National Federation of the Blind Texas Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by National Federation of the Blind Texas
Each year the National Federation of the Blind of Texas awards scholarships to outstanding blind students across the state. Awards are presented at our annual convention, which for 2025 will take place October 31–November 2 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport. Finalists are required to attend the convention; travel and lodging for finalists will be covered by NFBTX. Finalists should plan to arrive at the hotel no later than 4:00 PM on October 31 and remain until at least 12:00 PM (noon) on November 2.
Eligibility
- Legally blind in both eyes. Legal blindness is defined as best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye, or a visual field limited to 20 degrees or less in the better eye. Vision loss in only one eye does not meet the definition; applicants must be legally blind in both eyes.
- Resident of Texas at the time the application is submitted.
- Planning to pursue or actively pursuing full-time postsecondary study at a U.S. institution in the fall of the application year. At the committee’s discretion, one scholarship may be awarded to a student enrolled part-time while employed full-time. Full-time attendance at a trade or technical school will also be considered.
- Must be present for the full National Federation of the Blind of Texas convention (attendance at our expense is mandatory for finalists).
About the 2025 Scholarships
NFB of Texas will award four scholarships in 2025:
- NFBTX Merit Scholarship — one scholarship of $2,000. Funded by public donations. No additional restrictions.
- NFBTX Chapter Scholarship — one scholarship of $2,000. Funded by donations from NFB of Texas chapters. No additional restrictions.
- NFBTX Members Scholarship — one scholarship of $2,000. Granted by NFB of Texas members. No additional restrictions.
- Harley Fetterman Memorial Scholarship — one scholarship of $3,000. Supported by member contributions, public donations, and Harley’s Wallet, a nonprofit established by Harley Fetterman’s family. This award honors Harley Fetterman, a Federationist who passed away from cancer in 2016 at age 18; though his time with us was short, his impact on the blindness community was significant. No additional restrictions.
Selection Criteria
Scholarship decisions will be based on academic achievement and community service. Membership in the National Federation of the Blind of Texas is not required to apply.
How to Apply — Required Materials
To be considered, applicants must submit all of the following:
1. A fully completed application form. Every question must be answered; if a question does not apply, enter “N/A.”
2. Proof of legal blindness from a physician or your vocational rehabilitation counselor, using the legal definition noted above.
3. A current academic transcript (electronic copies preferred).
4. An essay (up to 700 words). The online application includes space for your essay. Use it to describe yourself, the skills you use in academic and daily life, and any other information that will help the committee evaluate your candidacy.
5. One letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your academic abilities, how you manage as a blind person in academic or work settings, and your future plans. Recommendations from family members are not acceptable. Acceptable authors include teachers, professors, mentors, supervisors, community service coordinators, or rehabilitation professionals.
6. Proof of acceptance to a postsecondary program if you are an incoming freshman or starting a graduate program — submit an acceptance letter from at least one college or university.
Submission Instructions
We prefer electronic submission of all documents. Complete the online application and use the submit button at the end of the form; you will receive a copy of your submitted application. After submitting the form, email the remaining required documents to scholarships@nfbtx.org. Documents provided by recommenders or other third parties may be sent directly to the committee by those individuals.
When emailing materials, include your name and the document type in the subject line (for example: “John Doe — Recommendation Letter” or “Jane Smith — Proof of Blindness”) and ask anyone sending documents on your behalf to use the same format.
If you cannot submit electronically, contact the office for a printed application and instructions. To request a paper application, call our office at (281) 968-7733 during regular business hours.