
Attention students who are blind or low vision: Applications for 2025 Council Scholarships are now open!
Every year, we award up to ten $2,000 scholarships to Wisconsin students who are blind or low vision and who are enrolled in post-secondary education in the fall. Past recipients have used scholarship funds in a variety of ways to further their education. In addition to the standard costs of going to school, like tuition, books and housing, students with vision loss take on a variety of other expenses as well, such as adaptive devices, access technology and transportation.
Higher education is critical for the future success of people who are blind or low vision. According to VisionServe Alliance’s Big Data Report on Working Age Adults, people with vision loss who graduate from college or a technical school have significantly better employment and health outcomes later in life. “The ability to offer these annual scholarships is truly an honor for the Council,” says Executive Director Denise Jess. “We know that education and training beyond high school is a critical part of successful employment and life satisfaction for students who are blind or low vision. It is very gratifying to help them on their academic journey.”
Council Scholarship recipients have gone on to pay it forward and help the Council advance our mission. Former scholarship recipient Mikyla Mobley graduated from Edgewood College in 2023 with a degree in Sociology. While at Edgewood, Mikyla became involved with the college’s Black Student Union (BSU), eventually serving in several leadership roles. “Serving on the Edgewood BSU while continuing my education was a great experience,” Mikyla says. “I was able to meet so many other BSU members, and I was very proud to serve as a leader to the organization.”
Mikyla says that the Council Scholarship not only helped her financially but also helped her learn more about the Council and how she could get involved to help empowerment Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision. The result: Last month, Mikyla began her first term as a member of the Council’s Board of Directors.
“I had been to the Council before to get a cane, but getting the scholarship really showed me that there were so many more things that I could be a part of,” Mikyla says.
The Council is grateful to the Preis, Nelson and Johnson families for their generous gifts that make it possible for us to continue offering these scholarships. You can learn more and find the application materials on the Scholarship page of our website. The submission deadline is March 21.