New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites doctoral students accepted to, or enrolled in, a research doctoral program to apply for the New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship.

This program is designed to support strong doctoral candidates who will pursue a teacher-investigator career in an academic environment at the university/college level in the United States.

For 2025, the ASH Foundation will award up to 15 scholarships of $10,000 each.

New Funding Opportunity for Students Studying Severe Communication Disabilities

One additional New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship will be funded through the newly endowed Drs. McLean, Yoder and Schiefelbusch Memorial Scholarship Fund for the purpose of supporting students’ scholarly endeavors. Students whose research focuses on severe communication disabilities, an area to which Drs. McLean, Yoder, and Schiefelbusch dedicated their lifelong careers, are eligible for this funding.

Eligibility

Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship.

1. Students must be accepted to, or currently enrolled in, a research doctoral program (PhD or equivalent) in communication sciences and disorders. Clinical doctoral students are not eligible to apply for this program; however, clinical doctoral students are eligible for other ASHFoundation programs. Students completing their doctoral program prior to May 2025 are not eligible for this November 2025 funding cycle.
2. Students with full-time status will be given priority. However, students with part-time status will be considered.
3. Students must be either a NSSLHA member or an ASHA member at the time of application.
4. Students should be committed to a teacher-investigator career in communication sciences and disorders in the United States.

Note: To meet the goal of supporting teacher-investigator careers, the ASHFoundation expects to identify students committed to attaining a research doctoral degree and to working in a higher education academic community in the discipline in the United States. Should a recipient be unable to fulfill each eligibility requirement, the ASH Foundation will expect funding repayment to provide an opportunity for another recipient to meet the original purpose of this competition.

Application Requirements

Complete the online Student Information Form and upload the following required materials.

1. Student Information Form (online)
2. Letter of Application and Modified Vitae Appendix (one PDF file) Prepare a Letter of Application (limit 3 pages, 12-point font, single-spaced, addressed to the "Scholarship Review Committee") to describe the following items:
   • Explain briefly why you are pursuing doctoral study and what factors may have led to your pursuit of this career path.
   • Describe your academic study plans.
   • Indicate your intended goals after completing the doctoral program, including your teaching interests.
   • Provide an overview of your research interests and activities to date, including special coursework, seminars, interdisciplinary study, and independent study you have pursued as a foundation for your career goals.

Explain what obstacles you perceive to reaching these goals, if applicable. As an appendix to your Letter of Application, provide a modified curriculum vitae (not included in the 3-page limit) that outlines the following categories, as appropriate to your personal history. Include these categories, if applicable, as headers in the following order:

• Research Interests
• Research Experience and Projects
• Teaching Interests
• Teaching Experiences
• Presentations
• Publications
• Awards and Honors

Note: Education history is addressed on the Student Information Form and should not be duplicated in this section. The modified curriculum vitae is not counted as part of the 3-page limit for the Letter of Application.

     3. Department Information Form (PDF file)

The doctoral program chair or director must complete the Department Information Form [PDF]. Once the chair or director has completed and signed this form, the applicant must upload the final form (PDF file) through the online application system.

     4. Transcripts (PDF file)

Applicants must provide a copy of the transcript from their current university. It is acceptable to use a student version of the transcript. If not included in the transcript, the grade point average (GPA) must be provided via official university or department documentation.

      5. Confidential Letters of Recommendation (PDF files)

Two confidential letters of recommendations must be submitted on behalf of the applicant. Of the two letters, at least one must be from the applicant's department. The other letter can be from another reference familiar with the applicant's academic history and potential.

Recommendation letters should focus on factors that are not already part of the application. The recommendation letters should:

• Indicate the applicant's suitability for doctoral study.
• Note applicant’s qualities that will contribute to successful completion of doctoral study.
• Comment on the applicant's level of commitment to a career as a teacher-investigator.
• Explain other factors that may contribute to the applicant's potential for career success, including professionalism and leadership.
• Are there other factors that aren’t already stated in the applicant’s vitae?

Request Letters of Recommendation: Recommenders must upload their letter of recommendation, as a PDF file, to the online application system. Through the system, applicants can request recommendations by providing the names and email addresses of their two recommenders. Once this contact information is provided, recommenders will receive an email from foundationprograms@asha.org requesting a letter of recommendation and providing submission instructions.

Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the recommenders submit their letters of recommendation before the application deadline.

Funding note: Scholarship funding is to be directed toward educational expenses (e.g., tuition, books, living expenses, ), and not toward travel (personal or professional).