The Department of Speech & Hearing Science is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships and awards for students for the 2022-23 school year. The awards ceremony will take place at the I Hotel and Conference Center at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023. Information describing each award and the eligibility criteria is listed below. Students can apply for more than one scholarship and only need to submit one application. Applications can be found in this link and are due February 21, 2023. Note: the Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award has a separate application and is due no later than 5 p.m. February 23, 2023.

Only complete applications that are submitted by the deadline will receive full consideration.  We anticipate that the review process will take about two weeks. Final determination for all awards will be made by the Department Head, with recommendations provided in writing by the departmental Awards Committee. The departmental administrative aide will notify the students. Students will receive notification of awards by March 1, 2023.

Award Notification

A letter of award will be sent to each student recipient. The letter will also indicate how the award will be disbursed, and to whom the student recipient should send biographical information for the awards ceremony.

BARBARA WILLIAMS HODSON SCHOLARSHIP

The Barbara Williams Hodson Scholarship recognizes high-achieving students who have demonstrated a commitment to service activities and leadership, who have an interest in applied phonetics/ phonology, and who intend to become certified Speech-Language Pathologists. Further preference is given to international students and/or US students who are bilingual. One award of $1,000 will be presented to the recipient.

FRANCES L. JOHNSON STUDENT AWARD

The Frances L. Johnson Student Award was created to provide financial support and recognition to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing clinical careers in speech, language, and hearing science. Professor Emerita Frances L. Johnson, who established this award, served on the faculty for more than 30 years and was instrumental in raising the status of speech-language therapy programs in the public schools. Four awards of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

JOAN GOOD ERICKSON SCHOLARSHIP

The Joan Good Erickson Scholarship in Speech and Hearing Science was established by Professor Emerita Joan Good Erickson, who joined the faculty in 1963 and whose career was devoted to better understanding the needs of multicultural populations. The award honors undergraduate or graduate students in the department who have a demonstrated interest in multicultural issues. Up to two awards of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

NANINE S. BREON SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship was established by Nanine Breon (LAS 1972) in memory of her father, Robert Cartier. Recipients are juniors or seniors in good standing in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science who are preparing to work in a public school system. One award of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

SUSAN AND GERALD CONNOR SCHOLARSHIP

Gerald Connor received a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois in 1979. During his junior year he utilized the services of the Speech and Hearing Clinic and was able to overcome his speech impediment. He had a successful career in retail management and met his wife, Susan, in south Louisiana. Susan received her MS in Finance from LSU and worked there for 25 years. The Susan and Gerald Connor Scholarship is meant to support either undergraduate or graduate students. One award of $1,000 will be awarded.

SYLVIA WACKER HERZOG SCHOLARSHIP

Sylvia Wacker Herzog received a B.S. (1948) and an M.S. (1972) in speech correction from the University of Illinois. Mrs. Herzog was employed as a speech-language pathologist in the Tuscola schools for four years and in the Champaign schools for 30 years. With a desire to support future generations of students, Mrs. Herzog established the Sylvia Wacker Herzog Scholarship to provide an opportunity for undergraduate or graduate students to pursue their career goals in the field of speech and hearing science. Three awards of $1,500 each will be presented to the recipients.

BARBARA WILLIAMS HODSON SCHOLARSHIP

The Barbara Williams Hodson Scholarship recognizes high-achieving students who have demonstrated a commitment to service activities and leadership, who have an interest in applied phonetics/ phonology, and who intend to become certified Speech-Language Pathologists. Further preference is given to international students and/or US students who are bilingual. One award of $1,000 will be presented.

BOB BILGER GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD

The Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award supports academically talented graduate students who are studying the auditory system. The Bilger Award was established by the late Bob Bilger (1926-2002) who served the Department of Speech and Hearing Science both as a faculty member and department head. Dr. Bilger was recognized internationally as one of the leading researchers in psychoacoustics and hearing. Several awards of at least $2000 each may be awarded. More information about the Bilger Award can be found here. Note: the Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award has a separate application and is due no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 23, 2024.

DEAN C. AND KATHLEEN R. GARSTECKI GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Dean C. and Kathleen R. Garstecki Graduate Scholarships recognize outstanding graduate students in Audiology. Dean holds a PhD degree in Audiology from the University of Illinois. During his career as a clinical and research audiologist, he has held faculty appointments at several major universities, including 35 years at Northwestern University where he served as a Speech and Hearing Science Professor and Department Chair. Kathy, a retired health care professional and hospital administrator, has taken courses at the University of Illinois and holds an MBA degree from Northwestern. One award of $1,000 will be presented to the recipient.

EHUD AND JANIE YAIRI INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD

The Ehud and Janie Yairi International Graduate Student Award is supported through a gift made by Dr. and Mrs. Ehud Yairi. Dr. Yairi is internationally recognized for his research on stuttering. Janie, a retired speech-language pathologist, is actively involved in many Champaign-Urbana public service organizations. The award recognizes outstanding international doctoral students in the department with preference given to those students who are pursuing research related to stuttering. one award of at least $1,500 will be presented to the recipient.

FRANCES L. JOHNSON STUDENT AWARD

The Frances L. Johnson Student Award was created to provide financial support and recognition to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing clinical careers in speech, language, and hearing science. Professor Emerita Frances L. Johnson, who established this award, served on the faculty for more than 30 years and was instrumental in raising the status of speech-language therapy programs in the public schools. Four awards of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

H. WILLIAM PORTERFIELD, M.D., AND LINDA OBENAUF PORTERFIELD SPEECH AND HEARING GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

The H. William Porterfield, M.D., & Linda Obenauf Porterfield Speech and Hearing Graduate Fellowship is supported through a gift from Dr. and Mrs. H. William Porterfield. Linda received a 1968 AB degree in the teaching of speech from the University of Illinois. The fellowship rewards master's students who demonstrate exceptional academic merit and who plan to be practitioners in the field of speech, language, and hearing science. Up to three awards of $1,000 each will be presented to the recipients.

IDA LEVINSON MEMORIAL

The Ida Levinson Memorial Award recognizes an outstanding second year student in the MA Program in Speech-Language Pathology who has excelled in the clinical setting. An award of $1,000 will be presented to the recipient.

JOAN GOOD ERICKSON SCHOLARSHIP

The Joan Good Erickson Scholarship in Speech and Hearing Science was established by Professor Emerita Joan Good Erickson, who joined the faculty in 1963 and whose career was devoted to better understanding the needs of multicultural populations. The award honors undergraduate or graduate students in the department who have a demonstrated interest in multicultural issues. Up to two awards of $1,000 will be awarded.

JOHN C. AND JUDITH D. TURNER APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The John C. and Judith D. Turner Applied Health Sciences Scholarship will be awarded to graduate students in SHS from the State of Illinois, with a preference to students who give back to the University and community through volunteerism. John received three degrees from the University of Illinois from the College of ACES (1955 & 1959) and College of Education (1964) and Judith received a degree in speech correction from the University of Illinois (1959). Two awards of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

NANCY S. HAGER and CHESTER L. HAGER GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD

The Nancy S. Hager Graduate Student Award in Speech and Hearing Science honors Mrs. Nancy S. Hager (1935-2000), who received a degree in speech correction from the University of Illinois in 1957 and went on to serve a 29-year career with the Carbondale School District, helping children overcome speech and language disabilities. The award was established by her family to support a second-year graduate student who plans to work in public schools. One award of $1,000 will be presented to the recipient.

PHYLLIS ARIENS BURKHEAD MEMORIAL AWARD

The Phyllis Ariens Burkhead Memorial Award is supported by a gift from Mr, Clyde Burkhead. He established the award in 1974 in memory of his late wife Phyllis who was a clinical supervisor in the department. The awards are granted to outstanding Ph.D. students who show strong clinical interest. Two awards of $1,000 will be presented to the recipients.

SUSAN AND GERALD CONNOR SCHOLARSHIP

Gerald Connor received a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois in 1979. During his junior year he utilized the services of the Speech and Hearing Clinic and was able to overcome his speech impediment. He had a successful career in retail management and met his wife, Susan, in south Louisiana. Susan received her MS in Finance from LSU and worked there for 25 years. The Susan and Gerald Connor Scholarship is meant to support either undergraduate or graduate students. One award of $1,000 will be awarded.

SYLVIA WACKER HERZOG SCHOLARSHIP

Sylvia Wacker Herzog received a B.S. (1948) and an M.S. (1972) in speech correction from the University of Illinois. Mrs. Herzog was employed as a speech-language pathologist in the Tuscola schools for four years and in the Champaign schools for 30 years. With a desire to support future generations of students, Mrs. Herzog established the Sylvia Wacker Herzog Scholarship to provide an opportunity for undergraduate or graduate students to pursue their career goals in the field of speech and hearing science. Three awards of $1,000 each will be presented to the recipients.

WILLIAM K AND EMILY H WICKHORST SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship was established to support fellowships at the graduate level for studies in speech disorders with preference being given to the study of stuttering. Two awards of $1,000 each will be presented to the recipients.