GEORGE H. NOFER SCHOLARSHIP FOR LAW
2025

The George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law is for full-time graduate students with bilateral moderate to
profound hearing loss who are attending full-time an accredited law school.

The George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law was established to recognize the late George H. Nofer’s service
and generosity to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) and
to the fields of law and deafness research and education. Mr. Nofer, a retired partner of the law firm of
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP in Philadelphia, was a former member of the AG Bell board of
directors. He was a former co-trustee of the Oberkotter Foundation and served for over 15 years as its
Executive Director.

The 2025 program awards are for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

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You use listening and spoken language as your primary mode of communication.
You have a pre-lingual hearing loss (diagnosed prior to your fourth birthday).
Your hearing loss must be bilateral and in the moderately-severe to profound range. Applicants
must have an unaided Pure-Tone Average (PTA) of 60dB or greater in the better hearing ear in the
speech frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz. If you have cochlear implants, you meet this eligibility
requirement. Unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss does not qualify.

Formula for calculating the PTA:
On the unaided audiogram, look at the results for the better hearing ear at 500, 1000 and
2000 Hz and add those three numbers together, then divide that total by three. The result is
the Pure Tone Average. To be eligible for this award, the applicant’s PTA must be 60 or
greater.

You have been accepted at or are enrolled in an accredited law school as a full-time student for the
2025-2026 academic year.

Please Note:
 Up to three awards of up to $5,000 each may be awarded in any given year.


Previous recipients of the George H. Nofer Scholarship may re-apply for a scholarship in their second
and third years of study, provided that a minimum of nine credit hours was completed in the
previous year of study.

Application Submission Instructions

Applications must be submitted online as a single pdf document to scholarships@agbell.org.

All applications and supporting documents must be in English. The following documents are required:

 Application, with pages in numbered order. Every page of the application must be completed and the

application must be signed.

 For applicants who use hearing aids, an unaided Audiogram performed within the last 24 months; for

applicants with cochlear implants, a cochlear implant programming report performed within the last 24
months.

 Verification of the student’s application to, acceptance or enrollment in the law school of a mainstream
and accredited university or college (a legible copy of a letter, tuition notice, or other correspondence
confirming enrollment or acceptance is acceptable).

 Rising graduate students—include official transcripts for all undergraduate college semesters

completed.
First and second year graduate students—include official transcripts of all graduate semesters
completed.

If your school will only release a transcript directly to AG Bell, please have them upload it via email to
scholarships@agbell.org. Transcripts not received by the deadline will result in an incomplete and
ineligible application.

 Applicant Essay, as indicated in the application (maximum of two single-sided pages)

 Three letters of recommendation from three different individuals. Letters must be no longer than two
single-sided pages. At least one letter must be from one of the applicant’s professors in an academic
or studio subject. All three letters may be from teachers/professors or two letters may be from other
individuals such as a coach, extracurricular activity sponsor, hearing health professional, employer, etc.

Letters of recommendation received separately from the application will not be considered. Please do
NOT include any additional information, such as extra letters of recommendation, photos, DVDs or tax
returns; all such items will not be considered and will be destroyed.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2025. All materials must be submitted together in one package
before 5:00 p.m. EST on March 15, 2025. Only transcripts sent directly from the educational institution will be
accepted separately from the application.

Administrative Processes & Notification

Once an application has been screened for eligibility and completeness, it will be forwarded to the Nofer
Scholarship Committee for review. Should the committee select your application for an award, you will be
notified by e-mail of your award. The notification email will include information about when you can expect to
receive scholarship funds. Notification of award decisions, whether selected or not, will be by email only. If your
email address or mailing address changes before awards are made, please forward the new information to AG
Bell at scholarships@agbell.org.

Following the selection process, all applications will be destroyed.

Questions?

Please send an email to: scholarships@agbell.org  Response time may be up to three business days, so please
plan accordingly when submitting your questions.

GEORGE H. NOFER SCHOLARSHIP FOR LAW
2025

Please type or print clearly and review for accuracy; illegible or incorrect information will delay review and
could disqualify your application.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Name (First, MI, Last):  __________________________________________________________________

Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) ___________

Gender:

Male

Female

Complete Mailing Address:   ______________________________________________________________

Email Address:  ________________________________________________________________________

Communication throughout the process will be via email. If you do not provide an email address, if it is written
incorrectly, or if we are not able to read it, we will not be able to communicate with you.

Telephone Number: _______________________
HEARING HEALTH HISTORY
Age when hearing loss was diagnosed:  __________
*If you do not have a cochlear implant and your PTA is below 60dB in your better-hearing ear, you do not qualify.

Pure Tone Average*:    _________________

Home __ Mobile __

If applicable, age at which you were fitted with hearing aid(s):    _________________________________

If applicable, age at which you received cochlear implant(s):   ___________________________________

What method(s) of communication and educational support service(s) are used in daily communications
and educational settings? Check all that apply.

Spoken Language

Speech Reading

Sign Language System (ASL, Signed English, Finger Spelling, etc.). If checked, please indicate:

I use sign language with:

  Teachers/professors

   Friends who are deaf

    Friends with typical hearing

     Other (please describe):    _______________________________________________________

Cued Speech

Use of Note taker

Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART)

Oral Interpreter(s)

Sign Language Interpreter(s)

Other (please describe):    _________________________________________________________

All materials MUST ARRIVE together in one package by 5 p.m. EST on March 15, 2025. Transcripts are the only supporting documentation that will
1

be accepted separately from the application.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Applicant’s Current Educational Status:

_____  College Senior/rising first year graduate student

_____  First year graduate student

_____  Second year graduate student

Law School information for 2025-2026 academic year

_____    I am attending or have been accepted to:  ____________________________________________

_____    I have not yet been accepted, but have applied to (list top three colleges):

 ______________________________________________________________________________

If accepted, I plan to attend:  ________________________________________________

_____    Expected date of graduation:  ______________________________________________________

_____    Area of academic concentration:  ___________________________________________________

 Career plans, in general:   ________________________________________________________

DEMONSTRATION OF LEADERSHIP

In the space below* describe any extra-curricular activities, honors, achievements, community service, or
accolades you have achieved in the last three years that will introduce us to the accomplished person you
are. (It’s helpful if you can answer questions such as: What did you do/what was your part in the project?
What new information did you learn? What did you discover about yourself, about others, about the
world? Where did you shine? What areas of improvement did you discover?)

*Do not write on the back side of this sheet and do not include a separate sheet of paper for this question.

If you’ve been featured in a published article for an achievement or project, you may attach a single-sided
photocopy on 8½” x 11” paper of one article (up to three single-sided pages in length is acceptable).
Including more than one article will result in all articles being discarded.

All materials MUST ARRIVE together in one package by 5 p.m. EST on March 15, 2025. Transcripts are the only supporting documentation that will
2

be accepted separately from the application.

DEALING WITH CHALLENGES

In the space below* please tell us briefly about a situation that was challenging for you because of your
hearing loss and how you resolved or dealt with the situation.

*Do not write on the back side of this sheet and do not include a separate sheet of paper for this question.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Please indicate your anticipated educational expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year, including
tuition, books and other required materials, room/board, if applicable: ___________________________

How do you plan to pay for your educational expenses?  _______________________________________

Have you applied for other scholarships or grants for the 2025-2026 academic year?  _____________

If yes, please indicate from whom and for what amounts:

Please indicate any grants or scholarships you have been awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year:

 ______________________________________________________________________________

Please complete all that apply for those individuals with whom you reside:

Your occupation  ____________________________________________________________________

Spouse’s occupation (if applicable) _____________________________________________________

Father’s occupation (if receiving parental financial assistance)  _______________________________

Mother’s occupation (if receiving parental financial assistance)  ______________________________

Total number of children/dependents in your household, including the applicant, if applicable:  _______

Please check your total annual household range of income:

_____   $17,000 & below

_____   $17,001 – $34,750

_____   $34,751 – $45,000

_____   $45,001 – $60,000

_____   $60,001 – $80,000

_____   $80,001 – $99,999

_____   $100,000 & above

All materials MUST ARRIVE together in one package by 5 p.m. EST on March 15, 2025. Transcripts are the only supporting documentation that will
3

be accepted separately from the application.

STUDENT/APPLICANT ESSAY

Tell us about your career goals; please include any comments you may want the scholarship review committee
to know, such as your extracurricular activity involvement, financial situation, including any extenuating
circumstances, your use of listening and spoken language and the impact, if any, that hearing loss has had on
you. Your essay may be written in a clear hand or typed. The essay may be no more than two single-sided pages.

Applicants who have received a George H. Nofer Scholarship award in the past are strongly encouraged to write
a new essay (rather than submitting the same essay). The new essay should incorporate adjustments to or
clarity of goals due to the experiences of the past year, if or how your hearing loss is impacting you differently
than before and how you are managing that, as well as any change in your situation – financial or otherwise.

AGREEMENT

This certifies that I understand that if I am selected to receive a George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law for the
2025-2026 academic year, I give permission to AG Bell to release information stating this fact to the media and
AG Bell constituents. I understand that the receipt of this scholarship is contingent upon my full-time attendance
at an accredited mainstream college or university in the forthcoming school year. I further certify that, to the
best of my knowledge, all information contained in this application is true and accurate.

Submitted and signed by:   _________________________________

Date:   _______________________

All materials MUST ARRIVE together in one package by 5 p.m. EST on March 15, 2025. Transcripts are the only supporting documentation that will be
4
accepted separately from the application.

Applicant’s Name: ___________________________

Demographic Information

We would like your help to better support the people that AG Bell serves so that we can improve our
services. This information on demographics is voluntary and confidential and will not be shared with
the review committee. Please check all that apply.

Race:

Ethnicity:

Gender:

Disability:

__ American Indian or Alaska Native
__ Asian
__ Black/African-American
__ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
__ White

__ Hispanic or Latino/a

__ Non-Hispanic

__ Female

__ Male

__ Other

__ Hearing Loss  __ Vision Loss  __ Mobility Impairment
__ Other: ______________________________________

How do you receive communications from AG Bell?

__ Email
__ Facebook
__ Instagram
__ Twitter
__ LinkedIn
__ Other: _______________________

GEORGE H. NOFER SCHOLARSHIP FOR LAW—2025
RECOMMENDATION REQUEST

To the applicant/student: please copy this and the following pages and give both to each person from whom you
are requesting a letter of recommendation.

To the Recommender: You are receiving this recommendation request on the behalf of ____________________
who is applying for a George H. Nofer Scholarship for Law for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is a merit-
based scholarship program and award selection is competitive; financial need has little impact on award
selection. The information you provide is a critical piece of the student’s application.

In a letter, preferably on your business or organization’s letterhead and a maximum of two single-sided pages,
please address the following characteristics of the applicant:

 What is it about the applicant that makes him or her stand out from his or her peers?

 What are some things at which the applicant excels?

 What are some areas or skills which the applicant is working to improve?

 Describe how the applicant interacts with her or her peers, teachers/professors, etc.

 You may share any other information you feel would be helpful, such as the applicant’s motivation,

intellect, creativity, discipline and maturity. It would be most helpful if you recall specific instances in
which these qualities were revealed to you.

Note: We have the applicant’s transcripts; we do not need to know about grades, we are looking for a
descriptive narrative about growth, achievements, abilities and potential.

Please Also Note:

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The review committee is comprised of individuals who are familiar with hearing loss, hearing technology,
and accommodations, so you do not need to describe these in detail.

Please do NOT staple or paper clip letters two pages in length.

Information provided on the back of a page will not be transmitted to the review committee.

Please return your letter of recommendation and cover sheet to the applicant as quickly as possible so that the

applicant is not disqualified due to a late or incomplete application. If you prefer, you may mail the cover sheet

and recommendation letter directly to AG Bell at 3417 Volta Place NW, Washington, DC 20007. The cover sheet

is a required element for recommendations – letters not accompanied by a cover sheet will not be accepted.

GEORGE H. NOFER SCHOLARSHIP FOR LAW
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION COVER SHEET

Name of student applicant   ______________________________________________________________

To the individual making this recommendation:

The above-named student has asked you to provide a letter of recommendation for a College Scholarship.
Please complete this form and include it with your letter of recommendation and give it directly to the
student applicant.

How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?  _________________________________

In the table below, please indicate how the applicant ranks in comparison to other students of the same year,
i.e., other college seniors or other graduate students.

Characteristic

Top 2%

Top 5%

Top 10%  Top 25%  Top 50%

Bottom
50%

Cannot
Judge

Intellectual Depth

Willingness to Work Hard

Creativity/Imagination

Emotional Maturity/Stability

Motivation/Perseverance

Writing Ability

Skill in Oral Presentations

Professional Potential

Critical/Analytical Thinking

Personal/Interpersonal Skills

Collaborative Ability

Independence/Initiative

Reliability/Responsibility

Work Ethic

If you had one scholarship to award personally and the top 10 students in your school/class applied, would you
award the scholarship to this student?

 Yes

No

My overall recommendation for this applicant is:

__ Very Strong

__ Strong

 __ Average

 __ Below Average

 __ Recommend with Reservations

Name   _________________________________

Title  ______________________________________

Organization  __________________________________________________________________________

Signature   ______________________________

Date   _____________________________________

