Hamilton Relay Announces Scholarship Winners and Recipients of the Better Hearing and Speech Month Award

AURORA, Neb., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Relay, a leading Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone services provider, celebrates National Better Hearing and Speech Month each May by honoring individuals who make a difference in their communities.

Established in 2010, the Hamilton Relay High School Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking. The scholarship provides $500 towards each student's post-secondary education.

Also established in 2010, Hamilton Relay's Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award is presented to influential community leaders who are hard of hearing, late-deafened or have difficulty speaking.

"Taking the time to step back and learn about the accomplishments of individuals in the communities we serve is a rewarding experience," said vice president of Hamilton Relay, Dixie Ziegler. "These individuals advocate for the well-being of those around them in so many ways. It's truly a privilege for us to recognize them with our annual scholarships and awards."

Each of the following high school students were awarded a $500 Hamilton Scholarship after completing an application and writing a qualifying essay about communication services:

• Francina Liana Maurin, Arizona
• Nicholas Barnett, California
• Brianna Jean Stroud-Williams, Georgia
• Jacee Jo Rio Bedke, Idaho
• Malinda Jorgensen, Iowa
• Alexia Danielle Trujillo, Kansas
• Callie LeBlanc, Louisiana
• Deaven Marissa Smith, Maine
• Kathleen Elizabeth Nuzzo, Maryland
• Andrew Carr, Massachusetts
• Cille Christine Patten, Montana
• Amelia Ann Dickey, New Mexico
• Andrew William Geist, Pennsylvania
• Reiko Pearson, Tennessee
• Dina A. Ayad, Virginia
• Candice Chatland, Utah

The following individuals were nominated by their peers for providing a strong, positive influence within their state and were chosen as this year's Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award recipient:

• Cynthia Amerman & Elizabeth "Liz" Booth, Arizona
• Nanci Ellis, California
• Lucinda Hollingshead, Iowa
• Carole Wedge, Louisiana
• Robert Lundstrom, Maine
• Linda Webb, Maryland
• Claire Blatchford, Massachusetts
• Carolyn Meyer, Pennsylvania
• Christina "Tina" Thompson, Rhode Island
• Betty A. Proctor, Tennessee
• Katharine "Kathy" Evans, Utah
• Linda Wallace, Virginia

Hamilton Relay will also award three college students with a $1,000 scholarship later in the year. And, concurrent with National Deaf Awareness Week each September, Hamilton will continue to recognize a number of individuals with its Deaf Community Leader Award.

Note: Recipients in some states have yet to be notified. For more information on Hamilton Relay community outreach efforts in your state, contact your state relay outreach coordinator or visit www.HamiltonRelay.com. Become a fan of Hamilton Relay on Facebook and visit the "Awards" tab to learn about the accomplishments of the Better Hearing and Speech Month Recognition Award recipients.

About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Traditional Relay Services, Captioned Telephone and Internet Relay services. Hamilton provides Traditional Relay and/or Captioned Telephone services to 17 states, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands. More information is available at www.hamiltonrelay.com.

SOURCE Hamilton Relay