[Ohio-Talk] National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Class 2020

[Jordy Stringer]

29 July 2020

It was my privilege to serve as a member of this year‘s scholarship
selection committee. Fellow committee members Suzanne Turner, and
chairperson Cassandra Jones were phenomenal to work with and despite the
uncertainty because of the pandemic we were able to have a process that was
smoother than the situation should have allowed for. We had a very
difficult time selecting as there were so many supremely qualified
candidates. We are only able to award three scholarships this year and
strongly encourage any applicant who was not selected to please apply in
the future.

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a membership organization
changing what it means to be blind. We are committed to promoting equality,
opportunity, independence, and dignity for all blind Ohioans, and we are
committed to doing what we can to secure career equality and equal access
to education for all blind people.

To this end, at the 2020 Virtual State convention, we will award three
scholarships to three deserving blind students who are planning to pursue
their postsecondary education during the fall of 2020.

First, someone who may be familiar to some of you, Kinshuk Tella. Kinshuk
 plans to attend Miami University this fall and plans to major in Geology
and has co-majors of Environmental Science and Energy. He has appeared on
the dean’s list numerous  times and exhibits many characteristics of a
future leader. In addition to these things he also is a lover of music and
the performing arts and was honored with the Outstanding Musicianship Award
 two years running. Kinshuk  shares the following with us in his essay: “Each
year, I am increasingly able to view my blindness as more of a positive
through the work I and others do. I strive to give back through NFB to
impact others the same way I was not too long ago.”

Next, is Jonathan Thomas, from Fairfield, Ohio. Jonathan will be a student
at Wright State in the fall and will be pursuing a degree in English,
Rhetoric and Writing. JT has been voted Quest for Excellence award winner
five consecutive times and has appeared on the Dean's List consistently
since 2015. JT has not always been ok with his blindness however he has
come to know the national federation of the blind and with this and other
influences he writes the following:

My Youth Pastor’s and case manager’s words, along with writing, have helped
me love myself and my blindness. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be
different, and that my future isn’t limited because I’m blind.

Finally, Hannah Grace Abel. Hannah will be attending  Cedarville University
this fall and will major in Social Work. Hannah has served as the secretary
for her high school National Honor Society and has also been awarded the
Cedarville University Chancellor’s Excellence Academic Scholarship Award.
Hannah shares the following thoughts with us: “It has taken me a long time,
but I now view my blindness as a blessing. While my life may not have
turned out exactly how I expected, I wouldn’t change anything about it.
Stargardts makes my life harder, but it also makes me a hard

Worker.”

These are three very deserving students and they are truly living the lives
they want. This is the NFBO Scholarship class of 2020.

-- 

Jordy D. Stringer, Executive Director

Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living, 418 South Broad Street
Lancaster, OH 43130

E-mail: jssocil at gmail.com

Phone: (740) 689-1494 EXT (11)


"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with
love and reverence."

 -Henry David Thoreau