Scholarship Application — CDF: Supporting Achievement, Honoring Excellence

CDF Graduate Student Scholarships Available

The Communication Disorders Foundation of Virginia (CDF) is pleased to offer the $4,000 Rita Purcell-Robertson Scholarship, the $4,000 David H. Narburgh Scholarship, and the $3,000 Pat Thomas Dewey Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year (to be awarded based on available funding). These scholarships are designed to recognize students who have demonstrated outstanding clinical potential. The three awards will be granted to current or rising full-time (as defined by the university) graduate degree-seeking students (Master’s, AUD or PhD) in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology enrolled in a Virginia university.

Scholarship Requirements
-The student applicant must be a full-time (as defined by the university) graduate student during the 2025-2026 school year. If the student plans to graduate in December 2025, then full-time attendance during the Fall of 2025 is required. The scholarship will be forfeited if the student does not attend the school of record as a full-time student.

-An application form (from the student) and 2 recommendations must be submitted through this website by April 1, 2025.

Application Instructions: Deadline April 1, 2025

● Review the form below and prepare all required information prior to submission as there is not an option to save your work within the form. We recommend you prepare your answers to the application questions in another document and copy and paste into the form when you are ready to submit.

● Completely and thoughtfully answer the five questions. Responses will be evaluated for clarity, cohesion, mechanics, and enthusiasm for the professions and future professional roles. Use of AI resources and plagiarism are prohibited.

● DO NOT mention the name of your current or previous university in your responses to the questions.

● Ask 2 people to submit a recommendation for you through the link on the website.
The student is required to obtain both recommendations from professionals who have observed the student’s clinical and/or academic skills or have noted personal qualities that predict clinical potential.

Student's Name

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone

(###)

###

####

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

University presently attending

If 'Other' selected above, specify here:

University attending for graduate school

Expected date of graduation from degree program

Full-time status 2025-2026?

YES

Currently a graduate student?

YES

Question 1: What aspects of audiology or speech-language pathology inspired you to pursue your profession?

Question 2: If funds/resources were not an issue, what topic or area of study would you pursue to improve your effectiveness and knowledge as a communication disorders specialist?

Question 3: What do you think are your professional obligations as a practicing audiologist or speech-language pathologist? What would you like to contribute to your profession?

Question 4: Reflect on your current and/or past volunteer experiences. Summarize what these experiences have taught you and how you predict these experiences will benefit you as a future professional in communication sciences and disorders.

Question 5: Because of cultural-linguistic differences seen in our clients, professional standards require that communication sciences and disorders professionals implement clinical practice with cultural humility, cultural responsiveness, and cultural competence. Explain what those concepts mean to you. Give examples from your life that demonstrate that you are a clinician who implements those values in clinical practice.

Please provide the name, email and relationship to the applicant of the persons providing recommendations (2 required) in the space below:

Award decisions will be finalized in the Summer of 2025 and the winners will be notified by email. An announcement of the award decisions will be posted on or after July 15 on the CDF website.

Questions? Email Dr. Stacie Raymer, CDF Scholarship Committee, sraymer@odu.edu