Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to American Heart Association and AED.US Scholarships

The future of healthcare relies on cultivating a generation of leaders equipped to connect with communities effectively. Scholarship programs play a vital role in identifying and nurturing these individuals, providing them with the resources and support they need to pursue their educational and professional goals. Two prominent organizations, the American Heart Association (AHA) and AED.US, offer scholarships that support students passionate about cardiovascular health and emergency response.

The American Heart Association Scholars Program

The American Heart Association Scholars Program, now in its 10th year, addresses the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals by creating pathways that expand opportunity and strengthen the workforce pipeline. This program selects students aged 16 to 22 who are dedicated to amplifying youth voices and shaping emerging opportunities, such as High School and College Heart Clubs.

AHA Scholars Program: Key Features

Focus on Leadership: The program aims to develop future leaders in healthcare who can effectively engage with communities.
Youth Empowerment: It emphasizes amplifying youth voices and involving students in shaping opportunities related to heart health.
Workforce Development: It contributes to strengthening the pipeline of skilled health professionals.
Community Engagement: It encourages participation in initiatives like High School and College Heart Clubs.
Financial Support: The AHA provides financial support to institutions for disbursement to selected students. For instance, a $6,000 stipend is provided per student for a 10-week research experience.
Research Opportunities: Students gain valuable research experience, working alongside experienced faculty mentors.
Travel Support: The program provides travel support for students and their faculty mentors to attend national conferences.

AHA Scholars Program: Eligibility & Application

Citizenship: At the time of application, the student must be a United States citizen, or foreign national holding a student, exchange, or permanent resident visa, including an F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, or TN.
Membership: Awards applicants must be members of the American Heart Association (AHA) sponsoring scientific council at the time of application and must maintain this membership through the date of recognition to be eligible for award funding.
Early Career Investigators: To meet the eligibility criteria for Early Career awards, an applicant must be active in research and within 10 years of completion of terminal degree or highest certificate (e.g., MSc, PhD), or within 10 years of completing medical fellowship or residency, as of the award application date.

AHA Scholars Program: Application Guidelines

Student Scholar Statement: The applicant must provide a thorough statement (minimum three pages, double-spaced) describing the purpose of the research project, the implications of the project, and what the student hopes to accomplish or discover during the research period.
Reference Letters: Reference letters should be from individuals familiar with the applicant's scientific interests, academic interests, and performance, research abilities, or a combination of these. The referee should address as many of these areas as possible regarding the student. Reference letters must be written on letterhead, and each letter should include the referee’s signature.
Active AHA Professional Membership: An active AHA Professional Membership is required of all applicants and their preceptors for this award.

AHA Scholars Program: Additional Considerations

The award does not constitute an employee-employer relationship between the student and the American Heart Association.
The institution may supplement the award amount.
Electronic submission through the Council Awards Application System is required.
Applicants are permitted to use AI-based tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) for minor editorial assistance, such as grammar correction, formatting, and improving clarity of expression. Applicants must briefly disclose any AI tools used and their purpose in their application.

AED.US Scholarship Program

The AED.US Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to students passionate about spreading awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and the importance of AEDs and CPR training. SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States, and early intervention with a defibrillator is crucial for survival.

Understanding the Urgency of SCA

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the number one killer in America, and an electric shock delivered from a defibrillator is the only way to resuscitate, or revive, the victim. Over 350,000 SCA deaths occur annually in the United States outside the hospital, with 366,807 striking families in 2015 alone. AED.US' founders have placed tens of thousands of AEDs since entering the industry in 1999. Through AED Donation Programs, hundreds of AEDs have been placed in areas that need AEDs, but maybe struggle to fund the purchase. In one case, donations of ZOLL AED Plus units made by AED.US' founders to a Tennessee County produced multiple saves, including a student's mother, a PTA member, and a high school girls' basketball coach. These saves were only made possible by the actions of those present. Their awareness and training resulted in the quick administration of CPR and the AED retrieval, with a subsequent shock.

The AED.US Mission

AED.US' founders have placed tens of thousands of AEDs since entering the industry in 1999. Through AED Donation Programs, hundreds of AEDs have been placed in areas that need AEDs, but maybe struggle to fund the purchase. In one case, donations of ZOLL AED Plus units made by AED.US' founders to a Tennessee County produced multiple saves, including a student's mother, a PTA member, and a high school girls' basketball coach. These saves were only made possible by the actions of those present. Their awareness and training resulted in the quick administration of CPR and the AED retrieval, with a subsequent shock.

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AED.US Scholarship: Key Features

Focus on AED Awareness: The scholarship encourages students to learn more about AEDs and advocate for their use.
Project-Based Application: Applicants engage in a unique project involving AEDs, fostering understanding and advocacy.
Financial Assistance: AED.US awards one (1) \$1,500 scholarship each semester to a qualified undergrad or graduate student.

AED.US Scholarship: Application Requirements

Applicants are required to engage in a unique project involving AEDs, including interviewing an AED user and creating a video about the experience.

Locate and Photograph an AED: Find and photograph an AED in your community.
Conduct an Interview: Interview someone who has used an AED (e.g., EMS, Fire Department, Law Enforcement).
Create a Video: Record a 1-2 minute video of the interviewee describing a time when an AED saved or could have saved a life.
Write a Summary: Write a 300-500 word summary of the interview.
Submit Materials: Submit the picture, video, and summary on the application form.

AED.US Scholarship: Eligibility

Applicants must be high school seniors or enrolled in an accredited college or university to be eligible to receive this scholarship. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.

AED.US Scholarship: Application Deadlines

To be eligible for selection, students must apply by the appropriate deadline:

Fall Semester: July 1st
Spring Semester: December 1st

AED.US Scholarship: Additional Information

Awards will be paid directly to the winner's college or university on their behalf. Students cannot renew their scholarships but may submit an additional application each semester.

AED.US Scholarship: Past Winners

The AED.US Scholarship program has recognized numerous students for their dedication to raising awareness about AEDs and SCA. Some previous winners include:

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2019: Angelica Randazzo
2020 Spring Semester: Sydney Haines
2020 Fall Semester: Greg Stovring
2021: Adam Chismar
2022: Micah Weidner
2023: Taylor Eby
2024: Marissa Joe
2025 Spring Semester: Andrew Harper
2025 Fall Semester: James Fudge
2026 Spring Semester: Mariam Abdul Qadeer

Stories of Impact

The AED.US Scholarship has supported students who have made a tangible difference in their communities.

Angelica Randazzo (2019 Winner): Angelica interviewed her mother, Lisa, a nurse, who administered CPR to someone experiencing cardiac arrest at a resort in Mexico while a staff member retrieved an AED.
Sydney Haines (2020 Winner): Sydney interviewed Alan Scheu, a firefighter/EMT, who recounted a challenging save where multiple shocks from an AED were needed to revive a man who went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Adam Chismar (2021 Winner): Adam interviewed his father, Craig Chismar, a retired police officer, who used a newly issued AED to save a man from a burning truck after witnessing an accident.
Micah Weidner (2022 Winner): Micah, who himself experienced a sudden cardiac arrest, interviewed Dan Cunningham, the first responder who operated the AED that saved his life.

Obtaining AED/CPR Training

There are several options to obtain AED/CPR training, including The American Red Cross and The American Heart Association. AED.US can design and schedule custom classes to accommodate any size organization.

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