Apply for GCB Scholarships: The Al and Cora Camp Memorial Scholarship for students, Leadership Scholarship for members, First-Timer's Scholarship for members
Application Guidelines
Alfred and Cora Camp Memorial Scholarship
Application Guidelines
In 2024 the Georgia Council of the Blind (GCB) will award several scholarships of up to one thousand dollars to students who are legally blind, or to sighted students who are financially dependent on legally blind parent(s). Applicants must be accepted in one of the following levels of post-secondary education:
(a) Vocational/technical school;
(b) College or University;
(c) Master’s or Doctoral program at an accredited university.
Guidelines for Eligibility
1. Scholarships are for one school year.
2. Legal blindness of applicant or parent(s) must be certified by an ophthalmologist or qualified professional in the field of blindness. (Legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of less than 20/200 in the better eye with correction, or field restriction to 20 degrees or less in the better eye with correction.)
3. Applicants must be legal residents of the State of Georgia.
4. Applying for a scholarship is open to students in all fields of study.
5. The application and all supporting documents must be typewritten.
6. Applications must be submitted no later than March 15, 2024.
7. All documents should be submitted by the applicant, not by someone else on his or her behalf. The application and supporting documents must be sent by email. The application must be accompanied by:
(a) Applicant’s most recent transcripts;
(b) Certification of legal blindness of applicant or parent(s);
(c) Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a teacher or other education professional acquainted with the applicant’s educational
potential and personal character;
(d) A minimum one-page description of extracurricular activities in which the applicant is involved, including community organizations or clubs;
(e) A Minimum one-page statement by the applicant, to include his or her educational goals and how the applicant sees himself or herself advocating as part of the blind and visually impaired community in the future;
(f) The application and supporting documents must be sent as attached Word files. Transcripts and certification of legal blindness may be sent as PDF attachments.
8. Applicants will be contacted by the scholarship committee and interviewed by phone in March 2024.
9. Scholarship awardees will be announced at a Georgia Council of the Blind board meeting or at the organization’s Conference and Convention in spring, 2024, and recipients are encouraged to attend.
10. The scholarship money will be paid to each recipient in one lump sum.
11. A member of the committee will contact each awardee periodically throughout the school year to discuss the student’s progress in achieving his or her goals and how the scholarship funds are being spent.
12. Each recipient is expected to write an article for The GCB Digest on his or her progress as a student and how the scholarship funds are helping in achieving his or her goals. Failure to submit an article will result in the recipient being ineligible to apply for GCB scholarships in the future.
13. Applicants and recipients may reapply for a GCB scholarship annually. When re-applying, all supporting documents must be current.
This application and all supporting documents must be sent by email before March 15, 2024, to: Marj Schneider, Scholarship Committee Chair. Email Address: marjschneider@bellsouth.net
All information provided by applicants will be kept confidential.
Download The Al and Cora Camp Scholarship Application
Learn about Alfred Camp, who our scholarship is named for. He became
blind serving our country in Korea and, along with his wife Cora,
championed this scholarship for many years.
Download the Al Camp Story
Georgia Council of the Blind
GCB Leadership and First Timers Scholarship
Leadership Scholarship Guidelines and Procedures
GCB offers its members the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to cover expenses to attend leadership development activities. Applicants are required to be 18 years of age or older, must be blind or visually impaired, and should be members in good standing of GCB.
Leadership training activities at the state or national level may be considered for this scholarship. Examples at the state level include workshops on advocacy or the legislative process conducted by organizations such as the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. On the national level, the Washington Legislative Seminar sponsored by the American Council of the Blind or the Leadership Institute at the national Conference and Convention of the American Council of the Blind are options for applicants. The amount awarded may not cover the total cost of attending these activities.
A member of a chapter interested in applying for a scholarship must obtain a letter of application from his or her chapter president. Those not involved in a chapter of GCB must ask the member at large representative or another leader in the blind community to write the application letter. This letter should be submitted to the scholarship committee for consideration. The deadline for letters to be received will be one month in advance of leadership activities in the State of Georgia and three months in advance for national events.
The application letter should include:
The event the applicant wishes to attend;
The objectives in applying for the leadership award;
A description of the applicant’s involvement and contributions to his or her GCB chapter or to the local blind community;
Mention of GCB or ACB activities the applicant has attended;
A description of how the applicant has demonstrated skills in leadership and shows potential for leadership in the future;
Discussion of what the applicant brings to GCB.
A scholarship recipient is expected to participate in all designated activities during the event he or she has been awarded funds to attend. The recipient is expected to submit an article reflecting on the experience for publication in the GCB digest and is expected to give an oral report at a GCB chapter meeting, a board meeting or at the GCB conference and convention. Failure to submit an article and provide an oral report will result in the recipient being ineligible to apply for GCB scholarships in the future.
The scholarship committee of GCB will meet on an as-needed basis to review leadership scholarship applications and interview applicants. The committee will determine the dollar amount to be awarded on a case-by-case basis, with ample time for the recipient to make travel arrangements.
As an organization GCB will make efforts to inform members of leadership training opportunities at the state and national level, both through the GCB Digest and at GCB chapter meetings or other GCB events. Chapter presidents and other leaders will encourage members to apply for this scholarship.
The letter of application should be submitted by email to scholarship committee chair
Marj Schneider at: marjschneider@bellsouth.net
For questions call Marj Schneider at 912-352-1415
Georgia Council of the Blind
First-timers Scholarship Guidelines and Procedures
GCB offers its members who have never attended the organization’s conference and convention the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to cover expenses to attend this annual event. Applicants are required to be 18 years of age or older; must be blind or visually impaired; should be members in good standing of GCB; and have never attended the GCB conference and convention, either as a member or non-member.
A member interested in applying for this scholarship should draft a letter of application and should obtain a short letter of reference from his or her chapter president. If he or she is not a member of a GCB chapter, the member at-large representative or a leader in the blind community can be asked to provide this reference letter. Both letters should be submitted to the scholarship committee for consideration. The deadline for letters to be received will be two months in advance of the GCB conference and convention.
The application letter should include:
• Discussion by the applicant of his or her background, education, and how long he or she has been blind or visually impaired;
• A description by the applicant of his or her involvement and contributions to a GCB chapter, to the local blind community or to the larger community;
• What the applicant hopes to gain personally by attending the GCB conference and convention;
• How the applicant hopes to contribute in the future to his or her GCB chapter or to the local blind community as a result of participation in this event.
The first-timers scholarship recipient is expected to attend and participate in all sessions during the GCB conference and convention. He or she will be introduced during the opening session and will be asked to speak briefly. Following the conference and convention the recipient is expected to submit an article reflecting on the experience for publication in the GCB digest and is expected to give an oral report at a GCB chapter meeting, a board meeting or at another GCB event. Failure to submit an article and provide an oral report will result in the recipient being ineligible to apply for GCB scholarships in the future.
The scholarship committee of GCB will meet immediately following the two months in advance deadline for first-timer applications to review those that have been submitted. The committee will determine the dollar amount to be awarded, given the cost of registration, hotel accommodations and transportation to the conference and convention. The scholarship recipient will be notified as soon as possible and, if needed, the committee will assist him or her in making arrangements to attend the event.
As an organization GCB will make efforts to inform members of the first-timers scholarship, both through the GCB Digest and at GCB chapter meetings or other GCB events. Chapter presidents and other leaders will encourage members to apply for this scholarship.
The letter of application and letter of reference should be emailed to scholarship committee chair Marj Schneider at: marjschneider@bellsouth.net
For questions call Marj Schneider at 912-352-1415.
Download The GCB Technology Grant Application Form