Applications for the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship are now open for submission until Monday, June 19. In collaboration with The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship will award eight scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students with disabilities who are interested in pursuing a career in the communications, media or entertainment industry.

"We're pleased to provide this assistance to students who identify as having a disability and are pursuing careers in media,” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal. “In doing so, we're helping build a pipeline of talent with varied perspectives and experiences to enrich our workforce and industry.”

Recipients of the scholarship will receive financial support to help cover the cost of education at their current college or university. By supporting students who identify as having a disability with this scholarship, NBCUniversal helps to expand diverse perspectives in front of and behind the camera for not only our company, but for the media industry as a whole.

"By encouraging and supporting more people with disabilities to enter into media-related fields we can begin to shift the existing disability narrative away from pity or inspiration and towards a narrative that more accurately portrays the lives of people with disabilities," said Helena Berger, President and CEO of AAPD. "The NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship supports students with disabilities in pursuing media-related careers to become those change agents."

This scholarship was named in honor of Tony Coelho, a former U.S. Representative from California and the primary author and sponsor of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

To learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply for the 2017 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship, visit the AAPD website.