Grant Promotes Diversity & Inclusion in Audiology with 4 Scholarships Earmarked for Black Students
SOMERSET, NJ January 18 – Oticon, Inc. will again partner with the American Academy of Audiology Foundation Empowering Students Scholarship Program to fund scholarships for graduate students earning Au.D. or Ph.D. degrees in audiology. The $30,000 donation from Oticon will fund scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year, with up to $20,000 in scholarships to be awarded to Black students on their journey to becoming audiologists. A proud supporter of the American Academy of Audiology Foundation’s ongoing educational opportunities for graduate students, Oticon joins with the Foundation to become a change agent in supporting Black graduate students as they pursue their audiology degrees and move into careers in audiology.
"Supporting the success of Black audiology graduate students is an important step to creating a profession that draws on the strengths of all segments of our population," said Oticon Head of Audiology Virginia Ramachandran, Au.D., Ph.D. “A more inclusive and diverse profession brings a broader perspective to hearing healthcare that improves our ability to provide life-changing benefits to patients from all backgrounds.”
The American Academy of Audiology Foundation raises funds and supports programs of excellence in education, promising research and public awareness in audiology and hearing science. The Foundation offers targeted opportunities to students across the country through scholarships and grants. The programs are designed to help students maximize their learning experiences through leadership, educational, and humanitarian opportunities.
“The expansion of the Empowering Students Scholarship Program to designate funds for Black students aligns with the Academy Enterprise’s goal of supporting diversity in the field of audiology, and the Foundation is pleased to play a role in that mission,” said AAA Foundation Chair Lisa Vaughan, AuD. “We are thrilled to be able to offer the Empowering Students Scholarships again in 2022, and we are grateful for Oticon’s continued support and partnership in this endeavor.”
2021 Empowering Students Scholarship winners included: Casey Crane, University of Oklahoma; Samantha Espinal, Gallaudet University; Rhonda Labib, University of the Pacific; Hunter Stuehm, Western Washington University; Tawni Wallace, California State University, Northridge; and Fina Young, The State University of New York, Buffalo.
Applications for the Empowering Students Scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year are now available. The application deadline is May 31, 2022. For more information on the AAA Foundation Scholarship Program, visit https://www.audiologyfoundation.org/scholarships-grants/general-education-scholarships-grants.
