Scholarships for students with disabilities

American Water is proud to provide equitable educational opportunities for students across our national footprint through the American Water Scholarship. This scholarship is part of American Water's continued commitment to being an inclusive, diverse, and equitable company and supports our future leaders of tomorrow. The American Water Scholarship is awarding scholarships to students in the states where American Water operates. The scholarship is designed to support the educational aspirations of students who represent lived experiences and backgrounds that are underrepresented in the utility industry and who value the advancement of inclusion and diversity in all aspects of society. Applicants must self-identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community; or self-identity as having a disability; or self-identify as being an active member of the military services, a military spouse, or having a parent or guardian who is an active member; or self-identify as female; or self-identify as Black, African or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Applicants must be high school seniors or graduates, or current college undergraduates, residing and/or attending college in one of the eligible states. Applicants must be pursuing a certificate or degree in a non-medical STEM or business-related field, at an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a sincere commitment to inclusion and diversity in their lives, community, or education in a non-medical STEM major or a business major. The scholarship may be renewable up to three additional years or until a bachelor's degree is earned, whichever occurs first. One online recommendation form must be submitted on the student's behalf no later than March 28, 2025. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program provides up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded for one year and can be renewed for up to four years. Three letters of recommendation are required. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The UNLV Able and Advancing Scholarship is open to students with disabilities who are actively pursuing their degrees at UNLV. This scholarship applies to UNLV undergraduate students only. Students have maximum financial aid award eligibility for each semester. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Colleen Scarisbrick Help America Hear Scholarship is dedicated to empowering students with hearing loss by providing both financial support and advanced hearing technology to help them succeed. This year, ten deserving students will receive a financial award to support their college or vocational education, and a pair of top-of-the-line ReSound prescription hearing aids, custom-fitted to their specific hearing needs. Applicants must be high school seniors who have a hearing loss, which requires the use of hearing aids or Cochlear Implants in their daily life. The purpose of this scholarship is to help students with hearing loss reach their full potential by giving them a financial boost and the gift of sound. This will further allow the students to build confidence and self-esteem as they prepare for college or vocational school. Applicants must submit two letters of reference, one must be from a teacher, a guidance counselor, coach etc., and one must be from an individual outside of the applicant's school and family. A signed photo release and a signed HIPAA form by a parent/legal guardian must be submitted if the student is a minor. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

In keeping with the goals of renowned artist P. Buckley Moss, who struggled with dyslexia during her school years, this scholarship represents her dedication to young people who have learning differences and have aspirations for a career in the visual arts. The P. Buckley Moss Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior who plans a career in the visual arts. Visual arts is defined as art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, printmaking, and photography. Students in the performing arts are not eligible for this scholarship. Performing arts include dance, music, opera, drama, spoken word and circus arts. Filmmaking is only allowed if the student was the main creative force behind the project, such as the director. If the student was acting in someone else's film, they are not eligible. Applied arts are also not eligible. Applied arts include industrial design, graphic design, fashion design, and interior design. Applicants must also have a verified language-related learning difference. Learning differences are defined as disabilities in specific language processing, including but not limited to dyslexia, written expression, reading comprehension, central auditory processing, visual perception, word recognition, and sequencing. Verification of such diagnosis must be provided by a case manager or counselor. Students with ADD or ADHD alone are not eligible. The scholarship may be renewed for up to three consecutive years based on eligibility. Applicants must submit four copies of the application form; two letters of recommendation, one from a faculty member at the applicant's school and the other one from a person who knows the applicant outside of the school setting, who is not a relative; and a portfolio consisting of 4 to 6 photos of visual art projects. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

First established by Charles Owen in loving memory of his blind wife, this scholarship is now endowed to honor the memory of both. The Charles and Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to students who must be pursuing or planning to pursue a post-secondary course of study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the fall of the year of application. One scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending school part-time. Applicants must be legally blind in both eyes. Applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens but they must be residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. They must be 18 years of age by July 8, 2025. Applicants do not need to be an NFB member to win. At least one letter of recommendation is required; more letters are permitted. The best letters come from an authoritative source and provide verification of the applicant's excellence with examples of their level of scholarship, ability as a leader, community involvement, or fineness of character. For the proof of legal blindness, applicants do not need to send actual medical records. They just need to provide a clear statement from a qualified professional that certifies they are "legally blind" in both eyes according to the federal definition. Qualified authorities include a professional in eye care or a medical doctor, a professional in the education or rehabilitation of persons who are legally blind, or the president of an NFB state affiliate. High school seniors must submit the reports on their college entrance examinations, if available. They must send a copy of their report summary from the ACT, SAT, or other such standardized tests. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the National Federation of the Blind for more information.

The Lighthouse Guild offers merit-based scholarships for students with vision loss who are newly transitioning to college or graduate education. Each year, we offer scholarships for outstanding high school students who are legally blind from across the United States. We also provide an annual scholarship to at least one qualifying graduate student. Applicants must be current high school students who will be incoming college freshmen; or college students already attending, or planning to attend, graduate school (Master's degree, PhD, MD, JD, or other post-baccalaureate degree). Among each year's undergraduate and graduate student scholarship recipients, one student will be awarded the Dr. Neil S. Patel Memorial Scholarship for embodying Dr. Patel's legacy of hard work, honor, and dedication to supporting under-served populations. The Daniel M. Callahan Memorial Scholarship will also be awarded to one student who exemplifies visionary leader Dan Callahan's dedication to supporting and advocating for the community of individuals with vision loss. Applicants must submit proof of legal blindness. Verification should be in the form of a statement from a state rehabilitation agency, an ophthalmologist, or an optometrist. Applicants must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency. Verification should be in the form of a passport, birth certificate, naturalization papers, or proof of legal residency. Three letters of recommendation are also required. Two letters should attest to the applicant's academic skills. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The PA Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant Program provides financial aid to blind or deaf undergraduate or graduate students attending a postsecondary institution. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a postsecondary institution and maintain satisfactory academic progress (as determined by the postsecondary institution). First-time applicants must submit a signed letter confirming you have been evaluated and are eligible to receive benefits from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) or a completed, signed, and dated Medical Professional Certification Form from your physician regarding your visual and/or hearing impairment (located on the last page of the BDBG Application). Submission of applications and additional documentation can be made done by mail or fax. Please visit the award's website for more information.

The Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship is given yearly by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance the lives of blind people. This scholarship will be awarded to students who must be pursuing or planning to pursue a post-secondary course of study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the fall of the year of application. One scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending school part-time. Applicants must be legally blind in both eyes. Applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens but they must be residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. They must be 18 years of age by July 8, 2025. Applicants do not need to be an NFB member to win. At least one letter of recommendation is required; more letters are permitted. The best letters come from an authoritative source and provide verification of the applicant's excellence with examples of their level of scholarship, ability as a leader, community involvement, or fineness of character. For the proof of legal blindness, applicants do not need to send actual medical records. They just need to provide a clear statement from a qualified professional that certifies they are "legally blind" in both eyes according to the federal definition. Qualified authorities include a professional in eye care or a medical doctor, a professional in the education or rehabilitation of persons who are legally blind, or the president of an NFB state affiliate. High school seniors must submit the reports on their college entrance examinations, if available. They must send a copy of their report summary from the ACT, SAT, or other such standardized tests. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the National Federation of the Blind for more information.