BSC Scholarship Application

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2026 Blind Service Chicago (BSC) Scholarship Application

BSC awards individual scholarships up to $4,000 (in rare cases higher). Awards are based on academic record and financial need.

Deadline: Monday, April 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Required submissions:

Two letters of recommendation (sent directly by recommenders)
Personal statement (limit 600 words) or returning recipient summary
Official transcripts (sent directly by school)
Eye report (within last two years) certifying legal blindness
Valid State Identification

Interviews will be scheduled during May 2026. Scholarship awards will be announced in June at BSC’s annual scholarship event (awardees expected to attend).

Section 1 – Personal Data

Name(Required)

First Last

Street Address(Required)

Street Address City State ZIP Code

Phone(Required)

E-mail(Required)

Pronouns

Section 2 – School You Plan to Attend in the Fall

School Name(Required)

School Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Have you been admitted to this institution?(Required)

Yes

No

If no, when do you expect to be accepted?

Expected major/area of concentration

Enrollment status(Required)

Full time

Part time

Degree/Certificate sought

Date degree expected (month and year)

Section 3 – Educational Background

Complete only items which apply. Recent high school graduates need only list their current school.

Educational Background – School 1

Name of School (1)(Required)

School Address (1)(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Major/area of concentration

Enrollment status

Full time

Part time

Cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale

Cumulative GPA on a 5.0 scale

Degree/certificate awarded

Scholarships, academic honors, and/or awards

Educational Background – School 2 (if applicable)

Name of School (2)

School Address (2)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Major/area of concentration (2)

Enrollment status (2)

Full time

Part time

Cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale (2)

Cumulative GPA on a 5.0 scale (2)

Degree/certificate awarded (2)

Scholarships, academic honors, and/or awards (2)

Section 4 – Extracurricular Activities

Briefly describe school, community, volunteer, or other activities in which you are or have been involved.

Section 5 – Employment Experience

Are you currently employed?(Required)

Yes

No

Employment type

Full time

Part time

Where, and in what capacity:

What work experience have you had in the last five years?

Section 6 – Costs

What are your anticipated costs (tuition, fees, room and board) per semester/trimester/quarter? Please provide details.

What funding sources have you explored (loans, family support, employment, awards, grants, scholarships)? Please specify and provide details.

How much support do you anticipate?

IDHS/TANF

Loans

Family Support

Employment

Awards/Grants/Scholarships

Other

Section 7 – Additional Information

How did you hear about the BSC Scholarship Program?

Have you received a BSC Scholarship in the past?

Yes

No

Year 2023 – Amount

Year 2024 – Amount

Year 2025 – Amount

You certify that the information set forth in this application is true and correct.

Signature(Required)

Date(Required)

Submission Options

Email submissions: Ginger Leopoldo, Director of Youth Programs – [email protected]
Mail/Drop-Off: Blind Service Chicago, 17 N. State St., Suite 1050, Chicago, IL 60602

Recommenders and schools must submit letters/transcripts directly.

Submit Your Application

Section 1 – Personal Data

Section 2 – School You Plan to Attend in the Fall

Section 3 – Educational Background

Educational Background – School 1

Educational Background – School 2 (if applicable)

Section 4 – Extracurricular Activities

Section 5 – Employment Experience

Section 6 – Costs

How much support do you anticipate?

Section 7 – Additional Information

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