Past Scholarship Recipients

Two years ago, I applied, interviewed, and was fortunate enough to receive a position as a teacher’s assistant for the introductory computer science series at my university — a role that seemed out of reach when I started my degree. As a blind woman in an engineering field, I faced real barriers to finding belonging as a computer scientist."

Trisha Kulkarni, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Setting up goals and working continuously towards achieving them have been one of many effective strategies that have played significant roles in helping me pursue my path to success. Understanding the importance of acquiring higher education, I have set my goal to be graduating from SDSU in 2024 with a master’s degree in social work. After receiving my degree, my plan is to apply to law school and study immigration law."

Maryam Abdul Sattar, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

I am pursuing a Juris doctorate because I wish to further advance the rights of people with disabilities. I have benefited from the relentless advocacy of those who have dedicated their careers to advancing disability rights in the United States, and I can now play a part in protecting and further expanding those rights."

Emily Recinos, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

I have a disability, one that won’t disappear and will likely never improve. While this statement once threatened my ambitions, these truths no longer scare me, and frankly they challenge me each and every day to do more and be more. Both in the work world and a classroom setting, I know that I can provide thoughts, ideas, and lived experiences that few others will consider specifically because of my blindness."

Elizabeth Rouse, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Through coursework, practica, and applied clinical research in Spalding University's Clinical Psy.D. program, I hope to cultivate clinical skills to effectively support systemically marginalized young people experiencing mental health difficulties as I carry my passion for this work to my graduate education."

Jack McPadden, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Being a visually impaired artist challenges me to see the world in a unique manner that few people experience. This distinctive, somewhat unnatural talent has taught me how to approach my love for art and my desire to learn in a nonconforming yet thoughtful way. Despite all of my hardships, I worked hard to persevere."

Charlotte Wismer, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

I will be attending the University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia, and majoring in Political Science in order to fulfill my dreams of being an advocate for the visually impaired and blind in government. I want to be an instrumental part of reforming our state by advocating for the visually impaired community through new legislation and lobbying to get funds to help other students/adults like myself."

Haley Nisperly, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

There are challenges I have and will continue to face as a blind and autistic teenager performing on the stage. Thes e challenges make me a better artist because they make me practice overcoming my anxiety and barriers to performing and participating with my peers in The Arts."

Holly Conner, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Everyone has their own, unique challenges and problems. Having Stargardt’s disease has helped me grow as a person. It has shaped who I am today for the better. I've learned to confront the challenge of being blind head-on and to always look for new opportunities. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that, regardless of the challenge, you always need to keep pushing yourself and look for the positives in life."

Jack M. Freeburg, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Although I am working to build a meaningful career, I believe that education is also an opportunity for expanding oneself personally. In school, I want to become a better person, build deep relationships, and expand my understanding of the world and my small place in it. This scholarship would help make that dream a reality."

Julia LaGrand, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

This scholarship would allow me to learn as much as possible without worrying about costs and limitations. However, what is most important to me is answering the question: how can I give back to all the communities that served and helped me grow? Exploration and further understanding of the world will enhance current and future societies. I want to participate in that movement and contribute as much as possible."

Kenneth Calhoun, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Since my diagnosis of Stargardt’s, I have learned to be self-reliant, resilient, and to give hope through teaching and personal interaction. I try to model an attitude of success despite challenges. Next fall I will enter a 4 year college as a full time student. I plan to tailor a business degree to incorporate my passion for student development and teaching."

Skylar Adad, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

In 2019, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to undergo two neurosurgeries to remove it. Unfortunately, I lost my vision after the second surgery. I felt devastated, hopeless and lost. Knowing that life circumstances are unpredictable, I quickly adapted to a new way of living. My love for music inspires me to become a music therapist. My dream is to get people through their mental, emotional, and physical illnesses through the power of music."

Matthew Cho, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

With my visual impairment, I know college will be more challenging for me, but I’m ready to take on that challenge. I hope to inspire other people with visual impairments to realize they don’t have to let their vision limit them from accomplishing their goals."

Caden Roebke, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

My parents were essential in my ability to be able to graduate as Salutatorian of my class. They never said no to anything I asked to do, even if it meant a lot of brainstorming trying to figure out how I could do it with my low vision. I was always supported and encouraged by them, and that is why I am the way I am."

Ashleigh Rogers, 2023 Scholarship Recipient

Ultimately I hope that through my actions and deeds at Harvard that I can open the eyes of peers and educators who might have preconceived notions about what low vision people can do, or should do (or shouldn’t).

David Abrahams, Scholarship Recipient

I hope to better society by upholding high values and consideration for numerous perspectives. It is important to me that all people, no matter their ability or background, are treated fairly and respectfully.

Alexandra Allers, Scholarship Recipient

My personal and educational goals involve finding a cure for blindness.

Ryan Basso, Scholarship Recipient

As a computer science major, I will develop skills that will aid in the creation and development of applications and websites that are both accessible and intuitive for people of all ability levels.

Mitchell Bridwell, Scholarship Recipient

My personal goal is to learn as much as I can within my lifetime.

Stephen Friday, Scholarship Recipient

Communication has played an important role in my life. It has determined the course of my friendships, affected my self-confidence, and challenged me to be a better person. Being visually impaired has taught me to rely on my voice, and the voices of others, to understand. It has taught me that speaking up for my needs is an essential part of understanding, and it has challenged me to do the same for those who are unequipped to speak for themselves.

Emily Hicks, Scholarship Recipient

A scholarship from the Lighthouse Guild will be a major help for my academic career at Stanford, which I believe will serve as a platform on which I make my dream a reality.

Gene Kim, Scholarship Recipient

No matter what avenue I choose to pursue, my greatest aspiration is to make a constructive contribution to society and the lives of others.

Aymon Langlois, Scholarship Recipient

My ultimate goal is to pursue music and become a lawyer. It’s with these skills and degrees that I can play to my strengths and passions of listening, learning, and communicating through which I can change the world.

Jack MacDonald, Scholarship Recipient

As I became older, I started reading articles pertaining to certain behaviors I was curious about, and found out that there was a whole field of study relating to my interest. After researching the very basic ideas of psychology, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my career to studying and analyzing behaviors, along with the cognitive processes associated with it.

Mikayla M., Scholarship Recipient

I am ready to embrace the future and whatever challenges may face me with the skills and lessons that I have learned. I believe my visual impairment makes me a stronger person, and I feel capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to accomplish.

Luke Miller, Scholarship Recipient

Over the years, I have adapted to my differences so I can live my best life. I choose to not let my disability be an obstacle to my goals in life. I’m glad I was given something to separate me from the rest. I’ve embraced one of my weaknesses and learned to adapt and succeed in all aspects of my life.

Lukas Mullaney, Scholarship Recipient

What I know is this: I want to see the world, make a difference, and experience everything. I believe in dreams and ambition. I believe that being open-minded and pursuing our passions is how we discover ourselves.

Kaylee Nielson, Scholarship Recipient

Life has routinely thrown obstacles in my path, but instead of avoiding them, I take these barriers as opportunities to improve the world around me.

Anna Ohrt, Scholarship Recipient

My ultimate goal is to use the legal profession to support free expression in the electronic age. This goal brings together a wide range of interests—ones that stem from family, school, and outside activities.

Rio Popper, Scholarship Recipient

I plan to become an advocate for people with disabilities, while encouraging them to become active and valuable members of their communities. I also aim to show them that their disability will not prevent them from achieving their dreams, and that their disability is a unique asset, not a shameful limitation.

Lea Schiefele, Scholarship Recipient

I wish to be a part of something much bigger than myself, that being the work and research towards preserving the natural world.

Kinshuk Tella, Scholarship Recipient

Armed with a medical degree, I hope to one day help other children either as an ophthalmologist or as an oncologist. I also hope to start my own foundation helping provide medical treatments to children who otherwise couldn’t afford them.

Caitlin Sarubbi, Scholarship Recipient

I have been an ROTC cadet for all four years of high school and was selected as a Flight Commander, and then a Squadron Commander, leading mostly hearing male cadets. I have earned their respect as a female cadet and a deafblind person … I am proud of my service.

Elizabeth Adamson, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I aspire to be a disability rights attorney, and fight for individuals like myself in the courtroom.

Kaleigh Brendle, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

Using visual assistive technologies throughout my academic career has given me a unique perspective regarding such technologies.

Joel Gomez, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I faced my greatest challenge yet when I left the security of my home and school to be an exchange student in England… I came back with more confidence than ever.

Joshua Hoffman, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

With my education, I hope to open a nonprofit group practice and conduct research related to social anxiety and body image.

Ryan Maxwell, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I hope to continue my mission to educate others on disability and social justice issues at the collegiate level and into the future.

Olivia O’Connell, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I have exceedingly high expectations for my future and receiving this Lighthouse Guild scholarship will aid me in achieving these goals.

Grace Patterson, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

Hopefully, my example of overcoming adversity will be an inspiration to others and will reinforce that their visual impairment should not be an impediment for their future success.

Noah Schickler, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

When I think about becoming a speech therapist, my heart fills with pure excitement and determination because I would love to help those who struggle with communication and those who desperately want and need to improve their physical ability to communicate.

Emily Smith, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I know what it’s like to face challenges, but I also know that I am strong, and can do anything I put my mind to.

Emily Tollar, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I am eager to represent members of my community and to further the strides that so many disabled persons have made before me.

Emily Eagle, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

With a Masters of Public Health, I plan to lead a team that will dismantle systems of oppression by working to implement policies that ensure minority communities have equal access to the same resources as other communities.

Teerra Gillespie, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I do whatever I can to make a difference. Every paper and project I focus on disability policy and education. I lecture an auditorium of professors on disability law. I travel around the country to meet with congress members to promote bills.

Syed Rizvi, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I yearn to study in an environment free of barriers, a privilege I never have had so far. The Lighthouse Guild scholarship would not only support me in removing the financial barrier to my education, but would also provide me an opportunity to learn from its diverse community of scholars.

Maitraeya Shah, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I am taking a new direction in my career, with a goal of working to support women and people with disabilities around the world by earning a master’s degree in international relations.

Tabitha Kenlon, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I adapted certain subjects, like math, to fit me. I not only kept up with the sighted kids with these new methods of learning, I started to excel past them.

Kathryn Sevier, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

Coping with the challenges presented by my vision has shown me that my life will only be as good as I choose to make it. I now know that I can succeed despite my vision issues.

Cameron Fox, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

Regardless of where my academic journey leads, I’m sure it will include using computer science to help society.

Glory Leachman, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

Pursuing higher education is an important goal for myself that would put me in the right direction to improve on my skills.

Liam Cruz, 2021 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I want to pursue a doctoral degree because this will give me the training and ability to gain licensure to fully treat people with disabilities.

Muhammad Abubakar, 2021 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I was determined to prove to people my disability would not define me or limit me. Being involved in [various] clubs has helped me become more comfortable in talking to groups of people and advocating for myself."

Blake Tarrants, 2022 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

My purpose in life is to serve others; to use my gifts of authenticity, tenacity, and generosity to cultivate a community of change-makers. I’m currently doing a research survey study analyzing demographic characteristics about disabled PTs and their barriers to education, disclosure, and the workplace.”

Emma Chambers, 2022 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

Only by persevering through the toughest moments and never giving up on my goal, is when I began to understand the value of education and how it will impact the rest of my life. I aim to expand on my research, analytical, and critical thinking skills to ultimately become a scholar in the field of international business.”

Jannik Pesch, 2022 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

[As] a visually impaired visual artist, I am a walking contradiction — visually impaired enough to need a white cane, … yet sighted enough to create award-winning art. This dichotomy has given me purpose as an artist searching for ways to make visual art accessible to a visually disabled audience while enhancing the experience for the fully sighted."

Marieke Davis, 2022 Graduate School Scholarship Recipient

I have always had a passion for coding and computers in general. Upon graduation, I would like to seek employment with any governmental agency or non-profit foundation that helps those with disabilities. I want to use computers to make their lives easier.”

Brandon Swallow, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

The world seemed to never tell the stories of people like me. I wrote songs and stories about young blind women who were doubted just because they experienced the world differently. The same young women would then go out into the world and prove that they are just as capable as everyone else."

Iliana Mejia, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

While my physical vision may continue to deteriorate, my vision for a better future won’t. Against my physical constraints, my optimism for creating a more inclusive society, especially for individuals like myself, is boundless.”

David Mo, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

The path I envision for myself is no doubt a difficult one. Such a path will be worth the effort, as it will result in the attainment of independence as a disabled individual, academic excellence, cultural enrichment in a new environment, and artistic freedom.”

Cindy Liu, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I was determined to prove to people my disability would not define me or limit me. Through my involvement with the various clubs I have learned about different challenges people face, so I can be more empathetic to their situation and needs.”

Caroline Mizer, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I wish to become a professional vocalist and performer… The investment will not simply be for my future but also upcoming musicians who are blind and visually impaired as I continue advocating for equal access to music braille and other accommodations necessary for blind artists to succeed."

Noah Carver, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I aspire to write environmental justice policy grounded in the communities I come from, Vermont, the disabled community, and an international one."

Una Fonte, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I am passionate about eradicating discrimination and hate of marginalized groups. Thus, my goal is to study English, philosophy, and/or psychology to prepare for law school. Then I will pursue a career in civil rights law."

Yael Korc, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I am very passionate about helping [children] find ways to adapt to challenges in their home and school life, particularly helping modify behaviors to improve quality of life! I am planning to pursue a graduate degree in neuropsychology and work primarily with children with autism.”

Avery Sallean, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient

I will prove that people with disabilities can truly change the world if they are provided appropriate tools, given equal opportunities, and make the most of their experiences."

Camille O’Neal, 2022 College Bound Scholarship Recipient