Academic Scholarships
The John Weir Academic Scholarship
The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living invites all high school seniors with disabilities to apply for the John Weir Academic Scholarship, named in honor of one of the Ann Arbor CIL founders.
The application season for 2019 is now over. Applications were due Monday, July 22, 2019.
For information on awards in 2020, please check back spring 2020.
Eligible students for the John Weir Scholarship must:
- Be a high school senior;
- Have a significant disability of any kind – for example, physical, visual, developmental, cognitive, hearing, learning, emotional, or other;
- Live in Washtenaw, Livingston, or Monroe County, Michigan; and
- Plan to attend a 2– or 4-year college, university or a trade school.
Application Instructions:
- Complete the Application Form, including essays. Each essay must be in paragraph format with a word count of 300 words or less. Essays are described fully on the application form but must describe a community involvement or volunteer experience in the past year.
>> Print and mail your application by clicking here
>> Or complete the online application by clicking here
- Provide one letter of recommendation from a teacher or a school counselor. All letters must be post mailed, even if you complete your application online.
- Mail your materials to:
Ann Arbor CIL
John Weir Scholarship
Attn: Anna Dusbiber, LLMSW
3941 Research Park Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Submit all application materials by July 22, 2019. (Materials must be post-marked no later than July 22, 2019 to be considered.)
Selection Process:
The John Weir Scholarship Selection Committee reviews each application and interviews the top candidates. Scholarships will be awarded in the summer of 2019 in Ann Arbor.
Honoring John Weir:
When my brother, John Weir, acquired his spinal cord injury (SCI) in 1964, the atmosphere was different for people with disabilities than it is today. The medical field kept people with SCIs alive, but society offered little in terms of satisfying futures. John was a pioneer in many ways. His ability to inspire practical help instead of pity was one of his gifts. While in the hospital after his surgery, he graduated from Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School. Later, he became the first person with a severe disability to go to Eastern Michigan University. In 1976, he helped found the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living. At the time, CILs were a new idea designed to provide resources and assist in ways that facilitated a more active life. John remained an active pioneer until his death in 1985. ~Lou Weir