Brandon Gruber Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Mission

The Brandon Gruber Scholarship was established with the goal of supporting self-advocates with Down syndrome as they pursue their passion for visual and performing arts.

History

Brandon Gruber has experienced inclusion and exclusion in school. As a young student, he was always included in sports, academics, and the arts. In high school after a move, he found himself shut out of many opportunities because he was seen as limited and struggled. As a result, he flipped the switch his senior year and showed others who he really was and created his own path through reverse inclusion and his art. He started his own foundation and sold his art cards to help his classmates afford to attend the winter formal, prom, and yearbooks and college scholarships for students who were migrant or under-resourced.  Since high school, he’s continued his mission and over 700 individuals have benefited from his efforts. 
 
Brandon demonstrates and lives by his motto “Work Hard, Choose Kindness and Be Yourself” in his everyday activities through his interactions with those around him and through his leadership in his community.

Apply Here

Brandon would like to offer two $1,000 scholarships for individuals over the age of 18 to help launch or continue their passion for visual or performing arts instruction. We strongly urge individuals to apply if they’ve never received a scholarship, or are in financial need.

Additional Information

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must:

  • Have Down syndrome
  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Have a passion for the arts 

Scholarships

  • Two self-advocates will receive the Brandon Gruber Scholarship
  • A maximum of $1,000 will be awarded

Application Deadlines

You should complete the application as independently as possible. All applications must be submitted by June 14, 2024.

Notification

You will receive an email confirmation that we received your application. If you have any questions about completing the application, please contact NDSS at info@ndss.org.

Past Recipients

Past Brandon Gruber Scholarship Recipients

Hallie McCollum Musical Theater Actress

Ian Dischinger Musician

Abby Reuter Singer

Joel Jamensky – Visual art

Blake Edward – Performing arts