Formerly the League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the EAR Foundation
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Joshua LeJeune of Iota, LA is the 2009 recipient of the $10,000 four year Minnie Pearl Scholarship.
My name is Joshua LeJeune. I just graduated from Iota High School in Iota, Louisiana and live at home with my mom and two sisters. I am an Eagle Scout and assistant troop leader. I was in Honor Band, the Student Technology Coordinator, and Student Council Representative at Iota High School. Since I was in the sixth grade, I have developed severe/profound hearing loss and now wear hearing aids in both ears. School is a struggle, but everything in life that is worth something is a struggle.
In the fall, I plan on attending school at Louisiana State University at Eunice. I intend to study Pre-Med and to eventually go medical school. I know I have a long road ahead, but thanks to generous scholarships like the Minnie Pearl Scholarship Program, one day I will be able to fulfill my dreams.
Emily Jones, of White Bluff, Tennessee is the 2009 recipient of the $1,000 one year Linda Cowden Memorial Scholarship.
My name is Emily Jones and I am from White Bluff, TN. I was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss at 15 months old. Since then, I have worn hearing aids and at the age of 7, I had a cochlear implant surgery at Vanderbilt. Since receiving the cochlear implant I am able to hear so many things that I never heard before and my speech has tremendously improved. Some of my major accomplishments in high school include graduating with honors in the top 5% of my class and balancing school with soccer, cross country, and track.
I am planning to attend at the University of Tennessee at Martin this fall. I will be majoring in Pre-Pharmacy. After I graduate UTM with a Bachelor degree, I would like to go to Lipscomb University’s College of Pharmacy.
Best wishes Joshua and Emily the best of luck as they begin college and a new chapter in their lives. The League is so proud of their past accomplishments and is looking forward to helping them reach new heights in the future.