Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NATIONAL · VERIFIED BY HAND

REGION

National

DEADLINE

June 15, 2027

CATEGORY

Community

AMOUNT

$2,500

WHO CAN APPLY

High school students with certified hearing loss of 40+ decibels

ABOUT THIS SCHOLARSHIP

The Optimist International Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing awards $2,500 to high school students who demonstrate communication skills despite certified hearing challenges. Contestants must have a documented hearing loss of 40 decibels or more (verified by audiogram within the past 24 months) and present a speech or sign language performance on the 2025-2026 topic: "The Moment I Realized I Belonged — My Definition of Community." The contest is organized at the local district level through Optimist Club chapters across Canada, the US, and the Caribbean, with up to 45 awards available.

June 15 is the date your District has to send its winner to Optimist International. Your own deadline is set by your sponsoring Optimist Club and is much earlier, so contact the local club in the fall.

HOW TO APPLY

1 Talk to your school guidance counsellor about this award.

2 Ask about internal school deadlines, which can be earlier than the listed one.

3 Submit your application through your school before June 15, 2027.

AWARD VALUE

$2,500

Applications go through your school.

DEADLINE June 15, 2027

Opening soon

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