Council for Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders
2025 Frances J. Laven Guidelines
In Honor of Frances J. Laven
The application system is now closed.
Program Description
As co-owner of CAPCSD’s first management company, Frances Laven was instrumental in organizing the Council’s administrative and procedural foundations, beginning in 1989. From 2002 to 2013, Ms. Laven served as the Executive Director for CAPCSD and facilitated the growth of the Council and its many activities. As her duties continued to expand, she met her responsibilities with poise and an openness to the development of CAPCSD and its member programs. Her leadership exemplified outstanding service to both CAPCSD and the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. All who came into contact with her, particularly Board members, became enamored with her personal yet professional style in handling all CAPCSD issues, big or small.
The Frances J. Laven award was initiated in 2014 when Ms. Laven retired from her position with the Council. Service is the focus of the award to reflect her tireless efforts in forwarding the goals of CAPCSD and the discipline.
In honor of Frances Laven, CAPCSD is funding up to ten (10) student scholarships to recognize exemplary student service.
Award Description
This award is intended for graduate students in a professional program (Master’s SLP, AuD, or SLPD) who have shown exemplary service. Examples of service may include, but are not limited to, community service, service to the department or university, or service to the greater discipline. These service activities are expected to be unpaid and not completed as part of a job, a funded assistantship, or for academic credit.
Award Amount
Up to ten (10) $5,000 awards.
Eligibility
Graduate students enrolled in a professional graduate program (Master’s SLP, AuD, or SLPD) at a CAPCSD member institution with a membership paid in full no later than September 15, 2024. Students can be from any year in their program.
Member institutions may nominate only one graduate student applicant. Programs with multiple potential applicants should devise their own internal review process to select the applicant. We encourage programs to review this evaluation rubric for assistance in determining their most qualified students. The selected student must submit the application.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete all sections of the online application and upload their application materials.
Application materials are to be uploaded as a single PDF file with the required components provided in the following order:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV): the service section of the resume or CV should include a listing of all unpaid service activities, including start and end dates, the applicant’s service role, the group or organization served, and a brief description of the impact of the service activity.
- An essay (500-word limit) on service, written by the applicant, that reflects on the activities listed in their resume or CV and address the following:
- A statement related to the applicant’s past, current, and planned service contributions.
- The impact of the applicant’s ongoing and/or completed service contributions.
- Any service leadership roles held by the applicant (e.g., a leader within a service organization, developer of a new service activity); holding a service leadership role is not required to apply for a Laven Scholarship.
- A self-reflection on the applicant’s personal development in relation to their service contributions.
- Nomination letter from a faculty mentor (clinical or academic), signed by the department chair, that describes in detail why this student is being nominated for this award.
Applications will be evaluated using this rubric.
Application Timeline
The application system is now closed. Thank you to all who applied!
Awardees will be notified by April 2025
Questions?
Contact Megan Woods - mwoods@capcsd.org