SOMERSET, NJ, September 9 – A $5,000 grant from Oticon, Inc. has enabled Sertoma International to award $1,000 college scholarships to five exceptional students with hearing loss. Oticon is a long-time supporter of the educational initiatives of Sertoma, one of the oldest civic service organizations in the US, promoting civic responsibility through community service. Since its inception in 1994, the Sertoma Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf has been the nation’s leading scholarship program for students with hearing loss. During that time, more than 175 students have received Oticon-funded scholarships.
“At Oticon, we work to create a better future for every child with hearing loss,” says Mike Marcinek, Vice President & GM, Government Services and Pediatrics for Oticon, Inc. “Through our life-changing technology, we aim to empower children to reach their full potential at every stage of life, supporting their ability to excel in and outside of the classroom. Our support of the Sertoma scholarship program allows us to build on that commitment, enabling students with hearing loss to acquire the education they need to achieve their goals.”
The 2024 scholarship recipients are: Delaney Fitzgerald - Ohio State University; Leah Morgenthal - Rochester Institute of Technology; Allison Pank - University of Minnesota, Duluth; Evelyn Potts - University of California, Davis; and Kristen Tarasenko - University of South Carolina, Columbia.
Sertoma International received more than 130 applications for this year’s scholarships from students across the country. The scholarship program is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss, graduating from high school, or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline.
“Our mission compels us to raise awareness of the importance of hearing health, to educate the community about hearing-related issues, and to improve the quality of life for those with hearing loss through education and support,” said Jason Camis, the Executive Director of Sertoma International and Hearing Charities of America. “Through our Hard of Hearing and Deaf Scholarship programs, we help students to overcome challenges and develop leadership and social skills to prepare for their future. We’re honored to play a small part in their successes.”
For more information about Oticon, Inc. visit www.Oticon.com. To learn more about Sertoma International, visit www.Sertoma.org.
