Plano student Kamran Vora was one of 16 students to receive the Lighthouse Guild Graduate Scholarship last week.
Based in New York, the Lighthouse Guild is an eyecare center which aims at providing services to visually impaired people, aiding them in attaining their goals. The Lighthouse Guild Scholarship has awarded over $2.8 million in scholarships to legally blind students. With the aim of assisting legally blind students transitioning into college and graduate school, the Lighthouse Guild scholarships are awarded based on academic merit and accomplishment.
“Students who are visually impaired can face particular challenges as they pursue their higher education goals,” said President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild Calvin W. Roberts. “We are pleased to support these outstanding students and provide them with a clearer pathway to success in their chosen careers. I congratulate them on their academic achievements and wish them all the best in the future.”
Vora is a second-year medical student at Texas A&M School of Medicine. As a legally blind person, Vora found it difficult navigating the world of healthcare while being an uninsured patient, re-learning how to approach routine tasks while blind and other challenges related to legal blindness.
“I made the decision to pursue a profession in medicine while reviewing appeals for social security disability benefits under the direction of a Texas federal judge,” Vora said. “It was also during this time that I lost the majority of my vision and became legally blind.’
As a Lighthouse Guild Graduate Scholarship recipient, Vora will receive $10,000 for his graduate studies.