The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has awarded its 2016 scholarships to eleven outstanding students who are blind or visually impaired and are pursuing their studies at institutions of higher education. The grants support one of AFB’s most important goals: expanding access to education for students with vision loss.
The awardees are as follows:
The Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000 to an undergraduate or graduate student in the field of rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Kayla Prato recently completed high school and will be attending Towson University in Maryland this fall working toward a combined bachelor's/master's degree in occupational therapy. Kayla would like to work with children who have visual and hearing impairments.
The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: Four 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.
Rachel Bodek attends St. Thomas Aquinas College in New York, and will continue working towards her master's degree in teaching and would like to work with children with visual impairments. Rachel has a son who also has a visual impairment and she is a strong advocate for disability awareness.
Barbara Feltz is enrolled at the George Washington University in Washington DC, pursuing her master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, and would like to work with veterans with vision loss. Barbara has a background in exercise physiology, and is active with the American Blind Skiing Foundation.
Dmitry Neronov is pursuing his master's degree in special education at San Francisco State University in California and wants to work with children who are visually impaired. Dmitry currently works as a paraprofessional at a local public school.
Ra’Kira Tidmore is planning to attend the University of Alabama this fall working toward a bachelor's degree in social work, and would eventually like to pursue a masters degree in vision rehabilitation therapy. Ra'Kira does volunteer work at a local hospital and at a nursing home.
The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship: Two scholarships of $2,000 each to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the field of engineering or in computer, physical, or life sciences.
Lauren Siegel is graduating high school and plans to attend North Carolina State University in the fall, majoring in computer science. She founded her school's robotics club, and was a member of her high school's Science Olympiad team. As a young teen, Lauren wrote a computer program that would solve polynomial equations to help students in algebra.
Cassandra Mendez attends the Ohio State University and is pursuing her bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering. Cassandra has had an internship under the Air Force Research Labs, and she hopes to use her degree to change lives through technology and practical design.
The R.L. Gillette Scholarship: Two scholarships of $1,000 each to women who are enrolled in a full-time four-year undergraduate degree program in literature or music.
Winona Brackett is a student at Stetson University in Florida and is working toward her bachelor's degree in music, majoring in trumpet performance. Winona has received multiple awards for her trumpet playing, including the Quincy Jones Award and the John Philip Sousa Band Award.
Precious Perez is graduating high school and will attend Gordon College in Massachusetts majoring in music education and vocal performance. Precious was a member of the Boston Children's Chorus and is now a member of the Vocal Apprenticeship Soloists Program with the Handel and Haydn Society.
The Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000 given to a female undergraduate or graduate student studying classical or religious music.
Christina Ebersohl is working toward her bachelor's degree in music at Portland State University in Oregon, majoring in music performance and viola. She has served as an Arabic linguist in the U.S. Army. This summer Christina will attend a music study program in Italy at the Florence University of the Arts.
The Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $500 to a full-time graduate student.
Silpa Tadavarthy is attending the Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Pennsylvania for her Doctor of Medicine degree and would like to specialize in neurology. Silpa plans to serve the low-income patient population of North Philadelphia during her medical school clerkships.
Please join us in congratulating all of this year's awardees!
