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• Ralph G. Norman Scholarship Application

  The Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas is seeking applicants for the 2025 Ralph G. Norman Scholarship. The Ralph G. Norman Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $2,500 to an individual with a documented learning disability who will be enrolled in Fall Semester 2025 at a university, two-year community college, or a vocational/technical training program. The ideal scholarship recipient is an individual who:

  • Recognizes and understands his or her learning disability and is able to self-advocate when necessary
  • Is committed to pursuing higher academic study or career training and has begun to set realistic career goals
  • Is committed to achieving personal goals despite the challenges of learning disability
  • Participates in school and community activities

  ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

  To be eligible for the Ralph G. Norman scholarship, the applicant must:

  Be an individual who will be attending a university, two-year community college or a vocational or technical training program in Fall 2025

  • Be a current Arkansas resident
  • Be able to provide the most current documentation of an identified learning disability. Eligible learning disabilities include:
    • Impairment in Reading (Dyslexia)
    • Basic Reading/Word Reading Accuracy
    • Reading Rate/Reading Fluency
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Impairment in Written Expression (Dysgraphia)
    • Impairment in Mathematics (Dyscalculia)
    • Math Calculation
    • Math Problem Solving

  SELECTION PROCESS

  The top 10 candidates as selected by the LDAA scholarship committee will be presented to members of the board who will select three candidates who have overcome academic challenges related to their learning disabilities.

  SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

  The $2,500 scholarship is paid in two installments: a $1,250 installment in the fall and a $1,250 installment in the spring. The payment is made directly to the university, college, or vocational/technical program the individual is attending. In the event the scholarship recipient withdraws or separates from the institution or program during the Fall Semester 2025; any unused scholarship funds will be refunded to LDAA. The scholarship will not continue if the recipient withdraws or separates from the institution or program prior to the Spring Semester 2026.

  SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

  All required materials must be postmarked in one packet to be considered for the scholarship. Completed packets should be mailed to:

  Ralph G. Norman Scholarship

  Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas

  P.O. Box 23514

  Little Rock, AR 72221

  Or e-mail to info@ldarkansas.org

  Completed application packets must be submitted by March 15, 2025.

  Please note that materials submitted as part of the application process will not be returned.

  APPLICATION REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST:

  Please provide the following information.

  1. Scholarship Application Form
  2. Most recent documentation of your learning disability:
     1. A copy of Professional Evaluation indicating your learning disability, OR
     2. A letter from a qualified professional certifying your learning disability (psychologist, psychological examiner, or speech-language pathologist).
  3. Personal Statement: Include a brief essay (less than 1,000 words) about how your disability has impacted your life and about future educational and career goals. Applicants may also elect to submit a 2-4 minute video or audio taping as an alternative to the essay.
  4. Transcript of all high school and/or college courses.
  5. Two letters of recommendation from adults that can testify to your academic abilities, personal character, volunteer services, and community involvement. These letters should be from a teacher, coach, counselor, or community member – not a relative.
  6. Signed media and signature page.

  Please e-mail info@ldarkansas.org (Attention: Scholarship Chair) if you have questions regarding the application process.

  Ralph G. Norman Scholarship Application Form

  Please type in the following blanks. All blanks must be filled.

  Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2025. Recipients will be notified in the spring of 2025.

  GENERAL INFORMATION

• Applicant’s Name*
• Applicant’s Complete Address (street/city/state/zip code)*
• Home Phone
• Cell Phone*
• Email Address*
• Additional Contact Person
• Additional Contact Number
• Is the applicant currently an Arkansas resident?
  • 
    Yes
  • 
    No

• EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
• High School OR Post Secondary School Currently Attending:*
• Year of Graduation:*
• School Contact Person:*
• Current High School or Post Secondary School’s Complete Address:*
• Professional Evaluation: Please upload a copy of Professional Evaluation indicating your learning disability, OR a letter from a qualified professional certifying your learning disability (psychologist, psychological examiner, or speech-language pathologist).*Max. file size: 256 MB.
• Grades: You MUST submit a copy of your current transcript.*Max. file size: 256 MB.
• College, university or other educational institution the applicant plans to attend:
• Briefly describe your Educational/Career Goals and include the names of the university, two-year community college, or a vocational/technical training program that you will be applying.

• LEARNING DISABILITY INFORMATION
• Please check which learning disabilities you have:*Impairment in Reading (Dyslexia)Basic Reading/Word Reading AccuracyReading Rate/Reading FluencyReading ComprehensionImpairment in Written Expression (Dysgraphia)Impairment in Mathematics (Dyscalculia)Math CalculationMath Problem Solving
• Other:
• Other:
• Personal Statement: Include a brief essay (less than 500 words) about how your disability has impacted your learning in the educational environment. You could consider any or all of the following: Classroom instruction, Tests and Quizzes, Communication, and Assignments.
• Disability Support Services: Include a brief essay that answers this question (less than 500 words) Based on your educational and career goals, what accommodations will you request through disability support services and how will you advocate for yourself and request the strategies that help you learn best? {You may choose to submit a 2-4 minute video in place of both essays}

• Upload your video here.Max. file size: 256 MB.

• PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES FORM

  Part 1: Extracurricular Activities

  Use this section for extracurricular activities (school clubs, sports, etc.) you have been involved in.

• *
  

  Activity	Academic Year Involved	Hours per Week	Position held, Awards/Honors, Other Achievements

• Part 2: Community and Work Experience

  Use this section to list any community, volunteer, or work experience you have.

• *
  

  Activity	Academic Year Involved	Hours per Week	Position held, Awards/Honors, Other Achievements

• Part 3: Other Activities

  Use this section to list any other activities you have been involved in.

• *
  

  Activity	Academic Year Involved	Hours per Week	Position held, Awards/Honors, Other Achievements

• RECOMMENDATIONS

  Applicants must provide at least two recommendations from adults that can testify to your academic abilities, personal character, volunteer services and community involvement. These recommendations should come from a teacher, coach, counselor or community member – not a relative.

  Please enter their email addresses below. They will receive an email with a link to a form, where they may submit their recommendation on your behalf.

• Recommendation 1 Email Address
  
• Recommendation 2 Email Address
  
• Recommendation 3 Email Address
  

• MEDIA RELEASE

  I hereby grant the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas permission to use my likeness in a photograph, my name, age, hometown, school, desired college or vocational school, and/or excerpts of my scholarship essay or my entire scholarship essay in any and all of its publications, including website entries, without payment or any other consideration. I hereby grant the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas permission to include the information that I am a person with a learning disability.I understand and agree that my Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas scholarship materials will become the property of the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas and will be used for any lawful purpose, including for example such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content.

  I hereby irrevocably authorize the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish or distribute all scholarship materials – excluding evaluation records, IEPs and transcripts – for purposes of publicizing the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas programs or for any other lawful purpose. In addition, I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written or electronic copy, wherein my likeness appears.

  Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my scholarship application materials. I hereby hold harmless and release and forever discharge the Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas from all claims, demands and causes of action which I, my heirs, representatives, executors, administrators or any other persons acting on my behalf or on behalf of my estate have or may have by reason of this authorization.

  I am 18 years of age and am competent to contract in my own name. I have read this release before signing below and I fully understand the contents, meaning, and impact of this release.

• Type Name Below to Digitally Sign
  
  First
  
  Last
• Date
  
  MM slash DD slash YYYY
  
• OR

  If the person signing is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must give consent, as follows:

  I hereby certify that I am the parent or guardian of, named above, and do hereby give my consent without reservation to the foregoing on behalf of this person.

• Signature of Parent or Guardian (If under the age of 18):
  
  First
  
  Last
• Date
  
  MM slash DD slash YYYY
  

• SIGNATURE

  I certify to the best of my knowledge, and believe all information contained in this application to be true and accurate. I certify that I have a documented learning disability, have earned or will be earning a high school diploma or its equivalent, and will be enrolling at a university, community college, or vocational/technical training program in Fall Semester 2020.

  In providing this scholarship, LDAA does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

• Type Name Below to Digitally Sign
  
  First
  
  Last
• Date
  
  MM slash DD slash YYYY
  
• Signature of Parent or Guardian (If under the age of 18):
  
  First
  
  Last
• Date
  
  MM slash DD slash YYYY