SCHOLARSHIP

TAPED has a long history of providing scholarships to deserving high school seniors and individuals interested in pursuing degrees in the field of deaf education and interpreting. Since 1985, TAPED has awarded more than $119,800 in scholarships supported by membership dues and fund raising efforts.

Several of TAPED’s scholarships are in honor of significant figures in the field of Deaf Education in Texas. To learn more about these remarkable individuals, please read below.

Gary Curtis Scholarship

Gary Curtis Scholarship

Gary Curtis moved his young family to Texas in 1972 when he became Superintendent of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin. Gary grew up in Illinois, and he had a close relationship with his Deaf maternal grandparents, aunts and uncles who lived in his neighborhood, near the Illinois School for the Deaf. Gary was most profoundly influenced by his Deaf grandfather. Gary graduated from Illinois College and obtained a master’s from Gallaudet College. He taught language and composition and was a popular teacher and administrator at 3 schools for the deaf in other states. At the American School for the Deaf, he became Assistant Executive Director-Headmaster. At the age of 37, Gary was appointed Superintendent of TSD, which had over 700 students and was one of the largest residential schools in the country. He brought a Total Communication philosophy to TSD, which was a change for some. He was a collaborative leader who met frequently with staff and worked hard to promote cohesiveness.

In the early 1970s, enrollment at TSD was increasing, and facilities were at capacity. There were many parents and school districts who wanted their deaf students educated closer to home. The Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD), was established by the Texas Legislature in 1973 for deaf/hard of hearing students ages birth through 21. The RDSPD began operation September 1, 1974 and incorporated existing countywide schools and urban ISD programs for the deaf. Gary Curtis was hired by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to be the first Director of Deaf Services. He and a team put together and managed the new RDSPD, which became a model for other states. Gary served as the TEA Director of Deaf Services from October 1, 1973 until he retired in 1995. He was an innovative leader who always enjoyed being around Deaf people, especially students. Gary remained a strong supporter of TSD as well as the RDSPD throughout his career. He passed away August 2, 2024.

Sha Cowan Scholarship

Sha Cowan Scholarship

Sha (Shalia) Holloway Cowan has worked in Deaf education for many years. A proud graduate of The University of Texas (UT) at Austin, she has been a teacher, curriculum and program specialist, Camp TRAIL counselor, Camp SIGN director, and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Director of Services for the Deaf. Sha worked for Corpus Christi ISD, Kerrville ISD, Texas School for the Deaf (TSD), TCDHH (before DARS), TEA, Texas Tech University (TTU) and served on the TSD Governing Board after her retirement from TEA. She has worked with all ages,from young children to older Deaf adults. During her time at TEA, Sha was involved in supporting a “Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights” (TEC 29.302- 29.314), American Sign Language (ASL) as a secondary foreign language, newborn hearing screening and follow-up, expanded statewide outreach, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher certification assessments. She is on the board of Austin Sign Language School (ASLS). Sha and her husband, Tom, live in Dripping Springs. They have 2 wonderful daughters and sons-in-law and 5 amazing granddaughters.

Dorine Cunningham Scholarship

A parent of two deaf children, Dorine Cunningham began her career as a teacher for the deaf at Pilot School for the Deaf which is now called the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) Callier Center for Communication Disorders. Her contributions to education for the deaf in Texas are numerous. She participated in legislation activities to improve educational services to deaf and hard of hearing students in Texas and was instrumental in developing the Regional Day School Programs for the Deaf in Texas. She worked as an education specialist in Cluster A for 11 years. During that time she spearheaded SKI*HI parent infant services statewide. Dorine retired in 1985 and passed away in 2015.

T.A.P.E.D. has a long history of providing scholarships to deserving high school seniors and individuals interested in pursuing degrees in the field of deaf education and interpreting. Since 1985 T.A.P.E.D. has awarded more than $119,800 in scholarships supported by membership dues and fund raising efforts.

Macey LittleTAPED Teacher Scholarship – $1000
Luz MartinezTAPED Interpreter Scholarship – $1000
Orlando GarciaSha Cowan Scholarship – $1000
Itzel Ruiz PerezDorine Cunningham Scholarship – $1000
Tori PetrovichGary Curtis Scholarship – $1000
William StokesTAPED Student Scholarship – $1000
Elissa DuncanTAPED Teacher Scholarship – $1000
Wajiha QureshiSha Cowan Scholarship – $1000
Keidy SemaDorine Cunningham Scholarship – $1000
Maggie WainscottGary Curtis Scholarship – $1000
Rachel EppsTAPED Teacher Scholarship
Susan MirelesTAPED Teacher Scholarship

 

Alyssa GlennonTAPED Student Scholarship
Kylar SicoliTAPED Student Scholarship
Shaudra ParkerDorine Cunningham
Carmen RosalesShā Cowan Scholarship
Ethan NuñezDorine Cunningham Scholarship
Dekisha SmithGary Curtis Scholarship
Gage LockhartPatricia Johnson Scholarship
José GarzaTAPED Student Scholarship
Konner HandTAPED Student Scholarship
Mahishi TripathiTAPED Teacher Scholarship
Miranda AdameTAPED Interpreter Scholarship
Lexi HillSha Cowan Scholarship
Jose UrestiGary Curtis Scholarship
Leila SicoliDorine Cunningham Scholarship
Stephanie SizemoreTAPED Student Scholarship
Jaqueline BonillaTAPED Student Scholarship
Savannah JacksonTAPED Teacher Scholarship
Taelar BowmanSha Cowan Scholarship
Patricia BullardTAPED Scholarship
Gabriel GomezGary Curtis Scholarship
Kylea StyneCheryl Ferguson Scholarship
Tammy WilsonDorine Cunningham Scholarship
Shannon GroceTAPED Teacher Scholarship
Amy LavinTAPED Interpreter Scholarship
Deanna DraperTAPED Teacher Scholarship
Kameron KinastSha Cowan Scholarship
Kenzi SueyDorine Cunningham Scholarship
Tatum WiechmanGary Curtis Scholarship 
Efren FloresDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Juan GarciaGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Garrett WhitakerKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Alexis VillarrealSha Cowam Student Scholarship
Oscar De La TorresT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Roxanne ZechT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Rebekah Kuhlman Dorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Jaramiah RosalezGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Esmeralda GarciaKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Molly BrummettSha Cowan Student Scholarship
Linda CastroT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Kelsey RohrT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Ashley WhiteT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Margaret TeagueDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Joseph EdinburgGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Carlos WeathersbyKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Kalao CundiffSha Cowan Student Scholarship
Cody CummingsT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Jordan LeeDorine Cunnignham Student Scholarship
Aaron SchmidtGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Lila CantrellKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Casey LyonSha Cowan Student Scholarship
Irma GutierrezT.A.P.E.D. Student Shcolarship
Hailey FryDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Tyler AllenGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Jessica BowenSha Cowan Student Scholarship
Brooklyn CarpenterKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Haley BlancoT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Kari RustT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Diana HansonT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Melissa AguilarDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Paul Jerome UncangcoGary Curtis  Student Scholarship
Andrea TorresKatherine Neely  Student Scholarship
Carlos MartinezSha Cowan  Student Scholarship
Christian EscamillaT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Jessica FrizzellT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Valerie OrozcoT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Jesse MendezDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Tyler BlockerGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Sarah McGoughJudi Ferguson Student Scholarship
Melissa KeomoungkhounKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Kelsey BartrugT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Biana QuijasT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Kody SchoutenT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Kelsea BarlowDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Essam SoomroGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Morgan SmithKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Kelsey RohrJudi Ferguson Student Scholarship
Alberto Dorantes, Jr.Dean Cunningham Student Scholarship
Chandler MallamsT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship
Sara BlockT.A.P.E.D. Interpreter Scholarship
Anita GuajardoDorine Cunningham Student Scholarship
Anthony HarrisonGary Curtis Student Scholarship
Lesvia GilmoreKatherine Neely Student Scholarship
Joe RodriguezJudi Ferguson Student Scholarship
Juan AmaroT.A.P.E.D. Student Scholarship
Cassidy BakerT.A.P.E.D. Teacher Scholarship

T.A.P.E.D.

Want to donate to T.A.P.E.D scholarships or become a SWCED sponsor? Great! We truly appreciate your contributions. Through donations, we are able to provide scholarships to students and educators, as well as maintain a quality biennial statewide conference.

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