Comprehensive Guide to Hearing Loss Scholarships
Hearing loss can present unique challenges for students pursuing higher education. Fortunately, numerous scholarships and financial aid opportunities are available to support deaf and hard-of-hearing students in achieving their academic goals. This guide provides a detailed overview of various scholarships, eligibility criteria, and application processes to help students navigate the landscape of financial assistance.
Introduction
The journey of pursuing higher education can be significantly eased with the help of scholarships, especially for students with hearing loss. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance but also recognize the unique challenges and potential of these students. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various scholarships specifically designed for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, offering them the resources needed to thrive academically and professionally.
National Scholarships
The Colleen Scarisbrick Help America Hear Scholarship
The Colleen Scarisbrick Help America Hear Scholarship is dedicated to empowering students with hearing loss by providing both financial support and advanced hearing technology to help them succeed. This scholarship exemplifies a commitment to ensuring that students with hearing challenges have the resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.
Award Details:
- A financial award to support college or vocational education.
- A pair of top-of-the-line ReSound prescription hearing aids, custom-fitted to specific hearing needs.
Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf
Sertoma’s Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf, established in 1994, stands as a leading scholarship program for students with hearing impairments. Each year, Sertoma raises funds to support scholarships and other hearing health programs. Sertoma provides more funds nationally for graduate students studying communicative disorders than any other single organization.
Award Details:
- Scholarships worth $1,000 each.
- Awarded in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books, and fees incurred during the following school year.
Eligibility:
- Must have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level coursework.
Google Lime Scholarship
The Google Lime Scholarship provides financial assistance to students with disabilities working on a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field. Google is committed to helping the innovators of the future make the most of their talents by providing scholarships and networking retreats for computer science students with disabilities.
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Eligibility:
- Pursuing a Computer Science or Computer Engineering degree.
Wells Fargo Scholarship Program
Wells Fargo has developed this scholarship program to help people with disabilities obtain their education or training necessary to succeed in the career path of their choice.
Award Details:
- \$2,500 (full-time study) or \$1,250 (half-time study).
Scholarships from Help America Hear
Help America Hear Scholarships can make a significant difference in the lives of students with hearing loss, empowering them to pursue their educational and career aspirations with confidence. These scholarships are open nationally to high school seniors who have a hearing loss and utilize hearing aids. The purpose of this scholarship is to help students with hearing challenges reach their full potential by giving them the gift of sound. This will further allow the students to build confidence and self-esteem as they prepare to begin their college or vocational school education.
Burton Blatt Scholarship Program
This scholarship is open to those who are deaf or hard of hearing or whose primary caregivers are deaf or hard of hearing to pursue post-secondary education.
HLAA Scholarship Program
This scholarship is open to those with significant bilateral hearing loss of at least a 50 dB unaided hearing loss. Applicants with and without cochlear implants are encouraged to apply. Recipients must be undergraduates attending an accredited non-profit college physically located in the United States.
Cochlear Americas Scholarship Programs
Cochlear Americas offers two unique scholarship programs for recipients of Cochlear hearing devices:
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- The Cochlear Graeme Clark Scholarship: This award is open to Cochlear Nucleus Implant recipients. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or Canada.
- The Cochlear Anders Tjellström Scholarship: This award is open to Baha recipients.
Students submit an essay, with no more than 1000 words, following a specific prompt question.
Grants and Funds
Science Student Grant Fund
This Science Student Grant Fund is available to fourth-year undergraduate students (who have been accepted to graduate or professional school) and graduate students who have a disability. The students must be United States citizens.
Writing and Arts Competitions
National Literary Competition
The National Literary Competition is a writing and American Sign Language (ASL) competition open to all deaf and hard of hearing students in grades 2-12. To participate, students must create original written or ASL submissions in accordance with the year’s theme.
Digital Arts, Film, and Animation Competition
The Digital Arts, Film, and Animation Competition is for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in grades 9-12.
SpiRIT Writing Competition
The SpiRIT Writing competition is for students who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in grades 10-11 as of spring 2024.
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University-Specific Scholarships (UCLA as an Example)
Many universities offer scholarships specifically for students with disabilities. These scholarships often have specific eligibility requirements related to the university and academic standing.
The Philip & Artemis Tamoush Scholarship
To qualify, you must be a student at UCLA who is an amputee, were born with a limb difference, or otherwise experienced limb loss. Student must be in excellent academic standing (with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA). This scholarship is provided thanks to a generous donation from Philip and Artemis Tamoush.
Award Details:
- The CAE will award 2- \$2000 scholarships.
- There are no limitations on how the scholarship recipients may use the awarded funds.
Application Requirements:
- A Personal Interest Statement (limited to one single-spaced page, approximately 3,500 characters) explaining:
- Who you are and why you are interested in this scholarship.
- How you meet the qualifications of the scholarship.
- Your goals and how a scholarship will help with these goals.
Campbell Family Scholarship for Visually-Impaired Students
To qualify for the Campbell Family Scholarship for Visually-Impaired Students, you must be a student at UCLA who is blind or partially sighted.
Application Requirements:
- A one-page essay about yourself and how this scholarship will help you achieve your academic goals.
- Include your anticipated graduation date.
Award Details:
- Award amounts vary.
Dr. Bernard Sanghyun Kim Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Hearing Impaired
To qualify, you must be: a student at UCLA who is Deaf or hard of hearing, in financial need based on UCLA Financial Aid standards, and in excellent academic standing (with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA).
Application Requirements:
- Submit a one-page essay about yourself, your goals, and how a scholarship would help with those goals.
Award Details:
- Award amounts vary.
Disability in Career Development Program
The UCLA Center for Accessible Education (CAE) Disability in Career Development Program provides a small stipend (\$250 - \$500) on a quarterly basis to students with disabilities registered with CAE pursuing an internship, shadowing, or other experiential learning opportunities connected to a career outcome.
Eligibility:
- Students must apply for the award each quarter.
- Share information about their disability-related impacts.
- Demonstrate a financial need for the stipend.
The Will Rogers Memorial Scholarship
The Will Rogers Memorial Scholarship is typically awarded for items that will help ameliorate the effects of a student's disability. Examples of items that the scholarship has supported include: Livescribe pens, voice recognition programs, and text-to-speech programs (e.g., Kurzweil).
Additional Resources
RMTC-DHH Scholarship List
RMTC-DHH has curated a list of scholarships and leadership programs from around the state and country specifically for students who are DHH or have an active IEP. RMTC-DHH does not recommend one scholarship or program over another; therefore, they are listed alphabetically. The list gives you a link to the sponsor and a summary with some of the criteria they are looking for along with the possible amount awarded. Some scholarships may be a financial award per semester or school year, and an application may need to be resubmitted each year.
The Learning Center for the Deaf
The Learning Center for the Deaf compiled a list of scholarships for those with hearing loss. Please contact each program directly for more information.
CAE Joint Scholarship Application
The CAE coordinates several scholarships that are designated to support students with disabilities for specific disability-related needs. To apply to any scholarship offered directly through CAE, please utilize our joint scholarship application.
Tips for Scholarship Applications
- Start Early: Give yourself plenty of time to gather necessary documents, write essays, and meet deadlines.
- Read the Instructions Carefully: Pay close attention to eligibility criteria, required materials, and submission guidelines.
- Craft a Compelling Essay: Use the essay to highlight your strengths, experiences, and goals. Be authentic and showcase your passion.
- Seek Recommendations: Ask teachers, counselors, or mentors who know you well to write strong letters of recommendation.
- Proofread Everything: Ensure your application is free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
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