The list of scholarships in this document highlights many of the most commonly known scholarships for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. It does not include scholarships for students residing in a specific state or attending a specific college/university. It also does not include scholarships generally available for "disabled students" or general financial aid. To obtain information in these areas, including general information about scholarships, financial aid, and other resources for college-bound students who are deaf or hard of hearing, see the list of resources following the tables.

Information was compiled by Laura Himes Iversen, Family Support Specialist at the Family Support Connection at Lifetrack Resources, 709 University West, St. Paul, MN 55104-4804. Phone: 651-265-2372 (voice) and 651-265-2379 (TTY). E-mails are welcome at: laurai@lifetrackresources.org. Good luck in your search for financial assistance.
 

Scholarships for College-bound Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
 

Name of Scholarship	General Type (e.g., full time (FT)or part time students)	Hearing Status Requirement	Other requirements? (e.g., minimum GPA, prelingual deafness)	Comments	Contact Information
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf Scholarships	Applicants must be: "accepted by or already enrolled in a regular FT college or university program for students with normal hearing."	Generally requires loss of 60 dB or greater in better ear in the speech frequencies of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz. Specific scholarships all require "must be born deaf or became deaf before acquiring language."	Yes For example, "must use speech and residual hearing and/or speechreading as their mode of communication"	Several awards given each year (e.g., general AGBell Scholarships, Allie Raney Hunt Memorial Scholarship).	Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Inc. 3417 Volta Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20007 (202) 337-5220 (V/ITY) Web site: www.agbell.org E-mail: financialaid@agbell.org
Ear Foundation: Minnie Pearl Scholarship Program	High school seniors who have been accepted as a FT student at the university of their choice	Severe to profound deafness	Yes For example, GPA of 3.0 and "be mainstreamed."	Fourteen $2,000 scholarships a year	The EAR Foundation 2000 Church Street, Box 111 Nashville, TN 37236 Web site: www.earfoundation.org E-mail: earfound@earfoundation.org
The Geoffrey Foundation Scholarship	Limited to students who are deaf or hard of hearing and utilizing an auditory/verbal approach to communication"	Severe to profound deafness	Yes. For example, student must be mainstreamed.	Call or send letter to request an application.	The Geoffrey Foundation P.O. Box 112 Ocean Avenue Kennebunkport, ME 04046 (207) 967-5798
Graeme Clark Scholarship	Students working toward a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree at an accredited university	A "unique scholarship open to Cochlear Nucleus implant recipients around the world"	Yes.  Open to students completing final year of school or to mature aged students who have been accepted into a university course	Program was launched regionally in 2002.	Cochlear Corporation 400 Inverness Parkway Suite 400 Englewood Colorado 80112 Toll Free: (800) 523 5798 Telephone: (303) 790 9010 Web site:  www.cochlear.com/Recipients/ scholarship.asp
National Fraternal Society for the Deaf Scholarships	Students enrolled or accepted to a postsecondary educational institution	Deaf and hard of hearing members of NFSD can qualify, if they have been members for at least one year.	Yes NFSD membership is based on purchase of life insurance. Parents can purchase insurance for minors. A wards based on need and scholastic achievement.	Ten $1,000 scholarships a year.	National Fraternal Society of the Deaf 1118 S. 6th St. Springfield, IL 62703 (312) 392-1409 (TTY) E-mail: 10456.272@compuserve.com
Sertoma International (with donations from Oticon, Inc. and Phonic Ear, Inc.)	Be a FT student entering or continuing student in four- year degree program	"a documented hearing loss" Can include students with a mild or moderate loss.	Yes. For example, a 3.2 GPA	Ten to Thirteen $1,000 scholarships a year in the US and Canada	Sertoma International 1912 East Meyer Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64132 (816) 333-8300 (V/TTY) Web site: www.sertoma.org E-mail: infosertomasertoma.org
Service Organizations (e.g., Quota International, Lion's Club)	Varies by locale	Varies by locale	Varies by locale	Contact your local clubs; the focus and goals of these organizations vary by community.	For more information on Quota and Ventura Clubs, visit http://clercenter.galluadet.edu/ lnfoToGo/390.html For more information on Lions Club, see http://www.lionnet.com. For information on local service organizations, call the specific organization in your community.

 

• For more information on scholarships for graduate and PhD students who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and a general list of scholarships D/HH students, see www.isu.edu/ssdis/finaid.htm ; http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo/390.html ; and www.ican.com.
• For more information on scholarships generally reserved for students with disabilities, see and "Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities, 2003 Edition." The 2003 edition "contains completely updated and revised information to help individuals with disabilities t seek and obtain financial assistance for postsecondary education." Visit http://www.heath-resource-center.org for more information. See also http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo/390.html.
• For more information on scholarships for D/HH students residing in specific states or attending specific colleges, see: http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/InfoToGo/390.html
• For more information on general financial aid resources available on the internet, see: http://www.mcpo.org/aid.
• For comprehensive information on how students who are deaf and hard of hearing can succeed in college, check out the Heath Resource Center's publication, "Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Postsecondary Education." See www.heath-resource-center.org or call the Center at: (202) 939-9320 (V/TTY). This publication has links to dozens of other sites and resources that are designed to assist deaf and hard of hearing college students.
• Another potential source of limited funds for college and university training are states' Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs. VR services are aimed at employment and independence. VR programs can be found in every state and U.S. territory, offering a host of individualized rehabilitation services, including assessment, counseling and guidance, career planning, training, job placement and follow up. Note that while most state VR agencies fund some postsecondary training, VR is not a financial aid agency. For more information, check with your state VR agency, as funding availability and rules vary by state. Students can check their local phone book or call the National Rehabilitation Information Center at 800-346-2742.

Review of the following web sites:

http://clearccenter.galluadet.edulInfoToGo/390.html.
http://www.mcpo.org/aid
http://www.agbell.org
http://www.cochlear.com
http://www.earfounddation.org
http://www.heath-resource-center.org
http://www.ican.com
http://www.isu.edu/ssdis/fmaid.htm
http://www.mheso.state.mn.us/site.cfm
http://www.mnwfc.org
http://www.sertoma.org

Telephone conversations with the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (2/27/03), Sertoma International (2/20/03), and Lion's Club (2/27/03) representatives.

E-mail inquiries to a variety of deaf and hard of hearing professionals in Minnesota (February and March, 2003). (My many thanks to all of them, including staff/representatives from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Minnesota's Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Minnesota AG Bell, Self-help For Hard of Hearing, Lifetrack Resources, and two teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.)

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