A student with a white cane smiles as he walks with his group of friends. With a focus on our future, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced in early 2025 that it would launch a new program for college and university students who are blind. Known as the AFB Scholars Program, this new opportunity for students pursuing higher education provides substantial financial support, along with additional mentoring and learning opportunities for students to grow as future leaders in their respective fields of study.

“The AFB Scholars program offers a transformative opportunity for blind students. These new scholarships will turn the dreams of many exceptional students into reality for years to come.”

— Eric Bridges, AFB President & CEO

The scholarship awards will be available for graduate and undergraduate students who meet the qualifications for legal blindness. The maximum available amount is $20,000 for undergraduate students and $28,000 for graduate students.

The newly established awards through the AFB Scholars Program are in addition to AFB’s current offerings of scholarships awarded in partnership with the American Council of the Blind (ACB).

“A great aspect of this new scholarship program is that students will also gain access to successful blind professionals as mentors and have the opportunity to join AFB at its annual Leadership Conference. This demonstrates AFB’s commitment to ensuring students are set up for success in their chosen fields of study.”

— Matthew Janusauskas, Chief Technology & Programs Officer

Graduating students wave their graduation caps in the air.

This past June, AFB announced its first class of scholars in the program, granting scholarships to four outstanding students who are blind. Three of the students are attending graduate studies, while the fourth is an incoming undergraduate freshman. Each scholar is paired with a member of AFB’s leadership team who also has lived experience of blindness and will serve as a mentor for the scholars as they progress through the program.

A student wearing glasses sits with other students in a lecture hall. The newly launched AFB Scholars Program is made possible through the generous support of the Lulu J. Alonso Scholarship Fund. Named in memory of Lulu J. Alonso, a teacher of the visually impaired and professor emerita at Michigan State University, the endowed gift will provide multiple substantial scholarships in perpetuity. As a result of the gift, AFB has established an advisory group and a selection committee and will provide program support for the scholarships to be awarded.

Learn More

For more information about the AFB Scholars Program, visit www.afb.org/scholarships.

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