Leslee Harris Smith Education Recognition Scholarship
The Virginia Society for Respiratory Care (VSRC) may financially award respiratory therapy students and/or professional respiratory therapists to support education endeavors. This financial award will allow the opportunity for students and/or professionals to supplement current tuition or pay for National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam fees.
Applications will not be considered unless completely filled out, signed, and accompanied by all supporting documents. Previous scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply. Applications will be accepted starting on May 1st; the deadline for accepting applications for this award is July 1st of each calendar year. Students must complete the application form for the current year. Award recipients will be selected by August 1st and will be notified by the VSRC BOD.
Award recipients will receive (a) scholarship monies, (b) an award certificate, (c) complimentary registration to a VSRC educational conference.
Student Requirements:
- Completed and signed application form. (Note: electronic signature is acceptable.)
- Letter from respiratory therapy program Director, or surrogate faculty member, verifying (a) the applicant’s enrollment in an accredited respiratory therapy educational program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater, (b) applicant’s expected graduation date, and (c) applicant’s potential for a career in the profession of respiratory therapy.
- A cover letter of at least 250 words expressing why the applicant is qualified to receive the Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship.
- An outline of a PowerPoint presentation that will be presented to the VSRC Board of Directors as to why the applicant is qualified to receive the Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship. Presentation will be presented at the July VSRC Board of Directors meeting.
- The student applicant must be a first-time test taker of the CRT or RRT exam.
- Applicant must take the planned NBRC exam within 6 months of graduation.
- Current AARC/VSRC student member and must reside in Virginia.
- Provide documentation supporting participation in at least one of the following: recruit class peers for AARC membership, participate in respiratory care community events, and/or present an educational topic at a VSRC-sponsored meeting using electronic media.
Professional Requirements:
- Completed and signed application form. (Note: electronic signature is acceptable.)
- Hold an active license in Virginia as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.
- A cover letter of at least 250 words expressing why the applicant is qualified to receive the Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship.
- An outline of a PowerPoint presentation that will be presented to the VSRC Board of Directors as to why the applicant is qualified to receive the Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship. Presentation will be presented at the July VSRC Board of Directors meeting.
- Applicant must be a 1st time test taker of the planned NBRC exam or currently enrolled in an advanced degree program supporting a continued career in respiratory care.
- If the applicant intends to use the award monies toward an NBRC exam, the applicant must take the planned NBRC exam within 6 months of scholarship award.
- If the applicant intends to use the award monies toward expenses related to an advanced degree, a letter must be submitted from the program Director, or surrogate faculty member, verifying the applicant’s potential for continued career in the profession of respiratory care.
- Current AARC/VSRC member and must reside in Virginia.
- Provide documentation supporting participation in at least one of the following: participate in respiratory care community events, and/or present an educational topic at a VSRC-sponsored meeting using electronic media.