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Celebrating Achievement: Learning Ally's 2025 National Achievement Awards

In a notable event held on May 21, 2025, Learning Ally, a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing reading outcomes for students with learning differences, announced the winners of its esteemed National Achievement Awards. This recognition program is designed to celebrate high school and college students who have shown exceptional academic and personal accomplishments while overcoming challenges associated with learning differences such as dyslexia, vision impairment, or blindness.

Howard Bell, III, CEO of Learning Ally, expressed his admiration for the remarkable achievements of this year's awardees, stating, "These students are remarkable examples of determination and academic excellence. Their ability to overcome reading barriers and achieve at the highest levels shows what's possible when students have access to the right tools and support." The diverse array of award recipients exemplifies resilience, leadership, and community service—qualities that Learning Ally honors in its selection process.

In the past six decades, Learning Ally has highlighted the extraordinary progress students make with the aid of its innovative technology. This year, a partnership with the CSAA Insurance Group added a collaborative touch, as employees volunteered to assist in reviewing applications and selecting the winners. The top honors in the Marion Huber Learning Through Listening® Award category were given to:

• - Carly Bonser from Idaho
• - Erica Frishberg from Florida
• - Kasey Guren from Illinois

In addition, special honors were awarded to:

• - Zsuzsa Horvath (Hawaii)
• - Lucas Hromada (Maryland)
• - Benjamin Polega (Texas)

Furthermore, the Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Award was presented to Thomas Woodyard from Georgia. Each recipient in the top honor category received a scholarship of $6,000, while special honor winners were granted $3,000 to support their educational journeys. These scholarships are generously funded by donors and serve to empower students with learning differences to continue their education effectively.

The Marion Huber award honors high school seniors demonstrating significant academic potential, while the Mary P. Oenslager award extends recognition to seniors in college and graduate programs who possess visual impairments. This initiative highlights the essential role of accessible and equitable education systems, especially considering that nearly 41% of students with learning disabilities do not graduate from high school, and over 70% of working-age adults with substantial vision loss are not engaged in full-time work.

The selection criteria for recipients included not only academic performance but also demonstrated leadership and community involvement, along with personal narratives that depict the positive impacts of Learning Ally's services. This initiative continues a tradition of literacy advocacy that began over 75 years ago. In 1948, founder Anne T. McDonald initiated a program enabling volunteers to record textbooks for WWII veterans with vision loss pursuing higher education via the GI Bill.

Learning Ally, previously known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, remains at the forefront of educational assistance, providing powerful solutions aimed at helping struggling readers. The organization's spectrum of literacy resources benefits over 2.4 million students across 24,000 schools in the United States, enriching their learning experiences.

For those wishing to contribute to the cause of accessible education, Learning Ally invites donations and inquires for corporate partnerships. To explore more about their mission, you can visit LearningAlly.org/Donate.

In recognizing the challenges faced by students with learning differences and honoring their significant accomplishments, Learning Ally reiterates the transformative potential of accessible education and the power of community support in fostering resilience and success.