Student Volunteer Scholarship

Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship

DeDe Days-Ward

Deirdre (DeDe) Days-Ward was an integral member of the HTSP community for nearly a decade and served as the vice president on the HTSP Board of Directors at the time of her premature passing on May 23, 2020. DeDe’s last wish was to not be forgotten.

HTSP BoD established this student volunteer scholarship in DeDe’s name to 1) honor her wish, 2) carry on her charitable nature and passion for education by giving back to HTSP’s student volunteers each year, and 3) remind the HTSP community to keep her positive spirit alive within our support groups throughout the years to come.

DeDe’s Influence on the HTSP Community

DeDe truly blessed the HTSP community with her wit, welcoming smile, words of encouragement, and generous nature. She was a devoted caregiver to her husband who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident, and she was a cherished member of the HTSP caregiver support group. DeDe was a truly gifted listener and creative problem solver, and she never hesitated to put the needs of others before her own. DeDe often volunteered to share her experience as a caregiver with university classes where she encouraged students to consider serving the brain injury community as future allied health professionals. She also valued the local college students who served as volunteers for the weekly HTSP survivor support group and spoke of her passion for continued education to her close friends.

Scholarship Timeline

The Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship will be awarded annually in the month of May (at HTSP’s annual BBQ picnic, if possible) to 1-2 student volunteers in the amount of $250-500 per awardee as funds are available. The HTSP BoD will accept applications each year from January 1st through March 31st (no late applications will be accepted) and shall review applications and determine the number of awardees and exact award amount by vote at the April BoD meeting each year. The HTSP Executive Board will notify the scholarship recipient(s) and the applicants who were not selected in the week following the April BoD meeting. The recipient(s) shall receive a check in the amount voted upon by the HTSP BoD as well as a printed certificate.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship, applicants must:

  1. be either be a current undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university OR a recent graduate (i.e., have graduated in the previous fall semester or quarter) in the Sacramento region,
  2. have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5,
  3. have served as an HTSP volunteer at least once per month for a minimum of six months, and
  4. have plans to serve the brain injury community as a future allied health professional.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following materials to board.htsp@gmail.com:

  1. a 1-2 page cover letter (with contact information) describing how they meet eligibility criteria #1-4 above, and
  2. a resume/curriculum vita.

Applicants must also have one letter of recommendation from a professional who can speak to their passion for serving the brain injury community (e.g., professor, manager). This letter should be submitted directly from the professional to board.htsp@gmail.com.

Donating to the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Volunteer Scholarship Fund

The HTSP Board of Directors welcomes and greatly appreciates community donations to the the Deirdre Days-Ward Student Scholarship fund. Please visit our donate page for more information.