Since 1991,
Learning Ally has been awarding the
Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards (SAA) to outstanding college students who are blind or visually impaired. Our National Achievement Award winners are examples of and role models for the many students Learning Ally supports.
We are currently accepting
applications for the 2016-2017 SAA awards. Eligible students will be:
- Current Learning Ally members who are blind or visually impaired
- A current college senior or graduate school student
- Willing to represent Learning Ally as a spokesperson and advocate
See the full list of eligibility requirements and apply
here.
Deadline is April 30th, 2016 UPDATE: Deadline extended to May 31, 2016:
Seven student award winners will be chosen by a distinguished selection committee.
Learning Ally presents the three top winners with awards of $6,000 each; three special honors winners with awards of $2,000 each; and one honors winner with an award of $1,000. The three top winners will be honored with their awards at the National Achievement Awards Gala, the culminating celebration of Learning Ally’s annual Student Success and Achievement Summit. Next year the Summit will be held in Denver, Colorado in Spring 2017.
One of our 2016 winners,
Aleisa Myles, has just finished her graduate work at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology. She has been visually impaired with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis since birth. As Aleisa works to complete her Doctorate, she is dedicated to studying and writing about the perspective of children and young people, and is providing therapy for disadvantaged populations in her pre-doctoral internship.
“My limitations have taught me to be persistent and flexible,” she says. “I experience a sense of awe and deep gratitude for the role that Learning Ally plays in my life, my studies, and my ability to serve others. Having tens of thousands of audiobooks accessible to me is an adventure playground for my mind.”
Watch Aleisa's highlight video below: