[Blindtlk] Fwd: AFB 2008 Scholarships

[David Andrews]

> >>> Chuk Hamilton 12/18/2007 8:10 AM >>>
>The following was received from the American Foundation for the
>Blind (AFB). Please consult their website for the actual
>application: www.afb.org/scholarships.asp .
>
>AFB 2008 Scholarship Application
>
>We are now accepting applications for the 2008 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 MARCH 31, 2008.
>
>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 2008, including all three 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.
>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. 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 2008:
>
>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.
>General Subject Scholarships:
>
>The Guide Dogs for the Blind Dorthea and Roland Bohde Personal
>Achievement Scholarship provides one (1) scholarship of $1,000 to a
>full-time undergraduate student in any field of study.
>
>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.)