Scholarships, Grants & Funding Sources

Here is a short list of the various funding sources for students with disabilities. Please let us know of any other sources that you find so we can share them with all of our students.

Please start with the Searchable Scholarship Guide and Application. 

Office of Accessibility Services Scholarships (not available in the Searchable Scholarship Guide) 

The scholarships listed below are open to students with disabilities who have documentation on file and are registered with the office. The scholarship application for 2025-2026 will be available online in January of 2025.

Jerry Dale Conrad Scholarship - BGSU Office of Accessibility Services

This scholarship was established by Dr. Richard L. and Joan L. Conrad in memory of Dr. Conrad’s brother, Jerry Dale Conrad. Jerry contracted polio at the age of 18 months and spent many of his early summer vacations recovering from surgeries. Although a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, he followed most sports. Jerry graduated from business school in Toledo, and after 18 months of job hunting, got a job at the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 2 Office in Bowling Green. Despite his physical limitations, Jerry coached girls’ softball, played softball, and bowled. Jerry was killed as a result of an automobile accident in January 1968. He had just completed bowling, and was on his way to the Sports Arena in Toledo to watch a hockey game.

Dr. Conrad and Joan have established the Jerry Dale Conrad Scholarship as a lasting memorial to Jerry’s accomplishments and life.

Applicant(s) must be undergraduate or graduate students at BGSU with mental or physical disabilities. Selection will be based on financial need, extent of disability, involvement in extracurricular activities, and involvement in community. Preference will be given first to Otsego High School graduates, second to Wood County High School graduates, then any other high school in Ohio. 

Julie and Richard Crossen Scholarship - BGSU Office of Accessibility Services

Applicant(s) must be undergraduate or graduate students in good standing at BGSU, be documented as deaf or hard of hearing by Accessibility Services, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, display leadership ability, and be fluent in American Sign Language.

Lois Jean Steel Stiffler Scholarship - BGSU Office of Accessibility Services

This scholarship was established in memory of Lois Jean Steel Stiffler, wife of Dr. Paul W. Stiffler. Both Lois and Paul graduated from Bowling Green State University. They received their Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1965 with dual majors in Biology and Chemistry, and their Masters of Arts degrees in 1967 in Biology. Lois and Paul had first-hand experience raising a son with a learning disability. This scholarship is to assist a student with a documented learning disability.

Applicant(s) must be Sophomore standing or above, be in good academic standing with the University (minimum of 2.0 GPA), have a documented learning disability confirmed by Accessibility Services, and be successfully progressing towards an academic degree. Special consideration will be given to a student who is involved in at least one extracurricular activity on campus.

Ohio Lions Foundation/Helen Keller Scholarship - BGSU Office of Accessibility Services

Applicant(s) must be undergraduate or graduate students at BGSU, have a visual impairment, be an Ohio resident, and be enrolled full time or part time showing substantial progress toward a degree. Selection will be based on financial need and academic ability. The selected recipient agrees that his/her name may be used for scholarship promotional purposes by the Ohio Lions Foundation.

Other BGSU Scholarships of Interest

Shawn R. Potter Cancer Scholarship - BGSU

Winifred O. Stone and Presidential Graduate Diversity Scholarship - BGSU

Outside Scholarships and Funding Sources

Other known opportunities you can search for are: 180 Medical College Scholarship Program, Ability Center of Greater Toledo Scholarship, disABLEDperson, Inc. National Scholarship, National Federation of the Blind, The Washington Center Internships/Scholarships, and UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship Program.