by Amanda Selm, ACB Scholarship Committee Chair
We have seen the power of mentorship in the American Council of the Blind over the past several years. Mentorship has the ability to change the trajectory of an individual’s journey, whether that be leadership-focused, career-oriented, or through creating a welcoming experience to someone brand new in a place that seems like home to many. The relationship between a Mentor and Mentee is a powerful one.
The ACB Scholarship Committee is excited to announce the return of the Scholarship Mentoring Program with a fun title, Soaring to Success. As we followed up after last year’s program, we saw a slight increase in involvement within our 2025 ACB scholarship winners. Several reported that they kept in touch with their mentors, and others explored involvement within ACB affiliates. When Denise Colley and Patty Slaby launched this program last year, they began a wonderful tradition, which jumpstarted many thoughts on how we can work as an organization to engage these intelligent and energetic individuals.
The ACB Scholarship Committee is seeking 21 ACB members to serve as a mentor to an ACB scholarship winner. The application period will run from April 1 through May 1. Anyone considering applying to be a mentor must commit to attending the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in Saint Louis during the same time frame as our ACB scholarship winners. The 2026 class of ACB scholarship winners will be required to arrive in Saint Louis in time for their first event on Friday, July 24 and stay through Monday, July 27. Mentors will need to attend a Scholarship Mentor Orientation Session in May, a Meet and Greet Session with their assigned scholarship winner in June, and meet with their assigned scholarship winner via phone at least twice prior to arrival in Saint Louis. There will also be a Convention Prep Session for both ACB scholarship winners and mentors in July prior to the virtual week. Required convention events for both ACB scholarship winners and their mentors will be shared once the scholarship committee finalizes this list. Following the ACB conference and convention, mentors will be expected to continue reaching out to their assigned ACB scholarship winner via phone, and attend our celebration event.
If you are interested in being a mentor to an ACB scholarship winner, there will be a form for you to complete. The Scholarship Mentor Form will be distributed via our ACB email lists. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Amanda Selm, ACB Scholarship Committee Chair, at amandaselm@outlook.com.
We look forward to receiving applications from our ACB Family and “Soaring to Success” this summer. “Together everyone achieves more.” — Dan Spoone