The deadline for 2026 applications has been extended to July 31st and decisions will be made by August 15th. If you have any questions about the form, please e-mail VSRCPresident@gmail.com. After reviewing the following information, you may click on the link below to apply!
Leslee Harris Smith, MS, RRT, 48, passed away on January 13, 2001, after a courageous life cut short by the devastating effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Leslee was the Clinical Coordinator, and then Director, of the Respiratory Therapy Program at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Virginia, from 1981 to 1996 when she was forced to slow down due to the consequences of her illness. Using distant learning and electronic technologies to overcome the physical limitations imposed by her disease, Leslee continued teaching part-time through the end of the Fall semester 2000. She was an active member of the Virginia Society for Respiratory Therapy, serving as chair of the educator group for many years. Her many contributions are recognized annually by the VSRC through its award of the Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship to students enrolled in respiratory therapy educational programs throughout the state. Leslee received her AS degree from the Northwest Mississippi Junior College Respiratory Therapy Program in 1973, her BS degree from the Respiratory Therapy Program at Georgia State University in 1978, and her MS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1983. She was a remarkable human being, a generous person with enormous energy, and a gifted and dedicated respiratory therapy educator who is greatly missed by her friends and colleagues in the respiratory therapy community.
Past Recipients
2009 – Rebecca Infante
2010 – No Award Given
2012 – Torrey Phanelson / Diane Simmons
2015 – Janice Rinker / Kimberly Smith
2016 – Miriam Robertson / Ashley Smith
2017 – Colin Poe
2018 – Daniel Gochenour and Amanda Hreiz
2019 – Hanna Hatala
2020 – Alyssa Edwards
2021 – Not awarded
2022 – Hailey Davidson
2023 –
2024 –
2025 –
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.
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.
Award recipients will receive scholarship monies, an award certificate, and complimentary registration to a VSRC educational conference.