In 1999, the Executive Board of the Ohio Academy of Audiology discussed the establishment of a scholarship for students pursuing post-graduate education in the field of audiology. In the year 2000, a scholarship committee was established with the purpose of awarding a scholarship during the 2001 fiscal year. The Scholarship is named the Julie S. Kelly Memorial Scholarship in memory of a well-liked and well-respected audiologist, Julie Kelly, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in March of 2000. The non-renewable scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to a student enrolled in a Doctor of Audiology Program in the state of Ohio.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2010 recipient of the Julie Kelly Memorial Scholarship is Raina Stromberg. 

Ms. Stromberg is currently a 3rd year Au.D. student at the Northern Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC) and enrolled through Kent State University where she maintains a 3.96 grade point average.  In her scholarship personal statement she said, “The first time in my life that I have truly demonstrated a passion for something began upon entering the NorthEast Ohio Au.D., Consortium (NOAC).  I knew that this was my passion because I began to create long-term goals for myself.  I became actively involved outside of the classroom by becoming a member of the Student Academy of Audiology”, where she has assumed a leadership role and served locally as both the Membership Chair and Humanitarian Chair.

She is described as bright, quick thinking, hard working, self directed, dependable, focused, and delightful.  Speaking on her behalf, one of her Professors said  “this remarkable young woman has been balancing a demanding doctoral program and other difficult outside issues with strength, good humor and grace. I repeatedly observed her uncanny ability to assess a situation or individual, and interact appropriately.  She instinctively knows when and how to communicate effectively”. 

Another faculty member said,  “Julie Kelly was a woman who valued education, had a zest for life, and was committed to her profession.  I cannot think of a student who exemplifies these qualities more than Raina Stromberg.  She is a truly giving person who understands the value of volunteering and giving back to her community…her love for audiology, her desire to provide exceptional patient care, and her willingness to make the commitment to advance the profession are remarkable for a young woman just  entering the profession”.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology would like to thank this year’s Scholarship Selection Committee volunteers: Randa Mansour, Kristina Petraitis, and Kimberly Harhager for their careful consideration.  As always, they were presented with the difficult task of choosing between several well-deserving and qualified nominees.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2009-2010 recipient of the Julie Kelly Memorial Scholarship is Angela Gerbasi.  Ms Gerbasi is currently a 3rd year Au.D. student at the Northern Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC) and enrolled through Kent State University where she maintains a 3.98 grade point average.  In her scholarship personal statement she said, “ I was always told and believed that I could be anything in life.  The difficulty was deciding in what I wanted to be.  It wasn’t until my last year of college, while working, when I saw my friend’s four-year-old son first fit with hearing aids that I knew I wanted to be an audiologist. To see such a dramatic change in a boy who was quiet and somber, to one who was noisy and all smiles was enough to trigger the most intense motivation I had ever felt.  I live and breathe audiology and love every second.  It is not work to me, it is my passion.”

She is described as dedicated, compassionate, respectful, motivated, enthusiatic, attentive, and as possessing a strong work ethic.  Speaking on her behalf, one of her Professors said “She is a lot like Julie.  Angie has the same big smile and lights up a room, and makes everyone feel better because she is there”.  Another Professor said,  “I consider Angie a success story in the making…”

The Ohio Academy of Audiology would also like to thank this years’s Selection Committee volunteers: Sheryl Doggett, Claudia Dome, and Melissa Schnitzspahn for their careful consideration.  As always, they were presented with the difficult task of choosing between many well-deserving and qualified nominees.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology is pleased to announce the 2006 recipient of the Julie S. Kelly Memorial Audiology Scholarship is Nicole Solar.  Ms. Solar is a fourth year Au.D. student with the Northeast Ohio Au.D.  Consortium, enrolled through The University of Akron, where she carries a 3.9 grade point average.  She is currently completing her fourth year externship at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Ms. Solar was presented with her scholarship during the opening session of the 2007 Ohio Audiology Conference.

Ms. Solar become interested in audiology during her undergraduate days at the College of Wooster.  She had decided to major in speech pathology, and as a requirement, enrolled in an audiology class.  Although she had no prior exposure to audiology, she had a passionate professor who allowed her to assist with audiologic testing in addition to her speech therapy sessions.  By the end of the semester, she was so passionate about audiology that she changed her focus.  Through her coursework at the College of Wooster and The University of Akron, she developed an understanding of how important research is in our profession.  She is currently looking at several universities that offer a Ph.D. program in audiology and plans to enroll in the fall to continue her studies.  Ultimately, Ms. Solar would like to work in a teaching hospital or at a university where she can have the opportunity to conduct research as well as work with patients in a clinical setting.

The Ohio Academy of Audiology would like to thank this year's selection committee:  Ray Lezak, Debby LaPrete, and Randa Mansour-Shousher.  As always, they were given a difficult task choosing between several well qualified candidates.