Cochlear is proud to announce the eight winners of the 16th annual Graeme Clark and 7th annual Anders Tjellström scholarships. Named after hearing implant industry pioneers, the scholarships recognize Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implant and Baha® System recipients who not only demonstrate exemplary success in their academic pursuits, but also leadership and humanity in their local communities.
Five students were awarded the 2018 Graeme Clark scholarship, awarded to Nucleus recipients:
Elaine Wright
“One of the things having cochlear implants has taught me is empathy. I didn’t really realize until I got older that everyone has their differences— everyone has something that’s part of their life that’s not necessarily part of yours— so it’s really essential to practice empathy,” said Elaine.
Tania Karas
“I use my cochlear implants all the time, both in my personal life and work,” Tania said. “Being a journalist, your success depends on your ability to communicate effectively. All day long I’m on the phone, interviewing people, and I have to do it accurately. Having clear sound is so important to my career.”
Hunter Orthmann
“I’ve been able to do everything I wanted to do. I was always very active in sports, very active in music too,” Hunter said. “I’m not being held back by my deafness thanks to my cochlear implants.”
Natalia Adriance
“The cochlear implant has definitely impacted my life because it allows me to participate in the hearing world and be able to communicate effectively,” Natalia said. “It has helped me become a more well-rounded person.”
Keenan Murphy
“My favorite sound to hear would probably be the laughing of my six-year-old nephew. Without cochlear implants, we would struggle with communication, but with the implants I’m able to hear everything and be a male role model for him,” said Keenan.
Three students were awarded the 2017 Anders Tjellström scholarship, awarded to Baha recipients:
Elise Schiller
“I am able to sit in huge lecture halls and hear my professors because of my Baha processors. Before my Bahas, I couldn’t even hear myself sometimes, so it’s a miracle to me, being able to hear,” said Elise. “I feel like I’m part of the world, the hearing world, with my Baha processors.”
Carol Rynar
“I love being a part of this community, in terms of having conversations with people about what it means to be different, what makes you unique, and to show how something that can be seen as adversity can be overcome,” Carol said.
Monica Pasqualino
“When I got my Baha processor it was such a relief for me, academically and professionally, because I was able to communicate with my professors and with peers without having to worry about missing something that was said,” Monica said. “That just kind of makes me feel like I am 100 percent engaged with what’s going on now.”
Each of the eight students will receive $2,000 per year for up to four years at an accredited college or university, for a total of $8,000 per student.
The Graeme Clark Scholarship is named after Graeme Clark, the inventor and pioneer of the multichannel cochlear implant. The Anders Tjellström Scholarship is named after Anders Tjellström, the research physician at the Department of Otolaryngology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden who collaborated with Per-Ingvar Brånemark to treat the first patient with a Baha device.
Congratulations to these eight remarkable individuals!
Watch for each of their stories over the next few months!
Find more information about the scholarships here.
