Andrew is the author of two children’s books. With the Holman Prize, he would create a dating app for people with disabilities that would include inclusive features like captions and audio clips.
2019 Candidates
Matt Formston
Matt is a two-time world champion in para-surfing. He would use the Holman Prize to run surfing workshops for blind children and youth all over the world.
Dennis Gallant
Dennis worked as a teacher ranger with the National Park service. With the Holman Prize, he would create a podcast to highlight the specific sounds from various national park locations, which would help blind people learn about the natural world in an accessible way.
Anthony Ferraro
Anthony won 122 matches as a high school wrestler. With the Holman Prize, he would empower blind youth, including providing scholarships for blind youth to pursue athletics.
Reem Hamodi
Reem grew up in Iraq where she didn’t have access to books in an accessible format. With the Holman Prize, she would set up a system to record audiobooks and distribute them online to blind students in Iraq.
Zackery Hurtz
Zackery is a musician and an entrepreneur. He would use the Holman Prize to develop Reference Point Navigation, which provides indoor and outdoor access to information and navigation on mobile phones that is accessible to blind people.
Darragh Ryan
Darragh is a YouTuber who covers independent recording artists and news. With the Holman Prize, he would upgrade his software and equipment so he can produce more content and encourage other people to become YouTubers.
Jason Romero
Jason is the first and only blind person to run across the United States, a journey of 3,063 miles. With the Holman Prize, he would travel the world to speak to children in schools about following their dreams regardless of disability.
Larry Johnson
Larry has worked as a radio and television broadcaster in the United States and Mexico. He would use the Holman Prize to travel to Cuba to teach a motivational workshop in English and Spanish to empower blind people.
Chelsey Zumpano
Chelsey is a blogger, YouTuber and aspiring dog trainer. With the Holman Prize, she would job shadow blind, visually impaired and sighted people across the United States and document it, to show that blind people are capable of doing a variety of jobs.