2008 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Each year at its Convention in August, the NFB of SC gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars.

All applicants for these scholarships must be:

1. Legally blind,
2. Residents of South Carolina or attending a college or university in South Carolina
3. Enrolled in or plan to enroll in a post-secondary course of study.

CRITERIA: All scholarships are awarded for academic excellence, community service, and financial need.

MEMBERSHIP: The National Federation of the Blind is an organization dedicated to creating opportunity for all blind people. Recipients of NFB scholarships need not be members of the National Federation of the Blind. REAPPLICATION: Those who have previously applied are encouraged to apply again.

WINNERS: The Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and selects the scholarship winners. These winners will be notified of the selection by telephone no later than July 1, 2008 and will be required to attend the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina convention, August 15 through 17 at the Marriott at Renaissance Park in Spartanburg. The Federation will provide room and convention registration. This is in addition to the scholarship grant. Winners will participate in the entire convention and in the scheduled scholarship program activities, beginning with functions on Friday, August 15, 2008. All decisions by the Scholarship Committee are final. The National Federation of the Blind convention is the largest gathering of blind people (more than 300) to occur anywhere in the state each year. You will be able to meet other blind students and exchange information and ideas. You will also be able to meet and talk with blind people who are successfully functioning in your chosen profession. Above all, a broad cross-section of the most active segment of the blind population of South Carolina will be present to discuss common problems and plan for concerted action. It is an interesting and exciting weekend.

AWARDS: The morning of the convention banquet the Scholarship Committee will meet to determine which winners will receive which scholarships. The scholarship awards will be made during the banquet Saturday evening.




The following attachments should accompany your application or can be sent directly to the scholarship committee (Note: if any of the following is not received by the time the Scholarship Committee meets for initial consideration of applications, the application will not be considered; therefore, it is advisable to confirm receipt of all components of the application prior to the deadline):

1. Personal Letter from Applicant. A statement in 250 words or less. Give your reason for applying for a scholarship and how it will assist you to achieve a professional goal. Include information about your visual acuity, indicating whether you are legally blind. NFB scholarships are awarded on the basis of scholastic excellence, financial need, and community service. In preparing your personal letter, keep in mind that the committee members are all successful blind college graduates. Consider how you can most effectively convey your best qualities. Since the awards are restricted to blind people, the committee will be interested in the techniques and approaches you use. Almost all blind students have financial need. Committee members will assume basic need, so you may choose merely to refer to this topic unless your need is unusual.<
2. Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an officer or member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC. If you need the name of an NFB Member in your area, Contact David Houck at (803) 254-3777 or email him at nfbsc@sc.rr.com.
3. Current transcript from institution now attending and transcripts from all other post-secondary institutions attended. If you have not yet attended such an institution or have not completed one year of study, send high school transcript.
4. Score Reports (for high school seniors only). Please attach a copy of your score reports for all standardized tests taken for college admission. Copies are acceptable; there is no need to attach official reports.
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