NYSARC Scholarships & Recognitions

Joseph T. Weingold Scholarship
Awarded to students who are enrolled full-time in an education degree program leading to special education certification at a college or university in New York State.

Joseph T. Weingold was the prime architect, first President and first Executive Director of NYSARC, Inc. For thirty years, Mr. Weingold pioneered policy achievements in New York State which significantly shaped national mental retardation policy. Mr. Weingold advanced the concept that people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities should have a distinct legal status separating it from other disabilities. Consistent with this belief, Mr. Weingold originated the concept of a separate state agency responsible for people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities. He was one of the primary founders of The Arc of the United States. Mr. Weingold was at the center of policy developments in the area of intellectual and other developmental disabilities in New York State for four decades. Those developments caused similar changes across the nation.
Two awards are presented annually. The award is in the amount of $3,000.00, which is paid in installments of $750.00 per semester.
Nominations are made through the Special Education Division of the Department of Education of colleges and universities in New York State with degree programs leading to Special Education Certification. The name of one individual must be submitted on the appropriate Nomination Form along with all additional information required. All nomination forms must be signed by the Department Chairperson.

James F. Reville Scholarship

James F. Reville dedicated a great part of his life to bettering the lives of people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities. He served as President of the Welfare League Chapter from 1963 to 1964, was a member of the organization’s Board of Directors for several years and served as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the National Association for Retarded Children in 1970. Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed Mr. Reville to the Advisory Council on Mental Retardation Facilities and to the Developmental Disabilities Council. Mr. Reville was one of NYSARC’s most respected Presidents, serving the Association from 1965 to 1969.

Two awards are presented annually. The award is in the amount of $3,000.00 per recipient which is paid in installments of $750.00 per semester for any two years the student is enrolled in college within a four-year period from the time the scholarship is awarded.

The requirements for consideration for the James F. Reville Scholarship are as follows: the nominated person has been actively involved in serving individuals who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities in some capacity; a submission letter signed by the president of the local Chapter’s Board of Directors as well as letters of recommendation from programs where they have worked or volunteered must be included with the application – Each Chapter may submit only one application.

Arthur Pense Scholarship

Dr. Arthur W. Pense was Assistant Commissioner of Mental Hygiene from April 1, 1944 to April 15, 1961. During this time he was in charge of the State’s Office of Mental Retardation. In this capacity he coordinated all programs for people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Pense was widely recognized as an outstanding administrator and a friend of our Association. It was under his leadership that local services for people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities were developed using community mental health programs.

One award is presented annually. The award is in the amount of $3,000.00, which is paid in installments of $1000.00 per semester.

Nominations for the Arthur W. Pense Scholarship are made through the Chairperson of the Physical or Occupational Therapy Departments at colleges and universities in New York State offering degree programs in Physical or Occupational Therapy. Each department of occupational and physical therapy may nominate only one individual for the scholarship.

Jonathan Weingold Scholarship

This award is presented in memory of Jonathan Weingold, son of Joseph T. Weingold. Jonathan was considered to be a symbol of the people supported by NYSARC, Inc. In 1970, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Nassau County Chapter, a tribute was paid to Jonathan by Executive Director, Helen Kaplan. It stated that Jonathan Weingold was “the symbol of all the young people who inspired the establishment of this organization and its services and programs.”

Four awards are presented annually – one for each of the four (4) NYSARC, Inc. geographical regions. The award is in the amount of $3,000.00 per recipient, which is paid in a four-year period; payable in $750.00 reimbursements.

The requirements for consideration for the Jonathan Weingold Scholarship are as follows: the nominated person is actively employed full-time by a Chapter of the Association; a letter of recommendation signed by the president of the Chapter’s Board of Directors must be included with the application. Each Chapter may submit only one application.

NYSARC, Inc. Self-Advocate of the Year
Presented to a Self-Advocate who has demonstrated leadership, personal growth and has positively influenced the lives of others.

This award is designed to highlight, recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions made by NYSARC, Inc. self-advocates. Nominees and recipients are people who not only use or have used our services but also help to shape those services in a manner that benefits others.

Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award
Nominations are invited for the Direct Support Professional Excellence Award. Without competent and caring direct support staff, quality outcomes for people with disabilities would be limited, and achieving independence would be increasingly difficult. NYSARC, Inc. offers this opportunity to recognize a direct support professional from your agency who has demonstrated an exemplary level of performance over the course of his/her employment and has consistently demonstrated his/her commitment to improving the quality of life for the consumer he/she supports. The award will be presented during the Awards Luncheon at the NYSARC, Inc. Annual Convention.

The Direct Support Professional Excellence Award acknowledges the work of direct support professionals who consistently demonstrate excellence, creativity and commitment in providing supports to individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. In appreciation of the contributions made by direct support professionals, the award includes $2,500.00.

Employer of the Year Award
Each year NYSARC, Inc. Chapters are encouraged to recognize an individual, corporation or business in New York State that has demonstrated outstanding support in providing job opportunities for people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities. The NYSARC, Inc. Scholarship and Awards Committee selects a recipient from each of the four NYSARC, Inc. regions for the Employer of the Year Award based on information provided by the nominating Chapter.

Even though only one nominee from each region is chosen to receive the top honor, NYSARC, Inc. recognizes all the nominees who have provided employment opportunities. We applaud these employers for leading the way in ensuring equal employment opportunities and enriching the lives of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through gainful employment.