Plainview Old Bethpage Special Education PTA

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Education is not only a tool for personal development, but also the means by which individuals can better their own lives and ultimately shape and improve their communities. Earning a post-secondary degree can be the difference between a strong, successful career and a lifetime of hardship. Those opportunities should be open to all students equally, especially those who have autism and often face obstacles that other students do not.

Avonte Oquendo was a 14-year-old autistic boy who went missing after he wandered away from his school in 2013. The outpouring of support and assistance that accompanied the search for Avonte was unprecedented. Although Avonte tragically did not make it home alive, the Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C. would like to offer same support for the autistic community in memory of this extraordinary young man. That is why The Perecman Firm, P.L.L.C. is offering a $5,000 scholarship for a student living with autism, or whose loved one is living with autism.

The Avonte Oquendo Memorial Scholarship is open to high-achieving students who meet two key criteria:

• Either you or a close family member has been diagnosed with a form of autism, including Asperger syndrome, and
• Applicant must be an enrolled student at an accredited college, university, or vocational school, or be accepted to begin school at an accredited college, university, or vocational school in the semester for which the application is being offered.

Additionally, applicants should submit an essay on one of the topics listed below with a minimum of 500 words and maximum of 1,000 words.

The hope is that this scholarship will help offset the financial burden of attending school for a deserving student who is facing unique challenges because of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Click on the button below for more information...