apply for
more than one scholarship. It is not necessary to include multiple
copies of supporting documents, even if you are applying for more than
one scholarship. All applications MUST include the following items,
without exception:

COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION for 2009, including all sections of the
essay. Essays will not be accepted separately from the application.
You may cut and paste your essay from a word processing program when
you are ready to submit the application. The essay section of the
application is comprised of three sections. Part One (at least 200
words) concerns your past and current achievements; Part Two (at least
200 words) concerns your field of study and why you have chosen it;
Part Three (at least 200 words) concerns what role your visual
impairment has played in shaping your life. Torres applicants must
also complete Part Four.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS: An official, original transcript from the school
you are presently attending and the one most recently attended. High
school students need to send only the current transcript.
Undergraduate students should send the high school transcript and the
current transcript. Graduate students should send the undergraduate
transcript and the current transcript.
PROOF OF POST-SECONDARY ACCEPTANCE: A letter or documentation from a
college or university admissions office establishing that you have
been accepted to post-secondary studies in an accredited program.
TWO (2) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Only letters from academic
advisors, teachers, or rehabilitation counselors will be accepted.
PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP: Only the following items will be accepted-a
photocopy of a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or a
photocopy of a U.S. passport. [EXCEPTION: U.S. citizenship is NOT
required for the Ferdinand Torres Scholarship.]
PROOF OF LEGAL BLINDNESS: AFB requires a recently signed letter on a
single page of official stationery from an optometrist,
ophthalmologist, or state or private agency for the blind, certifying
that you are legally blind. No other statements, medical reports, or
affidavits will be accepted. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ENTIRE MEDICAL
REPORTS. The letter must clearly state that you are legally blind
(i.e., have best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the
better eye, and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees in the
better eye).
For scholarships requiring proof of economic need:

FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid): AFB requires a copy
of the Student Aid Report (SAR) section of your FAFSA application. No
other proof of economic need will be considered. Please make sure that
the entire Student Aid Report is sent to us. [EXCEPTION: non-citizens
applying for the Ferdinand Torres Scholarship must provide other
official papers as proof of economic need.] To obtain your Student Aid
Report: Go to the FAFSA Home Page at www.fafsa.us.gov. On the home
page is a heading titled FAFSA FOLLOW UP. Beneath that is a link
called "View and Print your Student Aid Report." Selecting this link
will guide you through the process of obtaining a print version of
your current Student Aid Report.
Supporting documents are to be collected and SENT IN ONE ENVELOPE to
the AFB Scholarship Committee. Do not send any documents until you
have all the materials required. Incomplete scholarship packets will
not be considered.

The following scholarships are available for 2009:

Scholarships in the Field of Rehabilitation and/or Education of
Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired:

The Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial
Scholarship: One (1) scholarship to an undergraduate or graduate
student in the field of rehabilitation or education of persons who are
blind or visually impaired.

The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: A one-time award not open to
previous recipients. It provides four (4) scholarships of $2,500 each
to undergraduates or graduates who are studying full-time in the field
of rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind and/or
visually impaired. One of these awards is reserved specifically for a
student who presents proof of economic need (Student Aid Report
required).

Scholarship for Engineering or Computer, Physical, or Life Sciences:

The Paul and Helen Ruckes Scholarship: Provides one (1) scholarship of
$1,000 to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the field
of engineering or in computer, physical, or life sciences.

Scholarship for Literature or Music:

The R.L. Gillette Scholarship: Two (2) scholarships of $1,000 each to
women who are enrolled in a full-time four-year undergraduate degree
program in literature or music.

In addition to the general requirements, Gillette applicants must
submit with their supporting documents:

A performance tape/CD not to exceed 30 minutes, or a creative writing sample.
The Gladys. C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship: One (1) scholarship of
$1,000 given to a female undergraduate or graduate student studying
classical or religious music.

In addition to the general requirements, Anderson applicants must
submit with their supporting documents:

A performance tape/CD not to exceed 30 minutes.
The Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship provides one (1) scholarship
of $500 to a full-time graduate student who presents evidence of
economic need. (Student Aid Report required.)

The Ferdinand Torres Scholarship provides one (1) scholarship of
$2,500 to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student. Strong
preference will be given to new immigrants to the United States, and
to those residing in the New York City metropolitan area. To be
eligible the applicant must reside in the United States, but need not
be a citizen of the United States.

In addition to the general requirements, Torres applicants must submit
with their supporting documents:

Evidence of economic need
Proof of residence in the United States (e.g. telephone bill; utility bill)
Immigrants must include a description of country of origin and reason
for coming to the U.S. (To be included in Part Four of the application
essay.)
Deadline is Apr. 30. Visit the website to apply.
www.afb.org/scholarships.asp
-- 
Mary Fernandez
Emory University 2012
P.O. Box 123056
Atlanta Ga.
30322
Phone: 732-857-7004
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that
greatness is never a given. It must be earned.
President Barack Obama




More information about the NJABS-Talk mailing list