The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please spread the word widely!

Up to four scholarships will be awarded: one in the amount of $3,000.00, 2 in the amount of $1,500.00, and one in the amount of $1,000.00. Up to three of these scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing an academic degree at a college or university. One of the scholarships will be awarded to a student pursuing a trade through a vocational training program —for example, in cosmetology, massage therapy, information technology, culinary arts, or another trade.

Please read all instructions carefully and pay close attention to the deadlines.

Scholarship Application Deadline:

February 28, 2026. No late application materials will be considered.

Eligibility:

As a scholarship applicant, you must:

• Be legally blind in both eyes;
• Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or be attending or planning to attend school in Massachusetts;
• Plan to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in the 2026-2027 academic year *or* plan to pursue a vocational trade at a training facility during 2026 or 2027 through a training program lasting 6-36 months;
• Have not previously won a NFBMA scholarship twice for the same degree or vocational training program.

To apply for a scholarship, you must:

• Complete the NFBMA Scholarship Application Form. Submit the form no later than February 28, 2026;
• Email proof of legal blindness and most recent academic transcript to scholarships@nfbma.org no later than February 28, 2026;
• arrange for three reference letters from professors, counselors, and/or employers who have worked with you within the past year to be sent to scholarships@nfbma.org with the word “reference” and your name in the subject line by February 28, 2026;
• Participate in a 30-minute interview with a member of the scholarship committee in February or early March 2026;
• Participate in the entire National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts state convention, to be held in-person on Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Woburn, MA. All applicants will be expected to attend the convention and participate in all activities of the convention, including a breakfast specifically for scholarship applicants. Scholarship winners will be announced at the convention banquet.

Deadline:

Applications must be received on or before February 28, 2026. No late application materials will be considered.

Past NFBMA Scholarship Winners

The 2025 Scholarship Winners

• Ren Lovegood
• Juna Gjata
• Stacey DeVaughn
• Sophia Cay

The 2024 Scholarship Winners

• Isabel Rosario
• Rebecca Arrowood
• Christopher Suplice
• Shannon Cantan

The 2023 Scholarship Winners

• Madeleine Babcock
• Tom Geraci
• Justin Heard
• Evan Hershowitz
• Chantale Zuzi

Additional Information:

If you have any questions, please send an email to the scholarship committee at scholarships@nfbma.org with the word “scholarship” in the subject line.