The Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation was established in 1997 beginning with the contribution of a single coin found on the ballroom floor by Myna Stephens at the annual ISHA Convention. Since that time, generous contributions have established funds for scholarships, lectureships, and awards. Donations are accepted at any time of year, and a focused campaign is held during Better Hearing and Speech Month every May. The Foundation uses your tax-deductible contributions to award yearly scholarships to future speech-language pathologists and audiologists attending one of the academic programs in the state of Iowa, honor leaders in the professions, support the development and implementation of innovative projects and support two lectureships at the annual convention. 

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 Graduate Student Scholarships:

About:

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 2026-

2027 to apply for scholarships. All students are eligible to apply for 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 2026 Convention.

Funding opportunities include:

General Scholarships

The Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship will provide $2,000 awards to Speech-Language

Pathology and Audiology students attending graduate programs in the state of Iowa during the 2026-2027

academic year.

Nancy Huntley-Kraus Scholarship

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

Cheri Maehl Scholarship

A $2,000 scholarship on the generous donation of Cheri Maehl will be awarded in 2026.

Nancy Ritchie Memorial Scholarship

The Nancy Ritchie Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students 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.

Neil VerHoef Scholarship

The Neil VerHoef Scholarship, established by Mr. VerHoef’s family provides a $2,000 scholarship annually to

an 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.

To apply:

1. Download and complete the Application Cover Sheet below.

2. Answer all of the following prompts in a Personal Essay of 500 words or less.

a. Preparation

Describe an event in your academic background, training, or clinical experience that shaped

who you are as a future clinician. How did that event shape your professional values or

skills? (Do not share any personally-identifying client information in your answer).

b. Future Clinical Practice

Clinical practice in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology is always evolving. How do

you plan to make a unique or timeless impact in our field, as a future clinician?

c. ISHA Focus

Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists are responsible to engage in lifelong

learning. How do you think ISHA could offer meaningful professional development

opportunities for you, and how do you intend to actively engage with ISHA in the future?

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; 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 a current graduate transcript.

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

supervised you in clinic. Please request that the letter be sent from the faculty member’s university

email address directly to ISHAfoundation@isha.org no later than September 24, 2026.

IMPORTANT

● Items 1 and 2 above (i.e., the Application Cover Sheet and Personal Essay) must be submitted

together as one document (.docx or .pdf format). The file name should be as follows: “LAST NAME,

FIRST INITIAL - ISHA Foundation Scholarship Application 2026”.

● Items 1-3 above must be submitted as two attachments (1. The Application Cover Sheet and

Personal Essay, and 2. The Academic Transcript) to one email message addressed to

ISHAfoundation@isha.org no later than Thursday, September 24, 2026. The email subject line

should read “LAST NAME, FIRST INITIAL - ISHA Foundation Scholarship Application”.

● If you have any questions about ISHA scholarships or how to apply for them please contact

ISHAfoundation@isha.org

The 2026 Scholarship Application Cover Sheet Link is below. Click the blue button to access the view only document.  NOTE: To edit the PDF document, you will need to download the document first.

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

The Nancy Ritchie Memorial Lectureship assists in sponsoring an annual lectureship at the ISHA convention, preferably, but not limited to the area of dysphagia or neurological disorders. The Nancy Ritchie Memorial Fund was established by Bruce Ritchie, Nancy's husband, and long time member of ISHA. Nancy received the many benefits from professionals in the field of speech-language pathology for needs related to MS until her death at age 57 in 2006. 

The Susan McCaw Lectureship was established by her family in 2002 after her unexpected death. Susan was an excellent SLP and an asset to our profession. Funds from this account are used to help offset the cost of speakers in the schools/pediatrics track at the annual ISHA convention.

The mailing address for the ISHA Foundation:

ISHA Foundation

Attn: David Krupke

518 W. Locust St.

Davenport IA 52803

email address: ISHAfoundation@isha.org