The Women Divers Hall of Fame™ (WDHOF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and raising awareness of the contributions of outstanding women divers. WDHOF provides educational, mentorship, financial, and career opportunities to the diving community throughout the world. Each year, WDHOF awards scholarships and training grants that provide financial and educational support to individuals of all ages, particularly those who are preparing for professional careers that involve diving.
Women Divers Hall of Fame Scholarships are offered in dive medicine, marine conservation, marine biology, underwater archaeology, marine education, journalism, graphic arts, or photography. They are intended to support tuition and fees, independent research, and/or internship programs at accredited universities. Scholarships are paid or awarded directly to the recipient.
Training grants provide funding for diver and related underwater training and, for some awards, scuba equipment. Funds are paid directly to the training facility and/or the equipment vendor upon WDHOF’s receipt of an invoice; they are NOT paid directly to the grantee.
Here’s a look at the scholarships available.
Dive Medicine – New This Year!!!
DAN/R.W. “Bill” Hamilton Research Grant – a 12-month, $10,000 research grant has been established by the Divers Alert Network in memory of R.W. “Bill” Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton conducted research on diving physiology and the treatment of injured divers, and he authored numerous papers, reports and workshop proceedings. Dr. Hamilton passed in 2011 at the age of 81. The $10,000 award will support new or continuing research in one or more of the following areas: development of decompression procedure techniques for commercial, military, technical and/or recreational divers; development of new decompression models; probability of risk or probabilistic modeling; multi-gas dive simulation; dive computer procedure, protocol and testing; and/or treatment of incomplete decompression and resulting incidents. Applicants may be in any stage of their professional education or career. There is no specific requirement for the applicant to be enrolled in a degree-granting program, however, the successful applicant will have documented expertise and experience in research in one or more of the areas specified above. Full details of the award can be found on the online application website.
Marine Conservation
Marine conservation has been our most popular and most competitive scholarship opportunity for several years. In response to the high number of competitive applications, WDHOF is offering six scholarships in marine conservation in 2016. The scholarships will be awarded to qualified women of any age who are enrolled in accredited graduate or undergraduate academic or research programs in the field of marine conservation. The scholarships are intended to assist with college tuition/fees or may be used to support independent research or an internship program at an accredited university.
FIVE scholarships are available only to women enrolled in graduate academic and research programs in the field of marine conservation:
• One $2,000 scholarship sponsored by the Aggressor Fleet and Dancer Fleet (WDHOF member Anne Hasson)
• One $2,000 scholarship sponsored by the Sea of Change Foundation (WDHOF member Anne Hasson)
• Two $2,000 scholarships sponsored by the Women Divers Hall of Fame
• One $2,000 scholarship sponsored by WDHOF Members Meg Donat and Darlene Iskra
ONE scholarship is available only to women enrolled in undergraduate academic and research programs in the field of marine conservation:
• One $1,000 scholarship sponsored by WDHOF Member Sherry Reed
Undergraduate Marine Research
Undergraduate Marine Research Internship – a $1,000 internship in marine biology will be
awarded to a woman undergraduate student who is (or will be) participating in an internship program with a focus in marine biology. Students must have completed at least 60 credits or hold third year (junior) status prior to starting the internship. Sponsored by WDHOF members Sue Morra, Ph.D.
and Kathleen Dudzinski, Ph.D.
Underwater Archaeology
The Cecelia Connelly Memorial Scholarships in Underwater Archaeology will be awarded to deserving women of any age who are graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited course of study in the field of underwater archaeology. The funds are intended to assist with college tuition/fees or field study costs. Sponsored by the Connelly family, in memory of their mother and WDHOF member Cecelia Connelly.
• Cecelia Connelly Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Underwater Archaeology – $2,000
• Cecelia Connelly Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship in Underwater Archaeology – $750
Journalism, Graphic Arts, or Photography
Elizabeth Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship in Journalism, Graphic Arts, or Photography – a $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a woman diver who is furthering her education beyond high school in the field of journalism, graphic arts, or photography to better serve the ocean environment or ocean community. The scholarship is intended to assist with college tuition/fees or may be used to support an internship program at an accredited university. Sponsored by WDHOF member Deb Greenhalgh, in memory of her daughter Elizabeth.
Marine or Underwater Education
WDHOF Scholarship in Marine or Underwater Education – a $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a qualified woman of any age to plan and conduct an education project in marine or underwater STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs for students in grades K-12. The scholarship may also be used to support independent research by an educator in any underwater STEM area. Applicants should hold a degree (or equivalent certificate) in education, museum studies, or other relevant area, and have experience teaching marine science, technology, or engineering at any K-12 level. Sponsored by WDHOF.
Public Safety Diving
Lifeguard Systems Public Safety Diving Scholarship – a scholarship to take an unlimited number of any Lifeguard Systems open, Levels 1-3, public safety and water rescue certification training programs for a duration of one year will be awarded to a woman 18 years of age or older, with a commitment to public safety diving and water rescue, and preferably some experience in public safety (e.g., EMT certification, volunteer firefighter, in law enforcement, forensics, etc.). The awardee might be able to stay in the host’s facility (e.g., fire department) at no cost, if such an option is available. Applicants must be certified to dive, have their own dive gear, and must be capable of getting to and from the training programs. The recipient will most likely also be able to take additional training programs from at least one other water rescue/recovery training agency. Sponsored by Lifeguard Systems (WDHOF member Andrea Zaferes).
TRAINING GRANTS
Underwater Photography
Morgan/O’Neill Underwater Photography Grant – a $2,000 grant will be awarded to a qualified female photographer of any age to continue her professional development in the field of underwater photography. Applicants must be certified divers with significant dive experience. The successful applicant will be a serious, career-minded woman with the intent to (continue to) develop her career in underwater photography. Applicants will be required to submit a photographic portfolio and an essay. The grant may be used to fund master digital workshops or other developmental classes in underwater photography, and funds will be paid directly to the instructional facility—not to the recipient. The grant may not be used to buy equipment. Sponsored by Frank Boulanger and WDHOF member Erin O’Neill in memory of WDHOF member Ella Jean Morgan.
Basic Dive Training
• Ella Jean Morgan Memorial Dive Training Grants – two $1,000 training grants will be awarded to deserving young females, age 15-21, who wish to begin their dive education/training. Up to $500 may be used for dive training, and up to $500 may be used for dive equipment. An approved diving course must consist of at least 12 hours of classroom training, 12 hours of pool/confined-water training and at least 5 open-water dives and must culminate in a certification from a nationally recognized diver-training agency. Sponsored by Frank Boulanger, in memory of his wife and WDHOF member Ella Jean Morgan.
• Kids Sea Camp Basic Dive Training Grants
Two $500 training grants will be awarded to deserving women divers of any age and background who wish to begin their dive education through a PADI scuba certification course. Two awards will be given to novice divers to gain the fundamental knowledge, skills and ability to safely breathe underwater. The recipients must enroll in approved PADI diving courses/programs at a PADI training facility located closest to the home of the recipient. Sponsored by Kids Sea Camp and WDHOF member Margo Peyton.
Junior Diver Training
• Ocean Pals Junior Dive Training Grant
One $1,000 training grant (up to $500 for training and up to $500 for dive equipment) will be awarded to a deserving young woman, ages 13-16, who wishes to begin or further her dive education/training. Up to $500 may be used for dive training, and up to $500 may be used for dive equipment. Sponsored by Ocean Pals (WDHOF member JoAnn Zigahn) and WDHOF co-founder Beneath The Sea, Inc.
Advanced Dive Training
Three $1,000 training grants (up to $500 for training and up to $500 for dive equipment) will be awarded to deserving women divers of any age and background who wish to further their dive education through approved scuba diving programs beyond the basic certification level. Up to $500 may be used for dive training, and up to $500 may be used for dive equipment.
• One $1,000 training grant, sponsored by WDHOF member Bonnie Toth, will support advanced dive training for recreational divers.
• One $1,000 training grant, sponsored by the Women Divers Hall of Fame, will support advanced training in technical or cave diving.
• One $1,000 training grant, sponsored by the Women Divers Hall of Fame, will support dive training
to advance diving skills needed for the applicant’s profession (e.g., scientific diving).
Hardhat Dive Training
Amelia Behrens-Furniss Memorial Hardhat Diver Training Grant – a $1,000 grant will be awarded to a deserving woman diver of any age and background who wishes to begin or further her training in hardhat diving through an approved hardhat dive training program. The applicant should be enrolled in or attending a commercial dive school. This grant is sponsored by the family and friends of Amelia Behrens-Furniss.
Diver Medic Training
Code Blue Education Ltd Diver Medic Training Grant – two diver medic training grants, worth up to $1275 in tuition and sponsored by Code Blue Education Ltd, will be awarded to deserving males or females who wish to further their diving training/education as a diver medic technician. The recipients must enroll in an approved Diver Medic Training facility with Code Blue Education Ltd in the United Kingdom. Upon successful completion of the Diver Medic Technician course, the recipient will be awarded a DAN or IMCA Diver Medical Technician certification. Applicants must be over the age of 18, have at least the recreational diver certification of Rescue Diver or equivalent, and should hold a current EFR/BLS/First Aid certification. Sponsored by Code Blue Education Ltd (Chantelle Newman).
Disabled Diver Training
Hugh Fletcher Memorial Training Grant to Assist the Disabled to Dive – a $1,000 training grant (up to $500 for training and up to $500 for dive equipment) will be awarded to any disabled diver who wishes to pursue or further his/her dive education and purchase adaptive equipment, or to a dive master, assistant instructor, or instructor to gain the required education/training to assist or teach the disabled to dive. Candidates can be male or female. Up to $500 may be used for dive training, and up to $500 may be used for adaptive dive equipment. Sponsored by WDHOF co-founder and member Kathy Weydig and friends of Hugh Fletcher.
Dive Training for Marine Scientists, Oceanographers, or Ocean Engineers
Scuba Made Easy Training Grant in Marine Science, Oceanography or Ocean Engineering – a $500 training grant will be awarded to a deserving woman diver of any age, working in the areas of marine science, oceanography or ocean engineering. The training grant is to be used for the purpose of continuing diver education/training and is open to candidates worldwide. Sponsored by Scuba Made Easy (WDHOF member Deb Greenhalgh).
Dive Training for Students in ROTC, JROTC, Military Academy or Sea Cadets
Women’s Scuba Association Training Grant – a $1,500 training grant (up to $750 for training and $750 for equipment) will be awarded to a deserving young male or female who wishes to begin or further his/her dive education/training. Candidates must be enrolled in an ROTC or JROTC program, military academy or be a Sea Cadet. Sponsored by WDHOF co-founder and member Jennifer King.
How to apply:
You may only apply for one scholarship or training grant per year. Applicants MUST complete the online application form. Please read the scholarship/grant descriptions, requirements, applicant qualifications, and application instructions carefully. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted for further consideration. If you have questions after you’ve carefully read the online application instructions, please email: wdhofgrants@gmail.com
The deadline for receipt of applications is November 20, 2015 at midnight U.S. Eastern Standard Time. Applicants will be notified of award status by February 1, 2016. Only online submissions will be accepted.
To learn more about The Women Divers Hall of Fame, visit: www.wdhof.org