Mackenzie Karbash
Mackenzie Karbash of Delavan is a self-described animal lover. That love of animals started young. She would join her brother, who did chores on their neighbor’s farm, to spend time with the cows, pigs and other creatures. That’s why when it came time to start looking at colleges, Mackenzie decided to attend Carroll University in Waukesha to study animal behavior and psychology. She is starting her first semester this fall.
“I do tend to lean more towards the small animals, like dogs and cats,” Mackenzie says. “But I also especially like the more exotic animals like sea otters!”
It shouldn’t be surprising that the life-long swimmer loves sea otters. Mackenzie joined her first swim team at just 6 years old, and in high school she was named captain of her school’s swim team. Having recently earned her para swimming classification, Mackenzie says she plans to continue training in college to attend their national meet next summer. “I have two people standing at either of the pool holding a large stick with a tennis ball attached to the end to tap me on the head when it’s time for me to turn,” Mackenzie says. “Otherwise, I would just swim right into the wall!”
Mackenzie was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis when she was about 6 months old and has been reading braille since she was 3. Today, Mackenzie is an expert braille user, utilizing her BrailleNote Touch Plus and iPad to access her schoolwork. That talent enable her to attend the Braille Institute of America’s Braille Challenge in Los Angeles last summer. “We did various challenges and tests with other contestants from around the world,” Mackenzie says. “I ended up taking third in my division. It was a super cool experience! I got to meet so many people from different parts of the world.”
While Mackenzie is still in the early stages of her academic pursuits, she thinks she would like to eventually find a career as an animal trainer. But first she wants to focus on enjoying college life. “I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and living somewhere other than the town I’ve grown up in,” Mackenzie says. “The scholarship will go toward my room and board at school. It means a lot to me to know that I have this kind of support behind me.”
The Council has been awarding scholarships to postsecondary students who are blind or low vision for most of its history. You can find more information about our scholarship program at WCBlind.org/Events/Scholarships.