California Transcribers & Educators

for the Blind and Visually Impaired

CTEBVI sponsors the Donna Coffee Youth Scholarship annually, in honor of Donna's exceptional service to our organization and to the blind and visually impaired community. The award is to be used to promote the academic and social development of K-12 students. The successful recipients will be awarded up to $1000.

Eligibility

K-12 students who are blind or visually impaired (sorry, no college or post-secondary applicants).

Application Requirements

The application deadline is January 31, 2025. You must submit all of the materials as listed below to be considered. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.

1. Completed application form and student's essay* (Parts I-V)
2. Letter of support from nominating educator, TVI, O&M Instructor and/or school administrator (i.e., one letter from each person if there is more than one nominator
3. Recent photo.
4. Parent/legal guardian must approve the application, use of funds and photo release by signing the application/release.

Selection Criteria

The award is used to promote not just academic but social development as well. Please be aware that scholarships cannot be used towards tuition, books for school, or college. The selection committee will score applicants based on:

• A plan that is compelling, executable and will enhance student's individual growth. (60%)
• A clearly demonstrated need. (30%)
• Quality of content in the overall presentation. (10%)

Duties of Scholarship Recipient(s)

If selected, recipient(s) will be required to: With help/cooperation from their TVI or O&M instructor, keep the CTEBVI board updated with their activities as related to their scholarship via written correspondence that will be published in the CTEBVI Journal a minimum of three times.

How to Submit Application

Please complete the entire application and email, along with supporting attachments .doc, .docx, .brf, or .pdf only please) to the Donna Coffee Youth Scholarship (ctebvi@gmail.com) All applicants will receive a receipt of application (via email to their own account or teacher/parent as applicable) as well as the status of the final outcome by February 10, 2025.

As nominator, your signature indicates that you understand your role in helping your student fulfill the duties of their responsibilities should they win the award (see duties of recipients above).

(Should not exceed two double-spaced typewritten pages) Essay may be submitted in the student's primary learning medium (i.e., braille or typed In your own words, please respond to each of the five areas at a maximum of one paragraph each. Please number each response as follows:

1. In one paragraph, tell the scholarship committee a little bit about yourself.
2. If you are the recipient of the scholarship, what would you like or need to learn?
3. Why did you select the activities or materials? (Activities should match the rationale below in part IV).
4. How will receiving this scholarship help you?
5. Why should you receive this scholarship?

Photo Release for Persons Under 18 Years of Age

I hereby grant permission to California Transcribers & Educators for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CTEBVI) and its board members/agents the right to use photographs of my child, and or other digital reproduction of him/her or other reproduction of his/her physical likeness for presentation, publication processes whether electronic, print, digital, video, social media, or electronic publishing via the internet for educational or editorial purposes only.

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images or any printed or electronic matter that may be used with them. I release CTEBVI and its board members and agents, including any firm authorized to publish and/or distribute a finished product containing the images, from any claims, damages, or liability which I may ever have in connection with the taking of use of the images or printed material used with the images.

I have read this release before signing, I understand its contents, and I freely accept the terms. I certify that I am a custodial parent and have the aforementioned rights to assign.