Scholarships & Awards
Scholarship and Award Nominations are due by March 1, 2010. For more information on the Scholarships and Awards that TAER offers please click on one of the following links.
If you are awarded a scholarship or award from TAER please complete this form.
To nominate someone for one of the TAER Awards please complete the Award Nomination Form.
Forward all nominations to Olivia Chavez at ochavez@esc19.net or olivia.chavez@sbcglobal.net
TAER Scholarships and Awards
- Dr Virginia Bishop Stipend
- TAER Scholarships
- TAER Awards
- Past Recipients
Dr Virginia Bishop Stipend
TAER Scholarships
Do you know a student who deserves to be recognized -- both by a show of encouragement and monetarily -- for his or her hard work? If so, here's a great opportunity to nominate them for a TAER Scholarship!Each recipient will be rewarded their $1,000 scholarship annually at the TAER Awards Ceremony.
Scholarship Categories:
- Student with a Visual Impairment Scholarship: This scholarship is for a student with a visual impairment who is either preparing or currently attending college.
- Professional Preparation Scholarship: This scholarship is for a student who has either been accepted or is currently attending college to study either rehabilitation or education of people with visual impairments.
Scholarship Criteria:
- Texas Resident
- Student in good standing
- Able to demonstrate financial need
- Able to document a visual impairment (applicable only for the Student with a Visual Impairment Scholarship)
Nomination Requirements:
- A letter from the individual nominating the student (students may self-nominate).
- Letters of recommendation -- although TAER will accept one letter, the scholarship committee prefers at least two.
- A letter written by the nominee to the scholarship committee regarding the goal of his or her education.
Note: Letters should address how the student meets the scholarship criteria. Additionally, the Scholarship Committee reserves the right to request documentation of educational status and visual impairment as well as information pertaining to other scholarships applied for or awarded to the nominee.
TAER Awards
All around you are individuals who are exceptional in so many ways. You have always admired them and wished for a way to recognize their merit. What better way than to nominate them for a TAER award? All you need to do is read the descriptions of each award below, and nominate a worthy individual (or agency) by completing a nomination form. It's easy, and it will feel very special to you, as well as to them. So do it today! We are counting on you to make our awards program successful!
To be presented to the individual or organization, not responsible for direct delivery of services to persons who are blind or visually impaired, but who has, in one form or another, made an outstanding contribution to work for these persons. Possible recipients include legislators, eye care professionals, physicians, employers, public officials, and interested individuals or organizations.
Aubrey Boyd Tipps Memorial Award
The late Aubrey Boyd Tipps was vitally interested in rehabilitation and placement services for persons who were blind. This award is dedicated to Mr. Tipp's philosophy that true rehabilitation results in employment. The award will be presented to an individual or organization who consistently provides outstanding services in the field of placement of persons who are blind or visually impaired, either in competitive employment or sheltered workshops. The award is limited to individuals or organizations involved in direct delivery of services to these persons, as opposed to supervisory or administrative officials of an organization.
Sammie K. Rankin Memorial Award (Outstanding Member Award)
The late Sammie K. Rankin was the first director of the Lighthouse for the Blind in Waco and was a supervisor of rehabilitation teachers with the Texas Commission for the Blind for many years. This award is to be presented in her honor and memory to an individual or organization who has made an outstanding contribution to services for persons who are blind or visually impaired in Texas. Any TAER member is eligible for nomination for the award.
This award is in honor of Julia L. Young, who provided leadership in the development of the visually handicapped children's program of the Texas Commission for the Blind and gave direction and guidance to that program for many years. The award is presented to an individual who has done outstanding work with children who are visually impaired in Texas. Examples include: special education teachers, regular classroom teachers, caseworkers, therapists, volunteer workers, and other individuals providing direct services to children with visual impairments.
The Natalie Barraga Award recognizes excellence in public school programs for students with visual impairments. The award is given in honor of Dr. Natalie Barraga for her long and distinguished career in the education of students with visual impairments and in university personnel preparation. Awards are given to a small program (1‑20 students) and to a large program (21 students and over). School districts and special education cooperatives may enter their programs in visual impairment for the award. After a program has been nominated, an entry form will be sent directly to the program to request more specific information.
This award is to be presented to an individual, group, or agency who has contributed outstanding service and/or contributions to the field of early childhood education in relation to blindness and visual impairment.
The Phil Hatlen Award recognizes excellence in leadership and innovative changes in the field of Visual Impairment. This award is given in honor of Dr. Phil Hatlen for exemplary and dedicated service to our field. A visionary of change, Dr. Hatlen has been an inspiration to countless professionals during his career as a teacher, university professor in teacher preparation programs, and in his many leadership roles in national and state organizations and committees. He currently shares his enthusiastic commitment to the continuous improvement of educational opportunities for blind or visually impaired students as superintendent of Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The recipient of this award may be an administrator or university professor. This recipient must have brought about innovative changes or provided out-standing leadership to our field that ultimately improved services to programming and quality of life to students with a visual impairment.
Outstanding Parent of the Year
This award will be presented to a parent (or parents) who has demonstrated advocacy and dedication in the interest of persons with visual impairments. This award is limited to the parents of an individual with a visual impairment. Examples include parents involved with legislative lobbying, public awareness and education, or the development of appropriate educational services and programs.
Outstanding Student of the Year
This award will be presented to an outstanding high school or college student who has demonstrated unparalleled accomplishments in academic achievement, the pursuit of a vocational goal, athletic performance, or the arts.