We regret to inform interested applicants the Ab Irvine Scholarship will not be available for 2023. We hope to offer the scholarship again in March 2024. Thank you.
Congratulations to the 2021 Scholarship Recipients who each received a check for $2000.00!
CHRISTIE DUHIGG holds a 4.2 GPA towards her graduate coursework in the Master’s Program in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of New Mexico. The Ab Irvine Scholarship will help her to complete her Master’s Degree this Fall without “financial burden.” As a graduate student, Christie has been both a teaching and research assistant. Her clinical experiences have included the Albuquerque Public Schools, Inspirations Early Intervention, UNM Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, Presbyterian Ear Institute and this summer, the Albuquerque Speech and Hearing Center. As a parent of a 7 year old and 4 year old, she understands the importance of also supporting her clients’ parents and caregivers. As stated in her application, she “looks forward to being a part of the “village” that supports the growth and development of children with special needs, so they may reach their full potential and lead meaningful lives.” One of her clinical supervisors described her as a “skilled listener and communicator who has a strong work ethic, is committed to providing best practice care and cares deeply about the well-being of her clients.” Before embarking on the field of Speech-Language Pathology, MARIE RAY took an interest in the fields of American Sign Language Interpreting and Linguistics. Now as a graduate student at UNM, she is maintaining a 4.0 GPA while learning about the “intricacies of speech, language and swallowing disorders that impact people of all ages.” Outside of her graduate studies, she holds 2 jobs - an apprentice speech-language pathologist for an elementary school in Taos and a graduate assistant in a dysphasia (swallowing) research lab. At the swallowing lab, she assists in data analysis focused on evaluating typical practices for swallowing evaluations conducted across New Mexico. “Due to her work ethic and level of enthusiasm,” one of Marie’s professors offered her the graduate assistantship when she completed her undergraduate degree in May, 2020. As an undergraduate, Marie also volunteered to serve on the local chapter of the national student organization for future speech and language pathologists. As a final note, Marie is very appreciative of the scholarship money since she, like many students, carries the burden of paying for a college degree.
About the Ab Irvine Scholarship Program
Ab Irvine was an active Albuquerque Club Member who personified Civitan. He also dedicated himself to giving many hours on behalf of Special Olympics. In his legacy, he wished to acknowledge college students who one day, plan to work with children who have special needs. The major fields of study for these students could include (but are not limited to) Special Education, Learning Disabilities, Deaf/Blind Education, Allied Health Professions (i.e., Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology, Audiology, Occupational Therapy) and Mental Health Professions (i.e., Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Art/Music Therapy).
Thanks to Ab Irvine and annual donations from District Clubs, the Foundation awards two scholarships (of $2,000 each) to deserving students who are either a college Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student in one of the fields mentioned above. The winners may use the money towards either tuition or books. The student's grade point average must be 3.0 or higher. The student's legal residence must be within the Great Southwest District (i.e., Colorado, New Mexico, or El Paso County, Texas), but he/she may attend a college or university anywhere in one of these 3 states.
