2004 Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards

Matthew VanFossan

RFB&D's little blue boxes ... are as much a part of my academic experience as my book bag," says Matthew VanFossan. He credits RFB&D's library with satisfying his intellectual curiosity in subjects as diverse as quantum physics and economic history.

After receiving a college scholarship from the American Council of the Blind and working with the National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS), Matthew became involved in community activities in the United States and abroad and was pleased to be elected vice president of NABS. At home, he volunteered as a braille tutor, mentor, researcher, writer and fundraiser. On campus, he worked to strengthen bonds and activism among students with disabilities.

In 2003, Matthew spent six months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, studying politics and Spanish. In 2004, he traveled to Brazil to study the Portuguese language and culture. Each time, RFB&D was able to help. Matthew says, "Unlike other students, I could hear clearly enunciated Spanish every time I read my book."

Matthew graduated with a degree in politics and Latin American studies from Oberlin College, OH, with a 3.5 GPA. He will soon return to Brazil to study the politics of disability in Rio de Janeiro via a scholarship from Rotary International.

Alicia Verlager

Books saved my life," states Alicia Verlager. An orphan who is legally blind and has rheumatoid arthritis and glaucoma, she says books provided her with "companionship, friends, even family, aside from the more practical aspect of access to information."

A strong advocate of technology, Alicia's extracurricular activities have focused on accessibility projects. She developed the Blind Bookworm website; the ElectroBooks mailing list; and Making Sense of Math, a resource guide for college students who are visually impaired.

In the fall of 2003, Alicia worked with the University of Massachusetts to help improve online learning accessibility. In 2004, the university recognized Alicia's efforts with a Student Leadership Award and the Risse Award from the communication studies department. She went on to graduate from there with a 3.88 GPA and looks forward to attending graduate school at MIT and completing a master's degree in comparative media studies.

Kristen Witucki

Totally blind since birth, Kristen Witucki admits that "… it didn't take me long to realize that Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic was my mainstay for achieving my academic dreams and for personal pleasure."

Kristen undertook research, writing and public speaking on behalf of RFB&D, became a member of RFB&D's Consumer Advisory Council, testified in front of the New Jersey Joint Budget and Appropriations Subcommittee, and helped secure a grant of $400,000 from Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation. She mentored a blind student for two years and was a peer mentor at Vassar College. She completed teaching assignments in both New York and Ireland before earning a bachelor of arts degree from Vassar with a 3.58 GPA.

Graduate school will enable Kristen to further contribute to the field of education and, in particular, to students with unique educational needs. "RFB&D will continue to be my main resource for achievement and inspiration as I pursue an MA in special education at Teachers College, Columbia University," she says.