Scholarship To Encourage Deaf And Hearing Impaired

Media Release

June 28 2004

Scholarship To Encourage Deaf And Hearing Impaired Undergraduates

Deaf or hearing impaired undergraduates with extraordinary potential, vision or purpose have the chance to pursue their dreams through the Quest for Excellence Scholarship launched this month by the National Foundation for the Deaf and the Deaf Association of New Zealand.

The $15,000 scholarship aims to inspire New Zealand’s hearing impaired or Deaf people, whose hearing disability may have affected their ability to communicate and as a result had to overcome great odds.

Its principal focus is the pursuit of excellence, with an aim to facilitate post-graduate study and assist in the preparation for the person’s chosen profession.

National Foundation for the Deaf executive manager Marianne Schumacher says the scholarship was founded to reward and encourage students.

“Because hearing loss is an invisible disability, it goes without saying that all Deaf and hearing impaired people have faced inevitable challenges over and above the average person to obtain their degree,” said Ms Schumacher. “The aim of this scholarship is to reward excellence and act as an incentive for people to pursue their dreams. “

The scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis and is open to Deaf and hearing impaired citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand who have an undergraduate degree and plan to embark on postgraduate study. This could be in any field, including the arts, science, fine art, music or otherwise.

Deaf Association of New Zealand CEO Jennifer Brain adds the scholarship will help address the stigma attached to deafness and hearing impairment.

“I am Deaf myself and have always believed that Deaf people can do anything but hear, but to do this we must overcome the barriers that arise along the way. This scholarship is a great incentive to inspire and reward the rising talent amongst our Deaf community and encourage them to achieve their true potential.”

The winner of the $15,000 scholarship will be announced during Deaf Awareness Week in September and will be invited to attend the awards ceremony in Auckland.

For more information or details on how to apply for the Quest for Excellence Scholarship visit: www.questforexcellence.org.nz. Applications close on the 31st July, 2004.

ENDS

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