During today’s weekly meeting of the Naperville Noon Lions Club, President Jim Ebers announced that Amy Bosko is the recipient of an $8,000 scholarship grant from the Naperville Noon Lions Foundation. Amy, who is 16 years old, has been completely blind since birth.
The 10th grade student at Naperville North High School will use the scholarship grant to attend Blind, Inc’s PREP Program, slated to be held from June 14 to Aug. 17, 2015, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The engaging summer program for blind high school students is designed to prepare them for academic, employment, and social success. The PREP curriculum is aimed to empower blind youth with the alternative techniques of blindness they will need to be successful in college and the career fields they choose, and to give them confidence and belief in themselves they need to find and keep jobs.
Students will participate in regularly scheduled discussions groups designed to build confidence and learn from blind peers and adults. The PREP Program includes a three-week paid employment experience. Students will utilize the skills they have developed while earning a minimum wage working approximately 20 hours per week in local businesses and agencies. The students also will enjoy a trip to Orlando, Florida, to attend the week long national convention of the National Federation of the Blind.
Brief Bio of Scholarship Recipient
Always outgoing and friendly, Amy is an active participant in theatre and the fine arts program at North. She recently appeared as the lead in the school play entitled “Our Teacher Alien” and will next be seen in the school play titled “Miracle Worker,” the life story of Helen Keller, in March of this year.
In 2011, Amy’s essay entitled “Power of Peace” was selected the grand prize winner in the Lions Clubs International Essay Contest. The worldwide contest received tens of thousands of entries to be judged.
“Amy was awarded a $5,000 prize and a trip to accept the award at Lions Day with the United Nations,” said Noon Lions Club publicist Bob Hull.
After high school, Amy wants to go on to college and study drama and fine arts, with the hope of someday teach and work with kids. She hates to be referred to as that blind girl, but describes herself as a normal teenager who likes to hang out with her friends and use her cell phone when not busy with school activities.
Did you know?
The Naperville Noon Lions Club, established in 1948, is a member Club of Lions Clubs International. The Club is comprised of local men and women who want to make a difference in our community. Lions Clubs International, which was established in 1917, is the largest service organization in the world with over 46,000 member clubs and 1.3 million members.
In Naperville, the Noon Lions Club meets for lunch at noon on the first four Tuesdays of every month at Braconi’s Pizzeria in Cress Creek. The club is popularly known for its Funnel Cakes at Ribfest and its annual Turkey Trot 5K every Thanksgiving Day.
For more info, visit napervillenoonlions.org.
