2025 NFB Scholarships
NFB of Utah State Scholarships
Hello!
With the beginning of a new calendar year comes the beginning of the NFB of Utah’s Scholarship Program for 2025. Our Scholarship Program is an investment in the NFB of Utah’s future leaders. We are constantly in search of blind individuals who demonstrate scholastic excellence, leadership initiative, and an attitude of service. If you believe that you possess these qualities, then we invite you to apply for our 2025 scholarship program and become a part of our movement’s future.
The National Federation of the Blind of Utah awards as many as five (5) scholarships to Utah residents, or those attending Utah schools, who are legally blind. This includes any full-time undergraduate or graduate students, as well as any graduating high school seniors who will be attending college full-time in the fall of 2025.
What are we looking for in a Scholarship awardee? Let me introduce a few of our past scholarship winners:
David Carillo is a two-time state scholarship winner who will complete his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Weber state University this year. He will begin his career as a Certified Social Worker (CSW) at Salais counseling in Layton. David is also a full-time husband and father. He is a member of the Weber/Davis chapter and the Student Division.
Megan Swanson is a 2021 state scholarship winner who is employed at Utah Tech University in St. George as an Learning Designer. Her work entails design and development of course curriculum for students in the health care fields. She received her Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University in Instructional Psychology and Technology and plans to pursue her PhD in the same field. She serves as the Secretary for the Red Rocks Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah.
Zachery Ledford is a Senior at the University of Utah majoring in Health and Kinesiology. He is the current President of the Utah Association of Blind Students(UTABS) as well as a member of the Board of Directors of both he National Association of Blind Students (NABS) and the Salt Lake Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah. He also coaches Goalball for the Utah High School team.
These exceptional individuals displayed not only excellence in the classroom, but dedication to the improvement of the lives of blind individuals through the National Federation of the Blind of Utah. We invite you to apply for our 2025 State Scholarship Program by providing the following:
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A completed application. 2025 Scholarship Application Form
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A personal essay introducing yourself to us. This is your way of telling us your story. We want to know who you are. Describe your achievements and aspirations. Discuss how blindness has affected your life. How have you overcome society’s perception of blindness? Most importantly, we need to know what you will do to further the work of the NFB and how you will have a positive impact on our organization.
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One current letter of recommendation. This can be from a teacher, close friend, or NFB member who can tell us of your accomplishments and what you can bring to our organization.
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A transcript from your current and any previous post-secondary institutions. If you are a graduating high school senior who will be attending college in the fall of 2025, please submit your high school transcript.
All application materials must be received by March 31, 2025. Please submit all materials in a word document or PDF to scholarships.nfbu@gmail.com.
Please keep in mind that this is a merit-based scholarship. We encourage all of those who believe in the mission of the NFB of Utah and possess the qualities we are in search of to apply for the scholarship program, even those who have applied or won in past years. Finalists will be notified of their selection by April 14th. They will receive free admission and accommodation at the NFBU convention in Provo, Utah May 1-3. Attendance at this convention is mandatory for all finalists.
Dr. Edwin “Ned” Lindholm
National & State Scholarships Available!
The National Federation of the Blind believes in investing in the future by supporting the college education of deserving legally blind students. Our state and national scholarship programs are the most generous in the country. We urge you to apply to both.
National Scholarship:
Every year, the National Federation of the Blind awards more than $120,000 to blind scholars across the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in recognition of their achievements and professional aspirations. The scholarship program is our commitment to academic excellence and leadership among blind students, and each winner is awarded on the basis of academic excellence, community service, and leadership. The application process opens November 1. Review the scholarship application checklist: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist; and scholarship program FAQs: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-faqs.
Share this opportunity that invests in the future of blind people. Learn about the eligibility and requirements of the 2025 scholarship program. https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program
All blind graduating high school and college students are encouraged to apply! All National Scholarships will be awarded at the 2025 NFB National Convention. In addition to receiving a check, the recipient receives airfare, hotel room, registration, banquet and other items of interest.