2026 Scholarship Recipients
2026 Scholarship Recipient:
Jasmine Bertschy
In recent years, Jasmine has navigated the challenges and triumphs of living with visual impairment. Since losing her vision in 2018, she has embraced this new chapter with resilience and positivity. Her journey has been enriched by the connections she’s made, particularly through the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Here, she has not only gained valuable skills but also formed lifelong friendships within the vibrant blind community. This community has provided a unique perspective on life, broadening her horizons and introducing her to new experiences.
Background
Jasmine’s introduction to Vision Forward came through a teacher for the visually impaired at her public school, and later, during her time at the Wisconsin Center. This organization has played a crucial role in her support network, showcasing a commitment to empowering individuals with visual impairments.
Current Plans
As she looks to the future, her academic aspirations are firmly rooted in psychology. Currently enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County, Jasmine has chosen this path because of her genuine interest in understanding and supporting others. With a goal of becoming a mental health counselor, she is motivated by a deep desire to help individuals navigate their own challenges. This passion for connection and empathy drives her educational journey.
This is Jasmine’s second scholarship from Vision Forward, add it represents more than just financial assistance; it symbolizes validation and encouragement. For her, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that individuals with visual impairments can achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society. She envisions a future where more people rally behind the blind community, fostering an inclusive environment that supports everyone’s ambitions. Jasmine hopes to see a world where organizations and companies recognize the potential within each individual, regardless of their challenges.
See a recent update on Jasmine here
2026 Arthur L. Ebert Scholarship Recipient:
Andres Isidoro Palayat
Background
Andres Isidoro Palayot is a first-generation college student at Northern Illinois University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Visual Impairments. Proud of his Hispanic heritage, Andres is passionate about representing his culture while inspiring others through education and advocacy.
Andres has a visual impairment caused by cerebral palsy, resulting in macular dystrophy, a rare condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Living with macular dystrophy means he has difficulty seeing objects and text at a distance, making classroom learning especially challenging. Through accommodations and determination, he has learned to navigate these challenges while remaining optimistic that his vision will remain stable.
Inspired by the dedication of his own teachers of students with visual impairments, Andres knew from an early age that he wanted to follow the same career path. Throughout his school years, he learned about Vision Forward through his special education teachers and participated in programs such as the Braille Challenge and Braille Games. He completed his first year of college with strong grades and successfully finished his general education coursework while becoming more confident and engaged with his peers.
Current and Future Plans
Andres plans to continue developing his Braille and assistive technology skills so he can one day teach students who are blind or visually impaired. He hopes to strengthen his knowledge of reading, writing, comprehension, and Braille literacy to better serve future students.
After earning his degree, Andres plans to become a teacher of students with visual impairments, with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the educational system. He hopes to advocate for greater recognition of teachers of the blind and visually impaired, highlighting the essential role they play in helping students achieve academic success. Inspired by the educators who helped shape his own journey, Andres is committed to giving future generations of students the same encouragement and opportunities he received.
Receiving the Vision Forward scholarship is especially meaningful to Andres. In addition to easing the financial burden of college, it provides encouragement as he works toward achieving his dream of becoming a teacher and making a lasting impact on the lives of students with visual impairments.
2026 Arthur L. Ebert Scholarship Recipient:
Bennett Lehman
Background
Bennett Lehman was born with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, a rare genetic condition, and was diagnosed with glaucoma just days after birth. By three months old, he underwent his first eye surgery to control the pressure in his eyes. Throughout his life, Bennett has undergone numerous surgeries to address complications related to his condition, including corneal transplants and other procedures. At age six, rising eye pressure led to the loss of his remaining vision, and today he is totally blind. His condition has also caused mild progressive hearing loss, which is monitored annually.
Despite these challenges, Bennett has built an exceptional record of academic achievement and leadership. He graduates in the top 10% of his class and is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Herodotus Social Studies Honor Society. In 2026, he received the Yes I Can! Award for Transition to Adult Life from the Council for Exceptional Children, recognizing students with exceptionalities who demonstrate outstanding achievement. Bennett has also earned excellence awards in English, Computer Science, Math, and Science, an Academic Varsity Letter, and was named Student of the Month each year of high school. Outside the classroom, he has demonstrated leadership as a Wisconsin Badger Boys State Delegate, participated in athletics and drama, and earned the Warrior Award for Wrestling.
Future Plans
This fall, Bennett will attend the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity with a minor in Computer Science. His passion for technology began through participation in the GenCyber pre-college summer program, where he discovered a strong interest in programming, cybersecurity, and how technology can improve people’s lives.
Bennett hopes to build a career in cybersecurity while advocating for greater accessibility in digital spaces. His goal is to help create websites, applications, and technologies that are accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. He is especially interested in contributing to programming projects that improve accessibility in mainstream video games, helping create more inclusive experiences for players of all abilities.
The Vision Forward scholarship will help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and assistive technology, including a laptop to support his coursework. Just as importantly, Bennett hopes the scholarship will connect him with mentors and other successful individuals in the blind community who can encourage and guide him throughout his academic and professional journey.
2026 Scholarship Recipient: Vivy Vue
Background
Vivy Vue has never allowed her visual impairment to define her future. Legally blind since birth due to retinal dystrophy and underdeveloped optic nerves, she has faced challenges with reading small print, recognizing faces from a distance, navigating unfamiliar places, and seeing in low-light conditions. Rather than limiting her ambitions, those experiences have strengthened her resilience, patience, determination, and willingness to advocate for herself.
A recent high school graduate, Vivy has already demonstrated remarkable perseverance, earning Honor Roll recognition twice while overcoming the challenges of low vision caused by multiple eye conditions, including retinal degeneration, high myopia, glare sensitivity, night blindness, color blindness, and poorly developed optic nerves. She also learned Braille in just one month with the support of her Teacher of the Visually Impaired.
Future Plans
This fall, Vivy will attend Fox Valley Technical College to pursue an Associate Degree in General Studies before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay to earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her ultimate goal is to complete a Master of Social Work (MSW) and become a therapist.
“I have always wanted to help others navigate life’s challenges, especially individuals who may be facing adversity or disabilities,” Vivy says. “I hope to use both my education and my personal experiences to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
As she prepared for college, Vivy learned about Vision Forward through her support team while exploring scholarships and resources for students who are blind or visually impaired. She says receiving a Vision Forward scholarship is about much more than financial assistance.
“Receiving this scholarship means so much to me,” she shares. “It not only helps lessen the financial burden of college, but it also gives me confidence and encouragement to continue pursuing my dreams. Knowing that organizations like Vision Forward believe in students with visual impairments reminds me that my goals are possible.”
Vivy hopes her journey inspires other students with visual impairments to believe in themselves and pursue their own dreams. She also views this achievement as a tribute to the person who has supported her every step of the way—her mother.
For her senior portraits, Vivy chose to wear a traditional Hmong outfit handmade by her mother. The clothing symbolizes not only her cultural heritage, but also the sacrifices her mother made throughout her education. Vivy recalls her mother’s words when she gifted her the outfit: “It’s never too late to be who I was born to be, and the day I graduated from high school was the day that I became golden.”
“Winning this scholarship is not just for me,” Vivy says. “I want to share with the world that this scholarship is also for my mom and to show and prove that anything is possible when you believe.”
She carries with her a favorite piece of wisdom passed down from her mother and grandfather—words that continue to guide her journey:
“When you believe, you begin. When you begin, you become.”
2026 Scholarship Recipient:
Mayra Badillo-Mendez
“Last year I made the deans list both semesters, with a 3.9 and 4.0 GPA. I just mainly focused on studying and did not join many school activities. This year I am hoping to continue being in the deans list and maintain good semester GPA’s and I am hoping to achieve a overall 4.0 GPA. and get more involved in the school community since it will be my second year.”
Born with cataracts, Mayra underwent surgery as an infant to have them removed. Following the procedure, she developed aphakic glaucoma. While her vision is generally functional during the day, small print can be difficult to read comfortably, and navigating at night presents more of a challenge. To assist with unfamiliar environments, she uses a white cane. Despite these obstacles, she views her disability as something that does not prevent her from living a full and independent life.
Current Plans
Mayra is pursuing a major in Special Education with an emphasis on Visual Impairments, she aspires to become a teacher for students who are blind or visually impaired. Her primary educational goal is to earn certification so she can begin helping children better understand and feel comfortable with their own visual disabilities. She has chosen Northern Illinois University for its in-person program—one of the few of its kind in the country. Several of Mayra’s own vision teachers graduated from NIU and were enthusiastic in supporting her application, offering guidance and insight into the college experience. These mentors are thrilled about Mayra’s chosen path and future career.
What does this scholarship mean to her?
Receiving this scholarship represents a real opportunity to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher. Although it was initially difficult to accept the idea of leaving home to pursue her career, knowing that organizations and foundations exist to support individuals entering this in-demand field has been deeply encouraging. This scholarship also gives her hope that more bilingual professionals will consider careers in this area—something Mayra has found to be lacking. She proudly embraces the opportunity to be a stepping stone for others and is passionate about helping families better understand and support their children with vision loss.