News

SDMS Foundation Announces First 2010 Scholarship Recipients

February 26, 2010

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) Foundation's Board of Directors is pleased to announce the first 2010 SDMS Foundation Scholarship Program recipients. The SDMS Foundation’s scholarship program provides a $2,500 scholarship to a deserving sonography student just beginning their career in diagnostic medical sonography. Another $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a deserving experienced sonographer who is continuing their education by pursuing an advanced sonography-related degree.

Constance Besaw from Middleton, Wisconsin is a 2010 SDMS Foundation scholarship recipient. Ms. Besaw is enrolled in general/vascular program at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She will graduate in August 2011. The accredited program offers general, vascular, and cardiac sonography programs and is based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Rhonda Keller from Greenville, South Carolina is also the recipient of a 2010 SDMS Foundation scholarship. Ms. Keller is enrolled in the Northcentral University’s Master of Education Degree in Higher Education Leadership and expects to graduate in December 2010. Northcentral University is based in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Ms. Keller has worked as a sonographer for more than 18 years and found she loved teaching along the way. She hopes to use the Master’s degree she earns to help her better address the different learning philosophies among college students.

The SDMS Foundation received more than 50 applications for this round of its scholarship program. Each application was objectively scored based on the responses provided on the scholarship application. In addition, each applicant submitted an essay that addressed why they were an excellent candidate for the scholarship, their three to five year professional plan, and how they planned to use their education for the betterment of the sonography and healthcare community. The essays were scored anonymously by a panel of sonographers and the scholarship recipients were selected based on their combined total scores.

The SDMS Foundation will award another round of scholarships later this year. The application deadline for the next round is July 31, 2010. Additional information and applications for 2010 SDMS Foundation grants and scholarships is also available on the SDMS Foundation website (www.sdmsfoundation.org/programs.aspx). The SDMS Foundation charitable programs depends on donations from individual SDMS members and the sonography community. To make a donation to the SDMS Foundation, visit: www.sdmsfoundation.org/donor.aspx

Giving

Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege
~ JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.