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JBI, the nonprofit supporting access to Jewish life for individuals who are blind, have visual impairments, or print disabilities, recognized five outstanding graduate and undergraduate students this fall with a total of $75,000 in scholarships for their academic achievements and contributions to the Jewish community through its annual Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Merit Award, established for Jewish students who are legally blind and enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university.

This year’s recipients include Jack McPadden (doctoral studies in clinical psychology, Spalding University), Anny Safier (MSW studies in social work, Binghamton University), Joseph Silfen (PsyD in clinical psychology, Touro University), Daniel Solomon (PhD studies in history, University of California-Berkeley), and Nola Timmins (MA studies in architecture, University of Virginia).

“At times, visual and logistical obstacles make accomplishing my professional dreams feel impossible,” said Silfen, who is in his third year of his graduate program. “However, support from teachers, rabbis, my parents, friends, and G-d has inspired me to push beyond physical limitations and complete my doctorate in clinical psychology—and earning the JBI Wolfson Scholarship will help accomplish my dream.”

Silfen’s sentiment is not unheard of among students who are blind and face unique challenges in education, including a lack of accessible course materials from textbooks to in-class exams and lectures, technological device and screen reader limitations, and a general lack of awareness among faculty and fellow students, which contributes to biases or untrue assumptions about blind students and their abilities.

“There are currently only three legally blind students pursuing an architecture degree in the United States,” said Timmins, whose award was renewed this year. “This scholarship helps me continue to be one of those three students who strive for change and inclusivity in the field of architecture. With this degree, I hope to design homes for people with disabilities.”

The rise in antisemitism on campuses nationwide is another reason this year’s honorees have said their higher education matters even more to them.

“As the Jewish community continues to endure discriminatory responses amidst global crises, it is deeply meaningful that this Wolfson scholarship award will enable me to continue my education while promoting equity and combating systemic oppression through my clinical work,” said McPadden, who will be working in a community mental health center this year.

“Being Jewish and visually impaired are both constitutive elements of my identity,” said Daniel Solomon. “I strive to serve both of these communities as an academic and a writer in the public sphere.”

Each of the five recipients also made it clear that the award is helping them continue pursuing education and careers that will allow them to give back to their communities.

“This scholarship will help me pay for the accelerated one-year MSW program at Binghamton University. This award enables me to continue pursuing my goal to help future clients,” said Safier.

Since its inception in 2018, the award, which honors the memory of longtime JBI Trustee and Honorary Officer Nathan L. Wolfson and his wife, Suzanne, has given $315,000 in scholarships to full-time undergraduate and graduate Jewish students who are legally blind and attending an accredited university or college. JBI is also expanding recruitment efforts to better support students pursuing studies in Israel. Individual awards range between $2,500–$15,000 per year, with an opportunity to renew for a second year. Awards are being expanded to include engaging with programs for studies in Israel. Visit www.wolfsonfund.org for more information.

JBI, established in 1931 as The Jewish Braille Institute, is a nonprofit organization that enables people of all ages and backgrounds who are blind, have low vision, or are print-disabled to connect to and participate fully in Jewish cultural, literary, educational, religious, and communal life. JBI creates, publishes, and distributes thousands of Jewish-interest materials in audio, braille, and large print, and sends them free of charge directly to patrons’ doorsteps. Through its vast circulating library, liturgical texts, customized materials, and cultural offerings, JBI continues to innovate and empower communities and encourage a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. Visit www.jbilibrary.org to learn more.