Scholarship Application

This is the application required to be considered for a Chicago Lighthouse scholarship. Applications must be completed before 9 A.M. on April 30, 2025.

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Financial need

  • Personal essay/character
  • Community and school involvement and career goals
  • Overall quality of application
  • Academic record
  • Academic rigor

 

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


  • Personal Information

























  • *You cannot be awarded a scholarship more than four years in a row. However, you may reapply after a one year gap. After a one year gap period, you will be eligible again for four more consecutive scholarships.
  • Please check all boxes that apply.







  • Education Information







  • Please indicate when you were admitted to this institution OR when you anticipate your acceptance to be offered, if known.
  • Please indicate whether you plan to study full-time or part-time during the period which this scholarship would apply.
  • Please indicate when you expect to complete your degree. If estimating, simply choose the first day of the month you expect to graduate, e.g. 06/01/2019.



  • Please describe any scholarships, academic honors, awards or accommodations you have received. Cite date and explain recognition for each.
  • Please note: Your submitted transcript must reflect a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better to be considered.

  • Employment Experience

  • Please select all that apply.





  • If applicable, please indicate the name of the organization where you currently work, date of employment, position held and a brief description of your role.
  • If applicable, please include the following details for each past position listed: name of the organization, date of employment, position held and a brief description of your role. (No need to repeat work experience included in the Current Employment Status section.)

  • Anticipated Costs

  • Please refer to the financial aid web page for the institution you plan to attend for an estimate of cost of attendance. Consider all of the following: tuition, fees, room, board, assistive technology, tools, books, reading services, etc.
  • Consider all of the following: loans, family support, employment, DHS, DRS, sponsors, scholarships, etc. Please list the anticipated cost per source.
  • Please select all that apply.








  • Supporting Documents

    Please note, the documents required below can either be uploaded with your application now, or emailed to Maureen Reid at maureen.reid@chicagolighthouse.org on or before 9A.M., April 30, 2025.

  • Essays

    Your essays should be a minimum of one page / maximum of two pages, double-spaced. Please upload completed essay documents in Word or PDF format. Please include your name (first and last) on each page of each document in the event that your documents are separated from the rest of your application.
  • Please write an essay about your visual impairment or disability, background, educational aspirations and career goals. Discuss how a Lighthouse scholarship will help achieve your goals. Include academic and/or activity achievements.
    Max. file size: 100 MB.

  • Please describe in detail your economic need and how you plan to use the scholarship, if you are awarded. You need to be as specific as possible in order to receive a scholarship award. This part of your application is heavily weighted in your application consideration.
    Max. file size: 100 MB.

  • Eye Report

  • Please have your eye specialist complete the Eye Report, which can be found on the main scholarship page. Previous scholarship recipients must submit a current vision report obtained within the last six months, regardless of whether we have one on file from a previous year. Once completed, scan the document and upload here.
    Max. file size: 100 MB.

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