Foundation for Sight and Sound - Mitch Shapiro, Founder

This scholarship is open to high school seniors who have a hearing loss, which requires the use of hearing aid(s) in their daily life.

The scholarship’s purpose is to help students with hearing challenges reach their full potential by giving them the gift of sound. This will further allow the students to build confidence and self-esteem as they prepare to begin their college education.

The recipients of this scholarship will be selected by an independent group of judges to be determined by the Foundation For Sight & Sound, a 501c3 Not for Profit Corporation. The scholarship will award two students per school year, as follows:
1. One student currently wearing hearing aid(s) AND
2. One student in need of hearing aid(s) but has never been fitted with them

Each scholarship recipient will receive two state-of-the-art ReSound Hearing Aids which best fit his/her hearing loss, along with a $500 Scholarship to the student’s college of choice.

The essay’s content should highlight the student’s creativity, research and life experiences. It MUST also include, but is not limited to, responses to the following questions that pertain to student’s situation:

What is hearing loss?
Has hearing loss affected your productivity in school?
What challenges do you face as a hearing impaired student? How are you overcoming those challenges?
Do you feel hearing aids have or will increase your ability to learn?
List the ways hearing aids will improve your education, work and social goals.
Explain what new activities you will engage in or pursue with new hearing aids.
Upon receiving new hearing aids, how do you expect your life to change?
If you do not presently wear hearing aids, what are your expectations? What changes will you hope to achieve? Do you think your interpersonal relationships will be different?

All essays MUST be between 500-1500 words, single-spaced with 12 point Arial font and 1” margins.

Additional documents required with the essay:

1. A completed scholarship application
2. Photo of applicant
3. A copy of student's Hearing Instruments Evaluation, no more than 3 months old
4. Medical clearance signed by an ENT Doctor
5. Copy of college acceptance letter (if received)
6. A signed photo release form (if student is a minor, then form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian)
7. Three (3) letters of reference from a teacher, a guidance counselor and one individual outside of school and family (i.e. employer, community leader, college professor, etc.) Depending on the type of reference, each letter should include, but is not limited to:

a. Why they recommend student for this scholarship
b. A brief description of the student’s social involvement in school and in the community
c. Details of the student’s academic performance
d. Extracurricular activities

Judges will base their decisions on 3 overall criteria:

1. The writing quality of the essay
2. The content – (i.e.) essay discusses ALL questions, as stated above, that pertain to students situation
3. The student will benefit from the use of hearing aids

Please email your essay, application and all other required documents, in PDF format, to: scholarship@foundationforsightandsound.org

Important Information Regarding This Scholarship:

• DEADLINE to submit essay/scholarship packet: FRIDAY, MAY 25TH 2012
• Applications received after the deadline will not be considered
• Winners will be selected and notified no later than July 6th, 2012
• No employees or family members of FSS, ReSound or any other hearing healthcare industry entity may apply to this scholarship

For questions or additional information about the Help America Hear Scholarship, please call (631)366-3461.

The Foundation For Sight & Sound does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, or military status in its selection process.

Privacy Policy: The Foundation For Sight & Sound does not collect information from site visitors, only from scholarship applicants. The applicant information collected is used exclusively to select a scholarship recipient. Applicants will only be contacted if there are clarifying questions regarding the application information or to inform applicants of their status.

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