NBRC William W. Burgin, Jr. and Robert M. Lawrence Education Award

The American Respiratory Care Foundation and the National Board for Respiratory Care may award up to $7,500 annually to a third or fourth-year student enrolled in an accredited respiratory therapy program leading to a Baccalaureate degree. This award also consists of a certificate of recognition, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for AARC Congress.

Requirements

1. Completed application form.
2. Must provide an official transcript verifying a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.
3. Letter from director of admissions verifying enrollment in an accredited Baccalaureate degree respiratory care educational program.
4. An original referenced paper on some aspect of respiratory care. The paper should include a cover page giving only the title of the paper. The paper should be devoid of any information, such as the applicant’s name, address, or school, that could provide a bias in the evaluation.
5. An original essay of at least 1,200 words describing how this award will assist the applicant in reaching the objective of a degree and the candidate’s ultimate goals of leadership in health care. The paper should include a cover page with the author’s name, address and phone number. The body of the paper should be devoid of any information, such as the applicant’s name, address, or school, that could provide a bias in the evaluation.
6. Letters of recommendation from the program director or other senior faculty member and from the medical director or other physician instructor attesting to: a) approval of the candidate’s paper, b) the candidate’s worthiness for the award, and c) the candidate’s potential for a career in the profession of respiratory care.

Please note that the application deadline is June 1.

Application

In addition to submitting some basic personal information, you will also be required to:

1. Attach an original referenced paper on some aspect of respiratory care to the online form if applying for an undergraduate award. The paper should include a cover page giving only the title of the paper, and should be devoid of any information, such as the applicant’s name, address, or school that could provide a bias in the evaluation. See Paper Submission Guidelines
2. Attach a personal essay of at least 1,200 words describing how this award will assist the applicant in reaching the objective of a degree and the candidate’s ultimate goals of leadership in health care if applying for the William W. Burgin/Robert Lawrence award. The paper should include a cover page with the author’s name, address, and phone number. The body of the paper should be devoid of any information such as applicant’s name, address, or school that could provide a bias in the evaluation.

Applications are accepted Jan. 1 - June 1. Applications will not be considered unless all supporting documents have been sent.

Previous undergraduate award recipients are eligible to reapply. Previous postgraduate award recipients may apply for, and receive, an award a second and third year if the applicant is maintaining good standing in an advanced degree program and is the most deserving candidate in the judgment of the Board of Trustees or its designated selection committee.

Points to Consider in Submitting an Essay

Education Recognition Awards:

All Postgraduate

William W. Burgin

Robert M. Lawrence

The following points are specific essay submission instructions for the ARCF Education Recognition Awards.

I. Manuscript Preparation

1. All papers must be typed.
2. All papers must be double-spaced.
3. All pages must be numbered.
4. Be sure to carefully proofread the manuscript for completeness, clarity, grammar and spelling.

II. Content

Bear in mind that this is not a scientific paper or research report. Your purpose is to delineate your accomplishments, articulate your goals, and relate these goals to health care generally and respiratory care specifically.

Do not pad your essay. Choose your words carefully. Deliver your message succinctly. Judges of your paper will be looking for positive experiences and well-defined targets in your lifetime and in your career.

Above all, have others critically read your essay. Ensure that it looks as good as it reads, and check your grammar and syntax.