Company Will Award 100 Scholarships to U.S. Audiology Students
Somerset, NJ May 15 -- -- For 100 years, Oticon has invested in the future of hearing health through technological and audiological research and knowledge sharing designed to provide hearing care practitioners with the understanding and tools they need to provide optimal care to people with hearing loss. During the company's 100th anniversary year, Oticon will extend the reach of that investment to the next generation of hearing care professionals with $60,000 in scholarship awards to 100 students enrolled in graduate-level study in audiology at accredited U.S. academic institutions.
"Our goal is to support and encourage students who share our vision that successful hearing solutions requires the skilled expertise of dedicated hearing care professionals, committed to putting the needs and preferences of people with hearing loss first," stated Mikael Worning, President of Oticon, Inc.
The scholarship program is open to all U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are full-time, in-residence students pursuing a graduate-level Master or Doctor of Audiology degree at accredited U.S. academic institutions. Students must be accepted into an accredited program at the time the scholarship awards are issued and anticipate graduation no sooner than May 2006.
Funding for the scholarship program is provided Oticon, Inc. and the Oticon Foundation, which is funded by income derived from its ownership of the majority of shares in the Oticon Company.
Applicants will be selected based on a completed application form, a letter of recommendation and a 500-word typewritten essay addressing the question "Why is a people-oriented profession still relevant in an increasingly technology-oriented society?"
The 100 students judged best qualified will be awarded a $600 scholarship, with the first 50 students selected receiving scholarships in 2004 and the remaining 50 students receiving their scholarships in 2005.
Applications for the 100th Anniversary Year Scholarships will be available on May 15, 2004. At that time, applicants can download a copy of the application from oticonus.com. Completed applications must be postmarked by September 20, 2004 to be eligible for consideration.
For information about the scholarship program, visit oticonus.com or contact Donald Schum, PhD, CCC-A (djs@oticonus.com) at 1-800-227-3921.
About Oticon
Oticon, one of the world's oldest and most respected hearing aid manufacturers, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2004. The company was founded in Copenhagen in 1904 by Hans Demant, inspired by a desire to help his hearing impaired wife and others like her. Today, Oticon is located in over 20 countries, providing quality, state-of-the-art hearing instruments to people worldwide. A pioneer in digital technology, Oticon continues to develop and manufacture the newest, most technologically advanced hearing instruments to help people with hearing loss "live the lives they want, with the hearing they have." The company's commitment to put People First in designing quality hearing care solutions is made stronger through partnership with dedicated and caring hearing care professionals in countries around the world.
About The Oticon Foundation
Founded in 1957, the Oticon Foundation sponsors social and educational programs, publications, conferences, cultural activities and campaigns - both for researchers, hearing care professionals and the general public. The Foundation's statutes mandate that income be used to support the needs of hearing-impaired individuals as well as organizations that serve people with hearing loss.
For more information about Oticon, click here.
