Rolland J. Van Hattum Award for Contribution in the Schools

About

The Rolland J. Van Hattum Award for Contribution in the Schools recognizes an individual’s exemplary commitment and contribution to the delivery of audiology and/or speech-language pathology services within a school setting.

The Van Hattum Award is a memorial recognition of Rolland J. Van Hattum, who had a long and distinguished career providing audiology and speech-language pathology services and support in the schools. He believed strongly in the dedication and professionalism of his colleagues in the schools and, until his death in 1987, continued to advocate for the support and recognition of their achievements.

The awardee receives a plaque and an award of $2,000. In addition, the recipient’s school system will receive $500 to further the awarded work.

Criteria for Selection

Eligible activities or achievements include, but are not limited to:

Conducting exemplary clinical services, supervision, or research in a school setting.
Developing an innovative program (e.g., clinical, training) in a school setting, with an emphasis on those that are replicable.
Promoting or enhancing public or private support for audiology and speech-language pathology services in the schools.

The following specific eligibility criteria should be addressed in the nomination:

The nominee must be an audiologist or speech-language pathologist employed by a school system (e.g., serving pre-K through high school setting). Excludes individual or agency contractors.
The nominee's contribution must have been made within a school system and must have had a direct, observable, and demonstrable impact.
The nominee's commitment to the delivery of services in the schools must be evidenced by a specific activity or achievement, or a series of related integrated activities resulting in the achievement of a common goal.
The nominee's commitment and contribution to the delivery of services in the schools must be clearly identified as outstanding (e.g., innovative; creative in use of resources; collaborative).

Nomination Requirements

Nominators must complete the Nomination and Summary Form and upload the Nomination Document. Absence of required information will automatically exclude any potential candidate from consideration.

Nomination and Summary Form (online)
Nominators are asked to provide the following information:

Nominee's contact information
Nominator's contact information
Summary Statement: In three sentences or fewer, state why you are nominating the individual, highlighting the specific achievement.

Nomination Document (one PDF file, limit 10 pages)
The following required components should be compiled sequentially into one PDF file for submission:

Nomination Narrative (addressed to "Review Panel"): Provide a brief biographical introduction to the nominee, summarizing educational and career activities.
Specific Contribution: Describe the nominee's contribution to the advancement of audiology and/or speech-language pathology service delivery in the school setting. Address the following specific areas, using these statements as narrative headers.
- The nature of the individual's contribution (i.e., primary contribution and related achievements).
- The way in which the individual's contribution is outstanding and unique.
- The direct impact (both short term and long term) and significance of the contribution.
- The target population served by the activity or achievement.
Case for Support: Provide evidence of support for the nomination through letters, statements, or a combination of both. These testimonial documents should be from audiologists, speech-language pathologists, or related professionals and, where appropriate, from a recipient of services (or a family member of the individual served).

Format