The Fund

The Graduate Fellowship Fund (GFF) is one of three separate funds made possible by the half-million dollar Centennial Fund that was presented by the Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA) to Gallaudet in commemoration of its centennial anniversary (1964). This fund makes up half of the Centennial Fund. Its principal has been established by the University as a permanent endowment. Its investment is the responsibility of the GUAA Board of Directors.

Purpose of the Fund

By agreement between the GUAA and the Board of Trustees of Gallaudet University, the income from the investment of the GFF is used to provide financial assistance to deaf graduates of Gallaudet University and other accredited colleges and universities in pursuit of graduate study at colleges and universities for people who hear normally.

The GFF is administered by the GUAA Board of Directors. The GFF Committee consists of seven members appointed by the GUAA. Their terms of office are four years. Members may be reappointed. The executive director of the GUAA or his/her representative is an ex-officio member of the GFF Committee.

A list of nominees for fellowship awards, the amounts, terms, and duration of such grants, shall be recommended by the GFF Committee, subject to approval by the GUAA Board.

Eligibility

No restrictions are placed upon eligibility because of race, color, sex, creed, or nationality. In cases of equal qualification, preference is given to applicants who are citizens of the United States. To qualify for a fellowship, the following criteria must be met:

  • Hearing Status-The fellowships are intended for deaf or hard of hearing students. Audiological assessment comparable to that required for admission to the Gallaudet University undergraduate program may be the qualifying factor in this respect. The assessment should not be more than three years old.
  • Education-The minimum educational criterion will be admission to an accredited graduate program.
  • Program of Study-The applicant must have been accepted in an accredited graduate program in a college or university. A letter to that effect from the college or university must be supplied with the application.
  • Preference shall be given, to the extent practicable, to applicants who possess a master's degree or the equivalent and are seeking a doctorate.

Applying for Fellowships

Chair, GFF Committee
Peikoff Alumni House
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, NE,
Washington, DC 20002-3695

The deadline for receiving GFF applications is April 20. It is important that applications with all supporting material reach the GFF Committee Chair by that date or they will not be considered. Application for a GFF grant does not preclude seeking financial aid from other sources. Applicants are encouraged to discuss other financial assistance with the college or university financial aid official.

The Fellowship Plan

Fellowships are awarded on an annual basis. They may be renewed by the GFF Committee for the duration of the course of study and for dissertation expenses provided that the holder of the award maintains those personal and scholastic standards required by the college or university in which he/she is enrolled and provided that the holder submits to the committee an annual reapplication including an evaluation report from his/her department head or advisor.

The amounts of the grants vary and are based on the number of qualified candidates applying for assistance, the availability of funds, and the needs of individual applicants.

Half of the annual grant is paid to the college or university at the beginning of the first semester of the academic year. The other half is paid at the beginning of the second semester upon receipt of a satisfactory progress report from the department head or advisor.

Fellowships are available only for programs of study not fully supported by federal or other funds. Candidates must carry a full-time semester load.

Requirements of the Applicant

  1. Submit an audiological assessment of the status of your hearing. The battery of hearing tests performed by a clinically certified audiologist (American Speech and Hearing Association, Certification in Clinical Competence--Audiology) should include: pure tone and speech audiometry, impedance measures, and hearing aid performance results (if applicable).
  2. Provide a letter from the head of the university department or school who will supervise your program stating that you have met all requirements for admission and have been accepted. The GFF Committee may also request the result of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and/or any other test that will help to predict the likelihood of success in graduate work.
  3. Provide a list of the courses you plan to take in your major field of study, with a letter from your advisor indicating that the proposed program is deemed adequate.
  4. Submit official transcripts of courses and grades from all colleges and universities that you have attended previously.
  5. Submit a report of your financial standing.
  6. Submit letters of reference from two people who are qualified to evaluate your capacity to do graduate work.
  7. In applying for subsequent grants, submit an up-to-date official transcript, an evaluation report from the department head or advisor including recommendation for continuance of your study program, and a new financial report.
  8. Send the GFF an unbound copy of your dissertation at the completion of your study.

Designated Fellowship Funds

Included in the Graduate Fellowship Fund are eight designated funds made possible by contributions of $25,000 or more each.

  • John A. Trundle, 1885, Fellowship
    Wishing to establish a memorial fund in honor of their father, John C. Trundle of New York and his sister, Mrs. W. Marvin Barton of Centreville, Md., set up the John A. Trundle, 1885, Fellowship in 1965.
  • Old Dominion Foundation Fellowship
    Stipulated by the trustees of the Old Dominion Foundation, this fund is to remain a perpetual endowment whose income shall be used for fellowships in graduate study for deaf and hard of hearing graduates of Gallaudet University who wish to matriculate in other colleges or universities. These fellowships may be used for the pursuit of master's degrees, but preference is given to those who wish to earn doctoral degrees.
  • David Peikoff, '29, Fellowship
    This fellowship was established in 1975 by friends of Dr. Peikoff on the occasion of his 75th birthday. He was a strong supported and advocate of the University and the GUAA. He served as president of the Alumni Association, and he was chairman of the GUAA Centennial Fund in the early '60s.
  • Boyce R. Williams, '32, Fellowship
    This fellowship, established in 1970, is named in honor of Dr. Williams, past president of the GUAA. Dr. Williams was the first alumni representative on the Gallaudet Board of Trustees and an international leader of deaf people.
  • Alan B., '32, and Florence B., '35, Crammatte Fellowship
    Dr. and Mrs. Crammatte established this fellowship to support advanced degree study in a business- related field. The Crammattes have served the GUAA and the University for many years in various capacities, including cochairing the Alumni House Fund for the restoration of the University's historic gymnasium.
  • James N. Orman, '25, Fellowship
    This fellowship was established in recognition of Dr. Orman's devoted service of more than three decades to the University. He also served the GUAA as its president for many years.
  • Doris B. Orman, '25, Fellowship
    Doris Ballance Orman was the wife of Dr. James N. Orman, '23, and a staunch supporter of the University. Her fellowship was established to support women applicants who have particular interest in the arts, the humanities, and community leadership.
  • Regina Olson Hughes, '18, Fellowship
    This fellowship was established in 1995 through a bequest from Dr. Hughes. She was widely respected for her work as an artist and scientific illustrator at the Smithsonian Institution, and her fellowship supports advanced degree study in the fine arts.
  • Waldo T. '49, and Jean Kelsch, '51, Cordano Fellowship
    This fellowship was established in 1996 to support deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are pursing a Ph.D, an M.D., or a J.D. degree.
  • Henry Syle Memorial Fellowship for Seminary Studies
    This fellowship was stablished in 1990 to support deaf or hard of hearing individuals seeking to pursue a theological education.
  • Alpha Sigma Pi Fraternity Fellowship
    This fellowship was established in 1999 to assist deaf or hard of hearing people pursuing doctoral degrees with preference for ASP alumni.
  • I. King Jordan, '70, Fellowship
    This fellowship, established in 2006, in honor of Dr. I. King Jordan, past president of Gallaudet University. The fund is to be used to support students working towards a terminal degree at any accredited college and university including Gallaudet University.

Donations to these funds are encouraged and will be gratefully acknowledged.

The Graduate Fellowship Fund is yet another legacy of Gallaudet's grateful alumni and friends. Other funds maintained by the GUAA are the Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund for promoting projects and activities that will lead to the cultural enrichment of deaf people and the Alumni House Endowment Fund for the maintenance of "Ole Jim.

You will need Adobe Reader to view these PDF documents. Adobe Acrobat reader is free software that can be downloaded from the Adobe Reader website.