2008 Winners

This year, the CHHA/CHHA Foundation Scholarship was awarded to Erika Breen. She is 20 years old, and was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of four. She is a student at Memorial University in St. John’s Newfoundland, working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration. Erika has volunteered with organizations such as the Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Association among others, and holds active leadership roles in the CHHA-NL Chapter. She plans to go to law school and hopes to eventually work in Labour Law.

This scholarship was created in 2004 by the generous contribution from the Algar family. Frank Algar was a strong advocate of the rights of hard of hearing people and disabled people in general. He had great faith in young people and worked diligently on their behalf. This scholarship is a testimony of his unwavering faith. This year we are pleased to announce that Dailaan Shaffer was the recipient of this prestigious award. She is 54 years old and was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of 26. She is a student at the BC Institute of Technology in the Occupational Health & Safety Program. Her career goal is to work as a Safety Consultant in the healthcare field where she can facilitate safety training sessions and advocate for aural rehabilitation.

The Dr. Charles A. Laszlo Scholarship Fund was announced at last year’s annual conference when his wife Doreen Laszlo declared that she would donate monies to the CHHA Foundation to establish this new scholarship. The first winner of this scholarship award is Victor Chi Wong. He is 27 years old, and he experienced the onset of hearing loss at the age of four. He is working on his PhD in Physiology at the University of Toronto. The challenging experiences with his disability became his source of scientific inspiration and the limitations of assistive devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants have fueled his search for a better alternative. Victor plans to do postdoctoral studies in the field of cochlear biology/physiology and ultimately wishes to join University of Toronto’s research academy and establish a cochlear biology research platform.