SOMERSET, NJ April 26 – The Oticon Hearing Foundation is partnering with the American Academy of Audiology Foundation Empowering Students Scholarship Program to fund scholarships for graduate students earning AuD or PhD degrees in audiology. The non-profit Oticon Hearing Foundation has designated a grant of $30,000 for scholarships for the 2023–24 academic year, with up to $20,000 in scholarships to be awarded to Black graduate students on their journey to becoming audiologists.
"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,” said Mariann Cadieu, Executive Director of the Oticon Hearing Foundation. “Supporting the success of a diverse population of graduate students through the Empowering Students Scholarship program is an important step to creating a profession that draws on the strengths of all segments of our population.”
“We are grateful for the Oticon Hearing Foundation’s support and partnership in this important endeavor that aligns with the Academy enterprise’s goal of supporting diversity in the field of audiology,” said AAA Foundation Chair Jessica Messersmith, PhD. “This generous financial support allows the AAA Foundation to continue to recognize the brightest young professionals early in their careers.”
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 help students to maximize their learning experiences through leadership, educational, and humanitarian opportunities.
The Oticon Hearing Foundation seeks to promote sustainable improvements in access to hearing care for in-need people and communities around the world.
2022 Scholarship Recipients
The 2022 Empowering Students Scholarship winners included: Kristina Bowdrie, The Ohio State University; Daria Collins, The Graduate Center, City University of New York; Talia Glenn, California State University, Sacramento; Kaley Graves, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Sarah Kingsbury, University of Iowa; and Stephanie Ortega, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
At the 2023 American Academy of Audiology Conference, Oticon President Gary Rosenblum presented AAA Foundation Chair Jessica Messersmith, PhD with a $30,000 donation to the American Academy of Audiology Foundation’s Empowering Students Scholarship Fund.
Applications for the Empowering Students Scholarships for the 2023–24 academic year are now available. The application deadline is May 31, 2023. For more information on the AAA Foundation Scholarship Program, audiology.org/foundation/our-work/scholarships-and-awards/. For more information on the Oticon Hearing Foundation, visit oticonhearingfoundation.org.
