Application Guidelines
In 2026, 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 9, 2026.
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. Recommendation letters or applicant’s submissions that appear to be AI generated will not be accepted. 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 two-page description of extracurricular activities in which the applicant is involved, including community organizations or clubs and paid work experience;
(e) A Minimum one-page essay 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 low vision 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 2026.
9. Scholarship awardees will be announced at a Georgia Council of the Blind board meeting in spring, 2026, and recipients are encouraged to attend in person.
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 as attachments in a single email before March 9, 2026, to: Marj Schneider, Scholarship Committee Chair.
Email address:
marjschneider@bellsouth.net.
All information provided by applicants will be kept confidential.
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