the Virginia E. Wilson and Dr. Sharon A. Lesner Graduate Professional Fellowship for Students with Hearing Impairment

The Virginia E. Wilson and Dr. Sharon A. Lesner Graduate Professional Fellowship for Students with Hearing Impairment was established by Mrs. Virginia E. Wilson in 2011 in honor of her friend, Dr. Sharon A. Lesner, professor of audiology at The University of Akron. Mrs. Wilson credits Dr. Lesner for bringing her into the “hearing world” and helping her manage life despite having suffered from significant hearing loss since the age of 35. The Wilson and Lesner Fellowship is for hearing impaired students in the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program within The University of Akron’s School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Only students with hearing impairment accepted into the Au.D. Program at The University of Akron are eligible to apply for the fellowship. The following criteria will be used in selecting the recipient:

Awards will be made only to students with hearing impairments;
Only citizens of the United States are eligible;
Only students enrolled at The University of Akron in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of the Au.D. program are eligible;
Scholastic performance will be a consideration;
Financial need will be a consideration;
Preference will be given to residents of the state of Ohio; and
Preference will be given to students who have no other form of financial assistance from The University of Akron.
The selection committee will consist of three members: the director of the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, a member of the audiology faculty having the greatest length of service in the School of Speech- Language Pathology and Audiology, and a third member selected by the first two designated above. If two or more members have the same length of service, then the second member of the committee shall be the one with the highest rank. If there is no agreement on the third member, then that member is to be named by the dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Services.