Tony Coelho Media Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by American Association of People with Disabilities

Description

The Tony Coelho Media Scholarship supports students with disabilities who plan careers in media, communications, or the entertainment industries. Administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the program is aimed at increasing representation of people with disabilities in media-related fields and helping cover college expenses for the Fall 2026 semester. The scholarship is open to students at different stages—high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students—provided they will be enrolled in college during Fall 2026.

**Key points**
- Supports career pathways in media, communications, and entertainment.
- Administered by AAPD for students with disabilities.
- Intended for use in the Fall 2026 semester.
- Open to high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students who will be enrolled in Fall 2026.

Eligibility

Eligibility focuses on enrollment status, disability self-identification, and interest in media-related careers. Applicants must be current high school seniors planning to enroll in college in Fall 2026, or current college students (undergraduate or graduate) who will continue enrollment in Fall 2026. Applicants must self-identify as a person with a disability; they are not required to disclose specific diagnoses at any point in the process. Enrollment must be at a U.S. college or university, but U.S. citizenship is not required.

**Key points**
- Must be a high school senior (planning Fall 2026 enrollment) or a currently enrolled undergraduate/graduate student continuing in Fall 2026.
- Must self-identify as a person with a disability; specific disability disclosure is not required.
- Must be enrolled or plan to enroll at a U.S. college or university for Fall 2026.
- Open to applicants pursuing or interested in media, communications, or entertainment careers (all majors welcome).
- U.S. citizenship is not required.

Award Value

The scholarship provides direct financial support to recipients for the Fall 2026 semester. Eight scholarships are available, each awarding $5,625 to help cover the recipient’s college or university expenses during that term. Funds are intended for educational costs; recipients will receive the specified payment amount without extra award tiers or variations described.

**Key points**
- Eight scholarships will be awarded.
- Each recipient receives $5,625.
- Awards are designated for use in the Fall 2026 semester.
- Funds are intended to help cover college or university education expenses.

Application Timeline

This scholarship is specifically tied to the Fall 2026 academic term: recipients must be enrolled or planning to enroll that semester to qualify. The materials provided here do not specify application opening dates, deadlines, or selection timelines; applicants should consult the AAPD scholarship webpage or official communications for exact application windows and submission requirements. Plan ahead to verify required documents and any additional eligibility confirmations before applying.

**Key points**
- Recipients must be enrolled or plan to enroll in Fall 2026.
- Specific application dates and deadlines are not provided here.
- Check the AAPD scholarship page or official notices for application windows and submission instructions.
- Gather enrollment verification and supporting materials in advance.

History of the Award

The scholarship is named for Tony Coelho, a former U.S. Representative from California who played a central role in authoring and sponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the House. Coelho served in Congress from 1978 to 1989 and later held several appointed roles focused on disability employment and public service, including chairing the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and serving as U.S. Commissioner General at the 1998 World Expo. The ADA’s passage and subsequent policy efforts that Coelho helped lead contributed to measurable employment gains among people with severe disabilities by the mid-1990s.

**Key points**
- Named for Tony Coelho, primary House author and sponsor of the ADA.
- Coelho served in Congress (1978–1989) and later in appointed federal roles related to disability employment.
- His work contributed to significant employment gains for people with severe disabilities by the mid-1990s.
- The scholarship honors his legacy of expanding access and opportunity for people with disabilities.