In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) and Scholarship America announce the People with Disabilities Scholarship Program call for applications. In 2016, Wells Fargo committed $1 million over four years to Scholarship America to develop and implement the program. 2018 marks the third year of the program.
The program’s goal is to help people with disabilities obtain the education or training they need to succeed in the careers they choose.
“We are proud to collaborate with Wells Fargo on its People with Disabilities Scholarship Program,” said Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO, Scholarship America. “All students deserve an opportunity to obtain a higher education. Wells Fargo is helping make that possible for students with disabilities.”
To date, Wells Fargo has donated $500,000 to Scholarship America to help 74 scholarship recipients with disabilities achieve their higher educational goals.
“Working with Scholarship America is just one of many ways Wells Fargo is helping to financially empower people with disabilities so they may reach their educational dreams,” said Kathy Martinez, head of Disability and Accessibility Strategy at Wells Fargo.
Applications for the scholarship program are being accepted online through Dec. 6, 2018, or until 700 applications are submitted. The People with Disabilities Scholarship Program will provide awards of up to $2,500 to qualifying full-time students, renewable up to three years. Awards of up to $1,250 are available to qualifying half-time students and are renewable up to seven years, or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first.
“I am extremely grateful for the scholarship,” said Kyle Hua, a Computer Science major at California State UniversityBerkeley, who received a $2,500 renewable scholarship for the 201819 school year. “Thanks to the extra funds, I will be able to upgrade my computer and repair my hearing aids. Both will help me succeed with my studies.”
Selection criteria
The selection criteria include academic performance, demonstrated leadership, work experience, a brief statement of career and educational goals and an outside appraisal. Financial need will be considered.
Application process
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
Have an identified disability (defined as someone who has, or considers themselves to have, a long-term or recurring issue that affects one or more major life activities).
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent.
- Be a high school senior or graduate who plans to enroll (or already is enrolled) in fulltime or half-time (at least six credits per term) undergraduate study at an accredited twoyear or fouryear college or university in the U.S. for the entire 2019-2020 academic year.
Applicants are required to complete the online application and provide a current academic transcript.
The online application is accessible for users of all abilities. A dedicated toll-free phone number and email address are available to applicants who need additional assistance.
Each applicant also is required to submit an essay on the question,”What life experiences have shaped who you are today”
For more information about the scholarships, please visit https://scholarsapply.org/pwdscholarship.
Wells Fargo’s commitment to people with disabilities
Wells Fargo has donated more than $49 million to nonprofits and launched a number of programs since 2005 to help financially empower and employ people with disabilities. Recent program highlights include:
Financial education
Communication Services for the Deaf Learns and Wells Fargo launched an online financial education series for the deaf community available free of charge at to all deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind individuals in the U.S. as well as their teachers and service providers. In addition, National Disability Institute and Wells Fargo released 15 quick financial education reference guides and five disability supplemental guides designed to provide financial educators access to resources and tools specifically for persons with disabilities. The disability-specific financial education materials complement existing Hands on Banking instructor guides.
Enterprise Accessibility Program Office
Wells Fargo launched an Enterprise Accessibility Program Office. The ultimate goals are for all individuals customers and team members to be able to access and utilize
Wells Fargo properties with ease and for the company to go beyond accessible requirements.
Diverse Leaders Program
Wells Fargo hosts an annual Diverse Leaders Program for People with Diverse Abilities, a unique three-day program for team members who identify as individuals with a disability to understand and embrace their strengths, overcome challenges and learn how their differences help them add value as leaders on the company team.
To learn more about Wells Fargo’s commitment to people with disabilities, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/about/diversity/accessibility/
