Student Volunteer Scholarships

DeDe Days-Ward

Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship Awards

Deirdre (DeDe) Days-Ward was an integral member of the Head Trauma Support Project (HTSP) community for nearly a decade and served as the vice president on the HTSP Board of Directors at the time of her premature passing on May 23, 2020. DeDe’s last wish was not to be forgotten.

The HTSP Board of Directors (BoD) established this student volunteer scholarship in honor of DeDe for three key reasons: 1) to fulfill her wish, 2) to continue her charitable spirit and love for education by giving back to HTSP’s student volunteers each year, and 3) to encourage the HTSP community to keep her positive spirit alive within our support groups for years to come.

DeDe’s Influence on the HTSP Community

DeDe truly blessed the HTSP community with her wit, welcoming smile, words of encouragement, and generous nature. She was a devoted caregiver to her husband who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident, and she was a cherished member of the HTSP caregiver support group. DeDe was a truly gifted listener and creative problem solver, and she never hesitated to put the needs of others before her own. DeDe often volunteered to share her experience as a caregiver with university classes where she encouraged students to consider serving the brain injury community as future allied health professionals. She also valued the local college students who served as volunteers for the weekly HTSP survivor support group and spoke of her passion for continued education to her close friends.

Scholarship Timeline

The Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship will be awarded annually in May (at HTSP’s annual BBQ picnic, if possible) to 1-2 student volunteers in an amount up to $1,000 per awardee. The HTSP BoD will accept applications each year from January 1st through April 30th (no late applications will be accepted) and will review applications and determine the number of awardees and the exact award amounts by vote in early May each year. The HTSP Executive Board will notify the scholarship recipient(s) and the applicants who were not selected by May 15th. The recipient(s) shall receive a check in the amount voted upon by the HTSP BoD, as well as a printed certificate.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship, applicants must:

  1. be either be a current undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university OR a recent graduate (i.e., have graduated in the previous fall semester or quarter) in the Sacramento region,
  2. have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5,
  3. have served as an HTSP volunteer at least six times in the previous 12 months, and
  4. have plans to serve the brain injury community as a future allied health professional.

Application

Application includes the following:

  1. Your name and contact information
  2. A 1-2 page cover letter that answers the following questions:
    • How you have helped those with brain injuries?
    • How has volunteering affected you?
    • Give specific examples of these experiences
    • Tell us about your current plans for working with people with brain injuries in the future
  3. A resume/curriculum vita.
  4. Name and email address of a professional who can recommend you for this scholarship. See below for details*

*Applicants must also have one letter of recommendation from a professional who can speak to their passion for serving the brain injury community (e.g., professor, manager). This letter should be submitted directly from the professional to scholarships@headtraumasupportproject.org

Apply Here

Donating to the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship Fund

The HTSP Board of Directors welcomes and greatly appreciates community donations to the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Scholarship fund.

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