Every year Blind Service Association awards 20 to 30 scholarships, ranging in amounts from $750 to $3,000, to young people planning to attend a professional school, college, or university. Applications are judged according to academic merit, evidence of community service and need. Interested individuals must reside in Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, McHenry or Kane counties in the state of Illinois.
NOTE: Eligible students must be legally blind, reside in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will Counties, and be enrolled/accepted in an accredited degree program during the fall of 2021.
In addition to your completed application, you must submit the following:
- Two letters of recommendation from past instructors or other academic professionals who can comment on your scholastic or other achievements. Repeat applicants need only submit one letter of recommendation.
- An autobiographical essay, as described on the last page of the application. Past recipients must submit a summary of precisely how past scholarship money was spent.
- Official transcripts of grades from most recent school or schools. Proof of your acceptance in an accredited educational institution is required.
- A recent eye report (no older than 2 years), certifying legal blindness.
- A valid state identification.
The deadline for submission of completed applications is April 1, 2021.
Interviews with all qualified applicants are required and will be scheduled for May 2021.
Scholarship applicants will be informed of whether they have been awarded or not awarded a scholarship in the weeks following the completed interviews.
Announcement of scholarship awards will be made at Blind Service Association’s Annual Meeting in June. Awardees are expected to attend and scholarship awards will be presented at this time. Winners must sign for their scholarship in person.
All decisions of the BSA scholarship committee are final.
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to Dustin Cather at dcather@blindserviceassociation.org or by phone at 312-236-0808.