Nicholas J. Deleonardis Scholarship

The Nicholas J. De Leonardis Scholarship of The American Sign Language Project

Posted deadline: July 1st, 2026

The goal of the Nicholas J. De Leonardis Scholarship is to encourage full-time college students to engage in research leading to noninvasive technologies that will improve communication between Deaf and hearing people.

Amount of Award

$7000

What scholarship funds may cover

Any portion of tuition, fees, or books.

Scholarship program guidelines

To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a full-time undergraduate or full-time graduate student at an accredited four-year university or college in the United States.
• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)
• Complete the entire application packet
• Propose a research project involving non-invasive technology that will improve communication between Deaf and hearing people. The project will be completed by the applicant as a part of the program requirements.

Application materials must include

• Completed application form, which is at the end of Instructions and Application Form Document.
• Official college transcript
• A letter of recommendation (500-1000 words) from a teacher who is familiar with your academic record, skills and abilities
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Acceptable evidence includes one of the following:
  • Copy of U.S. passport (current or expired)
  • Copy of U.S. civil-issued birth certificate.
  • Copy of alien registration card.
  • Copy of naturalization/citizenship certificate.
• A 3-5 page description of a proposed research project, including project goals and timeline. Explain how the project fills a need not previously addressed. Include an explanation of how the research will create noninvasive technology that will facilitate better communication between Deaf and hearing people. The applicant must propose a scholarship period, which may not exceed one year. The project must be completed by the applicant during the scholarship period.
• A personal statement, no more than one page, that explains how the applicant became interested in non-invasive technology for better Deaf/hearing communication, and how the proposed project fits into the applicant’s life plan. This will help the scholarship committee get a better sense of the applicant as a person.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated for the following:

• Academic achievement
• Quality of research proposal, including
  • Organization
  • Writing
  • Feasibility of completing the proposed research within the timeline given
• Potential of the proposed research
• Qualifications to complete the research
• Commitment to facilitating better Deaf / hearing communication

A screening committee established by The American Sign Language Project will choose the scholarship recipient.

Finalists for the scholarship will be interviewed in person or via a Zoom session to discuss their proposal and submitted documents.

The winner agrees to allow The American Sign Language Project to the winner's name and photo, image or likeness on the corporation’s website and in public announcements and press releases about the scholarship.

Schedule Distribution

Half of the award will be distributed at the beginning of the agreed-upon scholarship period, as stated in the recipient’s project proposal. The first payment to the recipient will be sent once verification of enrollment during the scholarship period is received from the recipient’s school. The first payment will go directly to the recipient’s account at the school’s Financial Aid Office. The remaining portion of the award will be sent once the recipient’s final project report is received. The recipient must remain enrolled as a full-time student and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) during the scholarship period.

Final project report

The final project report should be 2-3 pages and describe the outcomes of the research. In the report, the recipient describes how the stated research goals were met.

Scholarship Winner

The winner of The Nicholas J. De Leonardis Scholarship of The American Sign Language Project will be notified approximately six to ten weeks after the posted deadline.

The American Sign Language Project reserves the right to announce that no winner has been chosen if none of the applications meet its selection criteria.