My child is struggling 
Now that my child has 
The winners of the 2010 Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Scholarship Award are Mackenzie Meyer and Page Ive
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is proud to congratulate Mackenzie Meyer of Rochester, NY and Page Ive of Seattle, WA, the first-prize winn
ers of the 2010 Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Scholarship Award. Now in its ninth year, this scholarship provides $10,000 toward tuition over four years to two graduating high school seniors with learning disabilities (LD) who will pursue an undergraduate degree at a college or university. A prize of Kurzweil 3000™ Scan/Read software is also presented to the award winners.
Runners up for this year's scholarship award are: Laura Daily of Woodland Park, CO, Lisann Zentner of Seattle, WA, Nathan Davis of Portland, ME, and Katharine DeRossette of Vicksburg, MS. Each runners up will receive a one-time cash award from NCLD and a Kurzweil software package.
About the Winners
Learning disabilities have played a large part in Page Ive's life because of her struggle with written expression (dysgraphia) and attention deficit disorder (ADD). When Page was first learning to write, she had no way to demonstrate her knowledge and creativity, filling her early school years with self-doubt and frustration. In middle school, with access to a computer and other accommodations, she climbed painstakingly from report cards with D's to ones with all A's.
Reflecting on her own journey, Page realized the enormous, unrealized potential of those less fortunate who struggle with disabilities and committed herself to promoting global equality and disability awareness. She became involved with Mobility International USA (MIUSA), hosting teenagers with disabilities from Bahrain and then traveling to that country where, as a consultant, she was able to shape actions, such as a letter writing campaign to the Minister of Education. Back home, Page is an active volunteer in her community, and was instrumental in organizing a fully-accessible theatre program for children with disabilities.
Page's passions and experiences include: Theatre training at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, robotics team competition, a stint as a State Senate page, varsity tennis playing, harmonica lessons, and volunteer work in Zambia. As a high school senior, she is involved in a project to create methods to offset her high school's carbon footprint through carbon sequestration. In college, she plans to study environmental and earth science. Page's concentration in renewable technologies embraces both her interest in human rights and in environmental science. As she furthers her education, Page is determined to continue to advocate for herself and others with disabilities.
Read Page Ive's winning essay on LD.org.
Mackenzie Meyer grew up in a house bordering 70 acres of wetland and green lands. From the age of five she was fixing broken bird wings, nurturing abandoned fawns and returning snapping turtles to swamps while she protected newly laid eggs. Mackenzie was the self-appointed neighborhood veterinarian. At age eight she decided that animal medicine was her calling. The challenge ahead was how to deal with her dyslexia. With unwavering support from her family, a well-honed partnership with school personnel and an incredible work ethic, Mackenzie developed classroom strategies, leveraged assistive technology and perfected her self-advocacy skills. She also designed her own internship at a veterinary practice, a first for her school.
She is graduating from high school with a 93.87 GPA and will select a college that offers both a biology major in pre-veterinarian studies and a strong student support program. "In 22 years of teaching, it is rare to see a student so focused and determined," said one of Mackenzie's teachers. In addition to all her academic achievements, Mackenzie earned the United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award for over 1,000 hours of community service, including work at a camp for disabled children, and serving as an animal hospital attendant and a wildlife rehabilitator. A National Honor Society member, Mackenzie has recently written a guide to help LD students select a college. Her activities include band, swim team, soccer, life guarding and teaching swim lessons to children. "Kids with disabilities should set whatever goals in life they desire, and not let others tell them what they can or can't do," Mackenzie said, adding "It is your life. Fight for it."
Read Mackenzie Meyer's winning essay on LD.org.
