Gwendolyne Hawley Trust Scholarship Award

The Gwendolyne Hawley Trust Scholarship Award Program

The Gwendolyne Hawley Trust Scholarship Award Program is designed to assist deserving post-secondary students who are blind or visually impaired with their education. Students are selected for the awards based on various factors indicating their high potential to make our investment in their future worthwhile.

The Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB) and its foundation, the KC Blind All-Stars, are responsible for distributing the Gwendolyne Hawley Trust on behalf of the Hutchinson Community Foundation. The late Mrs. Hawley of Hutchinson, Kansas, left this trust to assist blind students with post-secondary education.  The amounts of the scholarship award(s) have ranged from $500 to $3,350. Please share this information with others who are familiar with students who meet the following criteria:

• Kansas resident who is blind or visually impaired.
• Enrolled in or entering a formal course of study via one of the following by September of the current year:
  • Vocational Training Program – must be licensed and accredited
  •  University/College
• Taking nine (9) hours (or the equivalent) of undergraduate courses or six (6) hours (or the equivalent) of graduate courses.
• Must be sponsored by a teacher, counselor, professor, or other professional involved with the applicant in an official capacity. (The sponsor form is located at www.kcblindallstars.org. The sponsor must complete the form online.
• Must complete all required components of the application and provide all required documentation.

Read and follow the instructions carefully before submitting your application. All winners will be notified on or before August 1st, 2024.

If selected, you will be asked for documentation to support the data you provide. Likewise, all correspondence and award agreements will be generated from the personal information submitted below. So, please use proper spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

May 2025 high school graduates are eligible for consideration for summer scholarships in addition to Fall-Spring awards. Accepting a summer award obligates you to attend in the following Fall and Spring.

Please share a brief essay to tell us something about yourself, which could include any or all of the following: 

• Information on your personal history; focus on family, community life, and experience in school.
• Challenges you have faced to due your visual impairment / blindness, and how you have dealt with them.
• Your work or volunteer experience.
• Your college goals and choice of major.
• Your career goals and how your education will enable you to achieve them.
• Why this scholarship is important to you. 

Your essay should be 300-500 words. 

By typing your name in the space below, you are certifying that all information is correct and that you are the person completing this application. When you press the submit button, you will receive an email confirmation that your application was received. Please print it for your records and retain it as verification of your application.