The HLAA-Oklahoma City Chapter, HLAA-Fox Valley Chapter, HLAA-Peninsula Chapter and HLAA-Chester County Chapter in Pennsylvania all report successful scholarship programs. Awards ranging from $1,000-$2,000 are given to high school students with hearing loss who will enter post-secondary education programs the following fall. Reaching out to younger people gives HLAA hope for the future as it touches lives of a younger generation who, hopefully, will remember that HLAA is there to provide peer support for them in the future. Each chapter has its own criteria for selection, and means of financing the scholarship program.
HLAA Peninsula Chapter (California) received a grant from the Easter Cross Foundation of Redwood City that allowed the chapter to give two scholarships, including a $2,000 award and a $1,000 award. Both scholarship recipients are students with hearing loss who are actively involved in their respective high schools.
Submitted by Sally Edwards, Chapter Leader
The scholarship awarded by HLAA Chester County Chapter (Pennsylvania) was initiated and funded by audiologist Dr. Judith Curtin, who wishes it to become an annual event and that by her example, other hearing healthcare professionals may expand it to more recipients.
Submitted by Chapter Leaders
A $1,500 scholarship awardee is chosen each year by the HLAA Fox Valley Chapter (Wisconsin) from applications submitted by students with hearing loss who plan to seek a post-secondary education. Scholarship criteria requires applicants to be students who use technology to remain in the hearing mainstream. This scholarship was generously funded by the late Margaret H. Ferris, a former teacher of students with hearing loss, and one of the chapter’s earliest members. Her donation for this purpose was invested in the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region, which has made it possible for the award to grow from an initial $500 award to the current $1,500 award.
Submitted by Rhonda Clancey, Chapter Leader
HLAA Oklahoma City Chapter has awarded two $1,000 scholarships each of the past two years to students with hearing loss who plan to pursue post-secondary education in the state of Oklahoma. The chapter was able to double the award amount from $500-$1,000 this year.
Submitted by Richard Hendricks, Chapter President