The Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Merit Award: 2026

Today, I receive. Tomorrow, I will give.

This scholarship has given me more than funding. It has strengthened my confidence, allowed me to continue my academic journey with dignity, and reminded me that my voice and contributions matter, even in a world that is not always fully accessible.

Receiving this scholarship is very important to me. As a 50-year-old married mother of three and a volunteer, I refuse to let my visual impairment stop me. In general, very few people with visual impairments reach doctoral studies. I want my journey and my research to inspire others with visual impairments to continue to a PhD. This scholarship helps open that door. Doing a PhD with a visual impairment requires a lot of extra support and resources, so this financial help is a huge relief. It allows me to focus completely on my studies without worrying about the costs. It also teaches my children that when you work hard, solutions and support will appear. Thank you for believing in me and helping me show others what is possible.

Receiving the JBI Wolfson scholarship is both an incredible honor and a meaningful affirmation of my journey as a Jewish DeafBlind student. As a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, my research is focused on furthering our understanding of climate change and its impacts on natural processes, while demonstrating that disability is not a barrier to excellence in science. This scholarship helps make it possible for me to continue my studies and focus on my research by easing the financial demands of graduate education. It also reminds me that I am part of a community that values learning, perseverance and the unique perspectives that Blind and Low-Vision Jewish students bring to academia and beyond. I am deeply grateful for this recognition, Thank you.

I have never allowed my blindness to keep me apart from my peers or my community. Instead, I have worked to educate the younger generation about blindness, inclusion, and the acceptance of people with special needs. I believe that understanding and empathy create stronger, more compassionate communities.

Receiving the JBI Wolfson Scholarship means a great deal to me, and I am truly grateful to the Wolfson family and JBI for this opportunity. This fall, I will begin my master's degree. I am a first-generation college student, meaning that neither of my parents has an academic degree. Since I did not grow up with firsthand guidance about higher education, I had to figure out much of the process on my own. Reaching this point is therefore especially meaningful to me and to my family. During the last months of my mandatory service in the IDF, I suffered an eye injury during an operational activity. The injury was later recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Because of my own experience with vision loss, JBI's work has a personal meaning for me, and receiving this scholarship feels especially significant. Even after my injury, I stayed focused on my goals and completed my bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies with a high-tech concentration, graduating with a 96 GPA. This scholarship will allow me to devote my full attention to my master's studies instead of balancing work and school at the same time. I hope that the knowledge and experience I gain will help me build a meaningful career in Israel, and I also hope that one day I will be able to support others in the same way that JBI and the Wolfson family have supported me. Thank you again for your generosity and for your confidence in me.

Receiving the Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Scholarship is an incredible honor, and I am extremely grateful to have been selected. This award means much more to me than financial assistance. It is a reminder that hard work, dedication, and commitment to my education and my community are recognized and valued. Knowing that others believe in my potential motivates me to continue striving for excellence throughout my academic journey at the University of Georgia.

What I appreciate just as much is knowing that people are willing to invest in students like me and believe in our potential. That encouragement is incredibly meaningful and reminds me that I am not facing these challenges on my own.

I sincerely thank JBI Wolfson for awarding me this scholarship. Beyond its financial support, this scholarship represents recognition of my academic efforts and serves as a meaningful source of encouragement as I continue my studies and research. As a person with visual impairment, this award holds special personal significance, reflecting that determination and perseverance can overcome challenges. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and will strive to make the most of this opportunity as I continue my studies and advance my professional career. I hope that my research will contribute to advancing our understanding of the brain and make a meaningful impact in the future. This scholarship inspires me to continue pursuing excellence and to contribute to science and society through my work.

I hope to use the knowledge and experience I gain to build technology that has a positive impact on people's lives. I am truly grateful to the Wolfson family and everyone involved in this scholarship program for investing in students like me. Their generosity will help me continue my education with greater confidence and determination.

I chose social work because I want to support people facing difficult life circumstances and contribute to services that are respectful, practical, and accessible.

For me, this recognition is a powerful validation of years of hard work and dedication. To be recognized by the committee is incredibly motivating. It fuels my commitment to keep working hard for my communities and to use my skills to contribute to society at large. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to turn this support into meaningful, positive change.

This award means so much to me. It represents more than financial support, it provides me with the opportunity to pursue a more accessible education and continue my academic journey as a proud Jew. Receiving this scholarship motivates me to work hard, give back to my community, and leave a positive impact on the world. I am deeply grateful for your generosity and support.

This scholarship will allow me to further my doctoral education in the Clinical Psy.D. program at Spalding University's School of Professional Psychology. As I pursue this degree, I will continue to embrace my passion for delivering culturally responsive mental health services in systemically marginalized communities as part of my broader commitment to Tikkun Olam. As I strive to earn my doctoral degree, and as I continue my work with clients, I hope to make a positive impact in the lives of others through a client-centered approach to psychological assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. In this way, the Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Scholarship will assist me to become a skilled practitioner who is committed to the pursuit of equity by supporting and empowering those who are marginalized in our communities.

Receiving the JBI Wolfson Scholarship is both a great honor and a support as I continue my academic and professional path. I am currently pursuing an M.A. in Education: Technologies and Learning Systems while working part-time as a teacher. This scholarship will help reduce the financial burdens, and will allow me to focus more fully on my studies and professional growth. It also encourages me to keep working toward inclusive, effective education and to use what I learn to support students in meaningful ways.

Receiving the scholarship for me is first and foremost a feeling that I am seen. That I am seen as a student, that I am seen as a Jew, and that I am seen as visually impaired. I am grateful for the opportunity to receive your scholarship, it is very significant in my financial sense. Thank you for simply seeing our community, and appreciating us.

I want to thank you for this scholarship and the opportunity to accomplish my goals. As a blind woman and a single mother of 2 children that is self-funding my master’s in social-work, this award means a lot to me, it means you recognize my cause and allow me to continue my studies to untimely able to continue serving the people of Sderot to heal from October 7th, which became my life’s mission.

This scholarship is very meaningful to me because it supports my studies, helps me continue my professional development, and brings me closer to achieving my goals in education and life. Thank you very much for this scholarship. I truly appreciate your support and generosity. This means a lot to me.

I am humbled and honored to get this scholarship…For me, your support carries a deep, multi-faceted, powerful message! The first, most obvious one is the message of care from the US Jewish community to Jewish students in Israel, being a powerful endorsement of our bond…You help our community by providing access to tools and funds that empowers blind and people of low vision such as myself to pursue higher and advanced professional education. Allowing me this access in my journey is an amazing boost of confidence, a true investment in my future and the future of Jewish/Israeli education as I myself am studying to be an English teacher to Israeli children with disabilities, I have been an educator through a large portion of my professional career…From now on, when I smile at one of my students, seeing them succeed in their own journey with their own disability, I will hold a part of their success to all of you wonderful people who are doing so much for this community, my community.

Receiving the JBI Wolfson Scholarship means a great deal to me. As a social work student with a visual impairment, I often need extra support, accessible study materials, and help with transportation. This scholarship will reduce some of these costs. Receiving the Scholarship also makes me feel that my hard work and my commitment to helping children, older adults, and other people in difficult situations are being recognized. I hope to use my studies and personal experience to support people who face disability and hardship. I am very grateful to JBI and to the Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Scholarship Program for this support.