You can now make a donation to the Foundation using the online form. Click the button to be redirected to the online donation form.  If you prefer, you can still also donate by check.  Simply download the contribution form, complete, and send with your donation. Download Contribution Form.

Iowa Speech Language Hearing Foundation University Graduate Student Scholarships:

The Iowa Speech Language Hearing Association Foundation (ISHA Foundation) invites full-time graduate

students in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology in the State of Iowa for the academic year 2025-2026 to

apply for scholarships. All students are eligible to apply for general scholarships. Awards will be given based

on excellence and not financial need. Scholarship recipients will be recognized in the awards ceremony at

the Annual Meeting of the Association during the 2025 Convention.

Funding opportunities include:

General Scholarships:

The Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship will provide $1,500 awards to four Speech-

Language Pathology and Audiology students attending graduate programs in the state of Iowa during the

2025-2026 academic year.

Niel VerHoef Memorial Scholarship:

The Neil VerHoef Scholarship, established by Mr. VerHoef’s family, provides a $1,500 scholarship annually

to one exemplary student majoring in speech-language pathology or audiology in a university or college in

Iowa. Preference is given to candidates who are residents of Iowa and who have demonstrated a

commitment to the professions through extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, community

service, special projects, or professional presentations.

Nancy Ritchie Memorial Scholarship:

The Nancy Ritchie Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in communication disorders at a

University in Iowa and will provide a $3,000 award. Preference is given to individuals who have an interest

in neurological disorders. Extracurricular activities including volunteering in various community settings (i.e.

church, nursing homes, scouting) will weigh more heavily in the selection process than GPA.

Nancy Huntley-Kraus Scholarship:

A $2,000 scholarship in memory of Nancy Huntley-Kraus will be awarded to an audiology student. 

To apply:

1. Download, complete, and save the application cover letter as a .docx or .pdf file.

Link to the ISHA application cover sheet.

2. Answer the following prompts in a personal essay of 500 words or less.

 What are your goals as a future practitioner in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology?

 How have your clinical experiences and/or extra-curricular activities (e.g., volunteer work,

community service, or special projects) prepared you for your future career?

 What do you think our state organization (ISHA) could do to support you as a future

professional in our field?

All writing submitted by you must have been produced independently by you. Any portion of the

essay written by someone else, including artificial intelligence (AI; i.e., AI-generated content), will

not be accepted by the committee.

3. Submit an unofficial academic transcript. Students who are going into the first year of graduate

school should provide their undergraduate transcript. Students going into their second year or

beyond should provide their graduate transcript.

4. Provide one letter of recommendation from a faculty member who has taught you in class or

supervised you in clinic. Please have the letter sent from the faculty member’s university email

address to pastpresident@isha.org no later than Friday, September 12, 2025.

Please send items 1-4 as attachments to one email addressed to pastpresident@isha.org no later than

Friday, September 12, 2025.

If you have any questions about this scholarship, please contact pastpresident@isha.org

Niel VerHoef Award
The Niel VerHoef Memorial Award is a non-monetary award made periodically to recognize members of the Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association who have made significant contributions to the Iowa Speech-Language Hearing Association, the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology, or to individuals with communication disabilities.

Niel VerHoef Award

Past Recipients of the VerHoef Award

2020 - David Krupke

2014 - Nick Salmon
2013 - Deb Moon Davis

2008 - Ken Barker, Ron Huddleston

2007 - Charlie Anderson, Myrna Stephens

2004 - Penny Nelson

2003 - Linda Jordan

2000 - Elaine Szymoniak