Scholarships for SAC Student Associates

Table of Contents

  1. General Information
  2. Eligibility Requirements
  3. Evaluation Criteria
  4. Helpful Documents (Reference Forms)
  5. FAQ
  6. Cycle Two Scholarship Descriptions
  7. Past Scholarship Recipients

 

Opening Doors to Education: SAC Scholarships

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC)’s Scholarship Program was established to recognize and appreciate the academic excellence of SAC student associates who demonstrate a drive to succeed and contribute to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. The scholarships can help students with their tuition, childcare, food, shelter and/or travel, or in any way that will help offset the financial burden in pursuit of their education.  

Scholarships are funded by donations from SAC members, partners and generous supporters such as the Elks of Canada, KIDSPEECHTM and the Beach Family Foundation. Each scholarship is unique in its history, purpose and eligibility requirements. 

To make a donation to the scholarship program, contact membership@sac-oac.ca. 
 

APPLY NOW!  Deadline for Cycle Two is February 1, 2022, 11:59 pm PST

 

► Communication Health Assistant Scholarship Application

► Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Scholarship Application

 

General Information

There are two scholarship cycles each academic year. Students can apply to multiple scholarships in each cycle using one application form.  Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500 and are only available to SAC student associates in good standing. Not a member? Join today!

 

Eligibility Requirements

The following are the eligibility requirements for all scholarship applicants in cycle one:

  • Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
  • Full-time student in a recognized or accredited speech-language pathology, audiology or communication health assistants/disorders program.
  • SAC Student Associate in good standing. Not a member? Join today before submitting your application!
     

Evaluation Criteria

Students applying for a scholarship must include the following with their application:

1.  Evaluation References

Student Associates:  Communication Health Assistants*

  • One (1) academic reference.
  • Must use the appropriate academic reference form (see Helpful Documents).

Student Associates:  S-LP or Audiology*

  • One (1) academic reference from a full/associate/assistant professor from your department.
  • One (1) clinical reference from the agency where the student has undertaken clinical practice.
  • Must use the appropriate academic and clinical reference forms (see Helpful Documents).
  • First-year students:  If you are a first-year student in a Master's program, your academic reference can be from a professor from your undergraduate program.  You must also submit your undergraduate transcripts. The clinical reference form is not mandatory for first-year students.

* Please note:  All reference forms must be emailed directly to membership@sac-oac.ca from the reference.  The forms must be submitted by the deadline (February 1, 2022, 11:59 pm PST) or they will not be included as part of the scholarship application.

2. Academic Transcripts

Students must provide a copy of their academic transcripts in letter-grade form (A, B, C...).  Digital copies are acceptable.  Please email membership@sac-oac.ca if your transcript is in pass/fail format. 

CHA students in a one-year program may submit their transcript from their first semester.

SAC reserves the right to request official, physical copies of transcripts from students.

3.  Essay Component

Students must submit a short, personal essay with their application.  Essays have a maximum word count of 800 words or 950 words for students applying for a Beach Family Placement Support Scholarship. Please refer to the scholarship application for specific essay requirements.

 

**Some scholarships have specific criteria. Please refer to the scholarship application for details.**

 

Helpful Documents

Student Associates: Communication Health Assistants

Student Associates:  S-LP and Audiology

* reference forms must be submitted by the faculty member/supervisor providing the reference

FAQ

  1. Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
    1. You can apply for multiple scholarships. Make sure you meet the criteria for the scholarships you select. 
       
  2. Do I need to submit a separate application for each scholarship?
    1. No, you can use one application form.
       
  3. Can I include the evaluation references with my application?
    1. No, the forms must be sent to SAC by your reference, or they will not be considered as part of your application.  Your references may use the online form or the fillable PDF (see Helpful Documents for links)
       
  4. Do I need to submit official academic transcripts?
    1. You can submit digital copies of your transcripts; however, SAC reserves the right to request a physical, official transcript if deemed necessary.
       
  5. Can I submit a printed application?
    1. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept printed applications at this time. 
       
  6. Can I submit more than one application?
    1. No. Students may submit one application per cycle. If you need to make changes to your submitted application, please contact membership@sac-oac.ca for assistance.  Changes cannot be made after the deadline.
       
  7. Can I use the same references and transcripts I used in CYCLE ONE to apply for CYCLE TWO scholarships?
    1. Yes, you can. Please indicate this on your online application or email membership@sac-oac.ca.  
       
  8. When will the scholarship recipients be announced?  
    1. SAC will announce the recipients in late Spring 2022.
       
  9. Do I need to be a member of SAC to apply for a scholarship?
    1. Yes, the scholarship program is only open to current SAC Student Associates. Not a member? Join today before submitting your application! In addition to scholarship eligibility, you will receive excellent benefits that will help you with your career.
       
  10. Do I need to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident?
    1. Yes, scholarship recipients must provide proof of citizenship or permanent resident status.  
       

Cycle Two Scholarship Descriptions

The Beach Family Scholarships

The Beach Family Scholarships were created in 2017 in the loving memory of a family member who graduated from a Master’s speech-language pathology program and who was especially passionate about geriatric and pediatric speech-language pathology. The family created these scholarships with the goal of improving communication health services for adults and children across Canada. These scholarships will provide financial support to qualified and passionate individuals wishing to pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. 

  • $2,500 - Beach Family Graduate Scholarship (2 scholarships available)   

The Graduate Scholarships are awarded annually to two graduate students who are entering or are enrolled in audiology or speech-language pathology program who meet the application criteria and who express an interest in serving geriatric and/or pediatric populations.  Preference will be given to placements serving rural remote or underserved communities*.

  • $2,500 - Beach Family Placement Support Scholarship (2 scholarships available)

This scholarship is awarded annually to two graduating audiology or speech-language pathology students facing financial barriers to accepting a placement. Preference will be given to placements serving rural, remote or underserved communities*.

*A community is considered rural or remote if it has a population of less than 10,000 and/or has a population density of fewer than 150 people per square kilometre.

KIDSPEECH™ Scholarships

KIDSPEECH™ has been serving both children and adults since 1988. The founder and long-time member of SAC, Maria Scaringi, is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist and a Certified Canadian Life Care Planner who has worked with thousands of clients over the past three decades.

  • $2,000 - KIDSPEECH™ Doctoral Scholarship  (1 scholarship available)

To receive this scholarship, Canadian Speech-Language Pathologists must demonstrate a passion for attaining higher education distinct from the master’s degree. The KIDSPEECH™ Doctoral Scholarship is designed for students entering into, or currently enrolled in, a doctorate, post-doctorate, research Ph.D. and clinical Ph.D. This student will contribute to growth within the field of human communication through their commitment to specialization, research and leadership potential. Recipients will be invited to impart their knowledge and experiences through one of SAC’s professional development and/or communication channels (ex: conference, webinar) upon completion of their training.

  • $2,000 - KIDSPEECH™ Travelling Fellowship (1 scholarship available)

The KIDSPEECH™ Travelling Fellowship will support training abroad* for Canadian Speech-Language Pathology students and researchers, with the intent of acquiring advanced academic clinical, research and/or education in Human Communications (Speech Pathology). The scholarship will be offered to promising candidates enrolled in a graduate or doctoral program who have arranged for academic or clinical training abroad or in a remote or isolated community within Canada** . Preference will be given to candidates who plan to work in Canada. Recipients will be invited to impart their knowledge and experiences through one of SAC’s professional development or communication channels (ex: conference, webinar) upon completion of their training.

*For the purpose of this scholarship, abroad refers to national or international locations.

**In Canada, the statistical designation remote and isolated community refers to a settlement that is either a long distance from larger settlements or lacks transportation links that are typical in more populated areas; and/or small towns, villages and other populated places with less than 1,000 population according to the current census.

$750 - SAC Communication Health Assistant Student Scholarship (1 scholarship available)

SAC recognizes that students are a vital part of our membership and are the future of the professions we represent.  As part of our ongoing commitment to support student associates in their pursuit of becoming communication health assistants, SAC's Board of Directors has established an annual scholarship valued at $750.

 

Past Scholarship Recipients

Below you will find video and written testimonies from past recipients of the SAC Scholarship Program. 

To view a list of past scholarship recipients, visit our recipients webpage.

"I would again like to express my heartfelt thanks for the SAC's support in helping to realize my plans for future participation in professional issues. Thank you again for financially contributing to my research and personal development through this generous award."
- Marie Shuman, Msc. Speech-Language Pathology (2020 Graduate)

"I was thrilled and honoured to learn that I was awarded an Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children Scholarship. It is a great feeling to receive this recognition from the Elks and SAC- two organizations that do so much both for their members and for the community. Meanwhile, as I enter the home stretch of my academic program, this scholarship will help to alleviate some financial burden and allow me to focus more closely on future academic and clinical endeavours."
- 2019 Scholarship Recipient