The RID Scholarships and Awards program recognizes our colleagues who have made a significant impact upon our lives, careers and the interpreting profession. These awards serve as a small tribute to their sustained contributions to the profession.

The recipients of these awards are the individuals who have gone the extra mile for the profession; have served as role models, teachers, trainers, mentors or colleagues; or have just been there as a support and confidante. They have achieved personal success and have now dedicated themselves toward the betterment of the profession as a whole.

Scholarships.

Laurie Nash Deaf Parented Interpreter (DPI) Scholarship

ASL Version

Laurie Nash was a visionary leader and teacher. Her wisdom and passion for the profession of sign language interpreting were evident during her tenure on the Deaf Parented Interpreters Council (Chair & Vice Chair), Metro New York City RID  (President) & Long Island RID Board (President), faculty at the LaGuardia Community College Interpreter Education Program and as a founding member of the Compass program with Sorenson Communications. As a deaf-parented interpreter, Laurie’s tireless work was always rooted in that of the deaf community. Her legacy of tenacity and perseverance will continue on in the commemorative Laurie Nash Deaf-Parented Interpreter (DPI) Scholarship. This scholarship aims to provide recognition and growth for deaf-parented interpreters by providing financial support to deaf-parented interpreters taking the RID certification exam.

Historically underrepresented, deaf-parented interpreters promote greater understanding and awareness of the values of the deaf community as well as innate skills, dedication, and sensibilities to the interpreting profession. This scholarship provides a pathway to specifically increase the number of diverse deaf-parented credentialed interpreters available to the deaf communities we serve.

This annual scholarship is open to deaf-parented interpreters (deaf or coda) who are ready to apply for a CASLI interpreting exam including both portions of the exam. There will be up to two (2) scholarship recipients each year. Applicants may apply for only one scholarship per year.

Apply for the Laurie Nash DPI Scholarship Here

  1. Is a deaf-parented interpreter. A deaf-parented interpreter is an interpreter with at least one or more Deaf, DeafBlind, deaf, and/or hard-of-hearing parents.

  2. Current DPI member in good standing. A DPI member in good standing is an individual member (in any category) of RID and has elected to join the DPI member section via the RID membership portal.

  3. Is eligible and seeking to take a CASLI exam within the next 12 months.

  4. Has a career goal of being a professional interpreter.

Each applicant will be asked to complete an online application providing the following information.

  1. General contact and demographic information.

  2. Identification of which CASLI exam the applicant is seeking to obtain scholarship support.

  3. Respond to five prompt questions, via uploaded video links in ASL, related to the selection criteria outlined below.

  4. Two (2) professional references. Reference must be at least one deaf person and one interpreter who can verify that the applicant is deaf-parented. References are someone who can support the applicant’s effort in obtaining this scholarship. These references should be familiar with the applicant’s interpreting work. This may be someone who was or is a teacher, community member, colleague, or mentor. References will be contacted directly to complete an online form. No letters of reference are required.

Applicants, via the application process, will demonstrate;

  1. financial need

  2. readiness for their chosen CASLI exam

  3. how their professional goals align with the purpose of this scholarship

  4. how they increase the number of diverse deaf-parented interpreters

The Laurie Nash DPI Scholarship selection committee will consist of members from both the DPI Council and the member section. To ensure equity and a range of lived deaf-parented experiences on this committee, the representation of its members will consist of at least one deaf DPI member who is deaf-parented, and at least two BIPOC DPI members who are deaf-parented. This committee will review all applications independently and submit an anonymous rating and review. After such submissions, the committee will meet to collectively review scores and determine the most qualified candidate(s) as scholarship recipients.

The process of selection and goals of the scholarship are open to iterative changes based on the evolving field of interpreting, the impacts of social justice, and expressed/felt needs from the target community. In order to keep the integrity of the application and review process, the names of all committee members and applicants will remain internal to DPI.

APPLY HERE 

Application deadline May 31st, 2023.

All applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by July 15, 2023.

All scholarship questions should be addressed to treasurer dpi.treasurer@rid.org

Scholarship Application Deadline: May 31, 2023

Apply Here!

Awards.

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an outstanding RID member who has made a major contribution in his/her area of expertise and has influenced the profession on local, state and national levels.

Nominate someone for the DSA!

  • a plaque to display
  • full registration package, lodging, and transportation to the next National Conference

Failure to follow the rules below will render the application void.

  • The nominee must have been a Certified member in good standing for the past 5 years who is not a current member of the Board of Directors or the Scholarship and Awards Committee.
  • Letters of nomination must include details of the nominee’s background, experience and involvement with the profession.
  • A minimum of 25 RID voting members’ signatures is required for each nomination.

Awards will be made annually and announced at the National Conference and in VIEWS.

Nominations can be made online here: https://rid.org/distinguished-service-award-form/

Award Deadline: June 15, 2023

Apply Here!

Scholarships and Awards Committee.

If you are interested in serving on the RID Scholarships and Awards committee, please complete this application and attach your resume. Council and Committee volunteers serve from the conclusion of one biennial national conference to the next biennial conference (2 years). If you have any questions, please email volunteer@rid.org.

Apply to be on the committee today!