A young white woman with long blonde hair and glasses is holding textbooks in her lap while driving a power wheelchair down an outdoor paved path. She is accompanied by a young white man with short, dark hair who is wearing a red striped shirt, jeans, blue hoodie, and a backpack. Other students are walking along the path behind them. There are rolling green lawns and trees filled with vibrant red and orange autumn foliage in the background.

Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarship

The Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarship provides financial assistance Rhode Island students with significant disabilities who are pursuing higher education or vocational training. Through this scholarship, OSCIL aims to support the educational aspirations and needs of individuals with disabilities, promoting their independence and success.

The Catherine T. Murray Memorial Scholarship was established in 1995 by Catherine Murray, a long-time educator and also a board member and valued volunteer at the Ocean State Center for Independent Living. It was her wish to support the philosophy and spirit of OSCIL through a scholarship that gives people with disability access to higher education.

An elderly white woman is sitting in a chair at a restaurant. She is wearing a yellow hat, glasses, a floral scarf, and a cream shirt.

Apply for the Scholarship Now!

The 2025 Application Period is Closed

Congratulations to our five recipients!

Check back in early 2026 for next year's application. You can subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when it goes live and receive other updates throughout the year.

Past Scholarship Winners

A young white woman with black hair in a ponytail who is sitting in a purple manual wheelchair on a sidewalk with people in the background. She is smiling and holding up a white sign that reads 'Indivisible' and 'Rhode Island'. She is wearing white sneakers, black shorts, and a white shirt.

"Growing up with Cerebral Palsy can come with many challenges. We can let these experiences either define or strengthen us. From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in a health care profession that helps people. The Catherine T. Murray Scholarship not only helped me to pursue my career path to become a social worker and assist people to develop the skills and resources within themselves to better their lives, it also indirectly led me to recognize and embrace unique abilities within myself."

Michelle Machado

2005 Catherine T. Murray Scholarship Recipient

A young white man with short brown hair is smiling and posing for a photo with a white wall in the background. He is wearing a blue collared shirt and a silver tie.

"For me, one of the most difficult aspects of growing up as a blind person has been the lack of awareness amongst the general public of the systemic adversity that we as individuals with disabilities face in everyday life. I have had many experiences with my sighted peers who doubt my abilities or leave me out of an activity. I wish that more people were open to being educated and increasing their awareness about the systemic barriers we face that are often upheld by our own government, such as in the realms of transportation as well as employment.

Christopher Bove

2020 Catherine T. Murray Scholarship Recipient

A young white woman with long dark brown hair, kneeling down with her arm around a black labarador retriever in a guide dog harness. She is wearing red lipstick, a simple black dress, and black tights. The woman and the dog are posing for a photo against a red background.

"My personal experiences that pertained specifically to growing up with a disability were often understandably challenging. Those challenges taught me many crucial lessons—including the power of overcoming obstacles and reaching for seemingly impossible goals. That is what I hope to achieve through my work and with my life. As an advocate for the blind and, like myself, visually impaired, I aim to spread awareness of equality for disabled students."

Aria Mia Loberti

2017 Catherine T. Murray Scholarship Recipient