Overview
The field of audiology plays a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss. However, despite advancements in technology and treatment options, accessibility to hearing care remains a significant issue, particularly in geographically underserved areas. According to recent studies, approximately 50 percent of counties in the United States lack access to hearing care within a five-mile radius. Aspiring audiologists are crucial in bridging this gap and ensuring equitable access to essential hearing healthcare services.
The American Academy of Audiology Foundation’s Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to one student who is committed to enhancing access to hearing-care services, especially in communities that lack geographic access to hearing care as evidenced by the student’s resume, rubric, and personal statement. The Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship is generously funded by HearUSA.
Eligibility Requirements
The Jill Botkin Hearing Health-Care Accessibility Scholarship will be awarded to one full-time graduate student in audiology (AuD, PhD, AuD/PhD) in good standing at a U.S. university during the 2024-2025 academic year. Applicants must be in at least their second academic year of their program when the scholarship is awarded and cannot graduate in Spring/Summer 2025.
How to Apply
The AAA Foundation is offering a universal scholarship for each of its scholarship program opportunities. When using the universal application, applicants must be aware of the following:
- Read the directions of the application carefully and completely. Any questions about the application can be directed to AAA Foundation staff.
- Each scholarship program opportunity has an individual section to complete in addition to submission of required supporting documentation. The following supporting documentation must be uploaded and included in the universal application online to be considered complete for this scholarship program:
- CV/Resume – Include audiology related research and clinical experience as well as academic and audiology volunteer (i.e. service) experience. Also include grade point average along with the university’s grading scale (i.e., 3.5 with maximum possible of 4 or 3.9 with maximum possible of 5). Students at a University with pass/fail grading, please include an additional letter from your program director regarding your academic standing. CV/Resume should be no more than 2-3 pages. CV/Resume must be uploaded to the application as part of the supporting documentation requirements. For an example of a CV/Resume, please visit the Academy's website. Accepted file formats are PDF, DOC, and DOCX.
- Recommendation Rubric – Download the recommendation rubric for a qualified individual (clinical supervisor, professor, mentor/advisor, employer, etc.) to fill out. The individual you select to complete this form should be able to speak to your work ethic, clinical skill set, and professionalism. For clinical scholarships, it is recommended that students select a clinical supervisor if possible. Please note that incomplete recommendation forms may result in a lower final score of the scholarship application. Completed rubrics must be uploaded to the application as part of the supporting documentation requirements. Accepted file formats is PDF.
- Personal Statement – As part of this scholarship program, applicants are expected to answer the following question for the personal statement section:
- In your opinion, what innovative strategies can future audiologists employ to overcome the accessibility challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss, particularly in underserved communities? Please outline specific initiatives or approaches you believe are most promising in addressing this issue, considering technological advancements, community engagement, and collaborative partnerships. Additionally, share how your personal experiences, values, and aspirations as a future audiologist motivate your commitment to increasing access to hearing care services for all individuals, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status. (750 words maximum)
Applicants must also acknowledge and agree to the individual scholarship program eligibility requirements they are applying to as well as the general AAA Foundation scholarship program policies in order to submit an application. Failure to do so will result in the application not being accepted/reviewed.
Applicants may return to their applications from the same device at a later time if left incomplete, however; incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications must be completed by the scholarship application deadline, Tuesday, April 30, 2025.
