SCHOLARSHIP PURPOSE

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In alignment with the Kansas Association of the Deaf’s mission, which is to PRESERVE, PROTECT, and PROMOTE the civil, human, linguistic, and DEAF GAIN rights of Deaf Kansans, the Youth Sponsorship and the LaRosh Scholarship funded by the designated LaRosh Fund is herein known as the DEAF UP SCHOLARSHIP.  

 

As declared during the 29th Biennial Convention in 1987, the visionary former KAD President Fred R. Murphy called for the fund to “ . . . benefit ALL the Deaf in the state, all the Deaf must benefit - not just a few,” and as outlined in the KAD 1987 Budget Guidelines written by former KAD Treasurer Richard Brubaker, the nephew of the deceased donor Frank LaRosh, “. . .the LaRosh funds shall be awarded to a Deaf Kansas Student . . .”  per the Legal & Historical Analysis of the Frank W. LaRosh Bequest Review.

 

Therefore, following the spirit of Fred R. Murphy and Richard Brubaker’s vision in memory of Frank LaRosh’s generous bequest, the DEAF UP SCHOLARSHIP’s purpose is to award an individual scholarship(s) up to at least a minimum of $50 to a maximum of $6,000 annually, for as long as funds are available, to a Kansas Deaf student(s) ages 14 and up pursuing their education to ELEVATE, EXPAND, and ENHANCE their skills in their specific fields of interests, advocacy, and activism.  As a result, Deaf leaders are created to contribute and influence the elevation and growth of Deaf Leaders, the Deaf Community, the Deaf Ecosystem and Human Diversity.

The DEAF UP SCHOLARSHIP can be awarded for personal skill building and educational endeavors such as but not limited to the following categories:

 

• Deaf Leadership Camps

• NAD Youth Leadership Camps

  • note for all applicants:

    • A letter of ineligibility for funding from the Kansas School for the Deaf Endowment Association must be provided as proof before an applicant can be eligible for the DEAF UP Scholarship for this category.

• Deafhood Institute Trainings

• National Leadership Training Conferences

• National Black Deaf Advocates Conferences

• Multicultural Training/Conferences

• National Association of the Deaf Conferences

• Any Deaf Centered Conferences

• Skill-Specific Workshops/Seminars/Trainings

• Advocacy & Social Justice Trainings

• Entrepreneurship Trainings

• Deaf Centered Retreats

• Artivism Trainings/Workshops/Conferences

• Deaf Interpreters Trainings/Workshops/Conferences

• Deaf Studies, Intersectionality and Deaf Communities Courses

• Language fluency and Linguistics Workshops/Courses

• Film, Theater, Arts and Media Workshops

• Social Media Deaf Influencers trainings/Workshops

• Legislation, Policy Making, Politics, and Campaign Trainings/Workshops

• Certificates or Degrees from Voc-Tech Schools, Community Colleges or Universities

  • note for all applicants:

    • Letters of ineligibility for the Kansas State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and for funding from the Kansas School for the Deaf Endowment Association must be provided as proof before an applicant can be eligible for the DEAF UP Scholarship for this category.

• and many more that influence and elevate the growth of Deaf Leaders, the Deaf Community, the Deaf Ecosystem and Human Diversity.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

 

• Applicant(s) must be 14 years or older and must have Deaf Gain. KAD will use the applicant's State issued ID or Driver's License as proof.

• Applicant(s) must be a Kansas Resident. KAD will use the applicant's State Issued ID or Driver's License as proof.

• Applicant(s) must be a member of KAD. The KAD Board will verify applicant's membership standing through its membership roster.

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APPLICATION PERIOD

 

Applications are accepted at any time during the award year.

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SCHOLARSHIP AWARD  NOTICE

 

Scholarship Award Criteria: Awarding of scholarships is contingent upon the strength of the application, fund availability, the proposed individuals' endeavor merit, and the volume of applications received. Receipt of a scholarship is not guaranteed.

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Confidentiality Assurance: Personal details such as age, address, and driver's license number are treated with utmost confidentiality and will not be disclosed. Information pertaining to the awarded endeavor may be shared publicly.

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Selection Process: The KAD Board of Directors convenes as requests come in, to evaluate and vote by majority to approve the request.

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Announcement of Winners: The KAD Board of Directors will announce the scholarship recipient(s) on its website and may also utilize other available media sources for announcements.

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If you have any questions, email to support@deafkansas.org

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