RID Scholarship Application Form

Name*

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Contact Number*

Area CodePhone Number

Phone Number Type*

RID Member Number*

Type 0 if you are not an RID member

E-mail*

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Address*

Street Address

Apt/Unit #

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Zip Code

Do you belong to an RID Affiliate Chapter? If yes, which?*

What is your Ethnicity?*

What connection do you have to the Deaf or interpreting community (if any?) Please give specific examples and time frames for each activity.*

Do you have any volunteer experience within the Deaf community?*

Which Scholarship/Award are you applying for?*

Brilliance: This fund is established with a goal of recognizing individuals and organizations engaged in innovation, research and other entrepreneurial projects that positively impact the profession of sign language interpreting.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
If project is research-related, an approved project vetted by an educational institution’s IRB
Letter of nomination from an RID member in good standing.

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (3-5 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Brilliance: Tell us about your project. Explain how your project will benefit or impact the interpreting profession. Will it also impact the Deaf community? If so, in what ways? How will this award assist you with your goals pertaining to this project?*

0/600

Brilliance: Please identify any additional people who are involved in this project and explain their role. *

Brilliance: Please provide a breakdown of costs this fund will be used for.*

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Career Exploration Fund - This fund is designed to help high school seniors or recent high school graduates explore the profession of interpreting as a viable and dynamic career choice.

Eligibility:

Completion of ASL 1 and 2 classes (or equivalent) or a heritage signer
Currently enrolled high school or college student, or recent (within 2 years) high school graduate
Nomination by high school or college ASL teacher

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL or in spoken English. We strongly request that you respond to the following prompt in ASL. If you do not feel your ASL skills are strong enough, please provide Spoken English with captions. You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Career exploration: If you receive the scholarship, what will the money be used for?

Career exploration: Tell us about an individual you may know or personal experience you have had that has been the catalyst in your decision to further explore the profession of ASL interpreting? What do you think contributes to making someone a good fit for this career? *

Career exploration: Please provide a letter of recommendation from one of your ASL teachers. This letter should include the level of ASL you are currently enrolled in. *

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Conference Connections Fund - This fund seeks to support individuals who need financial assistance to attend either the RID national conference or their region’s conference. One award per region, per year.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Member of the national RID in good standing, in any category
Member of an Affiliate Chapter in good standing
Commitment and ability to attend the full conference

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Conference Connections Fund: What conference do you wish to attend? Describe why you wish to attend this conference. What experiences do you expect to have at the conference that will benefit your interpreting career? How will you use your conference experience to contribute back to your local chapter?*

Heritage Fund - this fund is committed to supporting training and credentialing costs for interpreters who are Deaf, CODAs, and Heritage Signers.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Deaf, CODA and/or Heritage Signer
Member of RID in any category for at least 2 years
Pursuing a career in ASL interpreting

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Type a question

Heritage: Describe how your past experiences as a heritage signer have contributed to your choice to work in the interpreting field. How do you feel these experiences enhance or add to your interpreting knowledge, skills and abilities?*

Interpreters of Tomorrow Fund - this fund seeks to be a catalyst for increasing diversity in the field of interpreting by supporting the certification paths of BIPOC and other underrepresented interpreter groups.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or Person of Color
Member of RID in any category for at least 2 years.
Pursuing a career in ASL interpreting

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Interpreters of Tomorrow: In what ways has your personal intersectionality (cultural heritage, race, gender, socio-economic background, family, work, and/or school experiences, etc.) led to your involvement in the deaf and/or interpreting communities? How has this intersectionality shaped your path towards becoming a certified interpreter? *

New Horizons Mentoring Fund - a fund established to support interpreters seeking mentorship opportunities and training funding.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Member of RID in any category for at least 2 years
Organizations seeking funding must utilize both hearing and Deaf mentors

Please respond to the following prompts in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

New Horizon: What outcomes do you hope your proposed mentoring experience will provide? How will this mentoring experience help you achieve your career goals and make you a better interpreter?*

New Horizon: If you are an organization, what outcomes do you hope your proposed mentoring program will provide? How will this mentoring experience help address *

New Horizon: If you are an organization, please identify any additional people who are involved in this project and explain their role. *

Pathways to Professionalism - This fund seeks to be a resource for aspiring interpreting practitioners who need assistance with initial credentialing and testing fees.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Member of RID in any category for at least 2 years
Letter of Recommendation from a currently certified member of RID in good standing
Meet all requirements to sit for the desired certification exam

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Pathways: Please provide a letter of recommendation from a currently certified member of RID in good standing.*

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Pathways: What specific exam are you looking to apply to take?

Pathways: Please share with us your planned path forward in achieving professional certification as an ASL interpreter. Be sure to tell us about the barriers you are facing in obtaining certification and explain how this award will make a difference for you in reaching your certification goals. *

Signs of Impact - A fund dedicated to funding leadership training opportunities and preparation for interpreters and deaf community members interested in serving the interpreting field, the organization, or the deaf community in a leadership capacity.

Eligibility:

At least 18 years of age
Member of RID in any category for at least 2 years
Letter of recommendation from a current RID Affiliate Chapter leader or member of the RID Board of Directors

Please respond to the following prompt in ASL (2-3 mins). You may share a Youtube, Google Drive, Dropbox etc. link. Please ensure the permissions are set to allow anyone to view.

Signs of Impact: Describe an experience that has given you the greatest opportunity to grow and develop your leadership skills. How has that experience impacted your leadership style and/or how do you plan on further developing your leadership capacity? How do you feel you can contribute to empowering others as leaders?*

Signs of Impact: What leadership opportunity are you looking to register for with this scholarship? Please be specific with costs associated.

Signs of Impact: Letter of Recommendation from an RID Affiliate Chapter leader or RID Board of Director*

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I certify that the above submissions are accurate and truthful to the best of my knowledge. Additionally, I am asserting that I am eligible for the award I am applying for. *

RID Scholarships