Margaret Ferris Scholarship for Hard of Hearing Students Grant

The Margaret Ferris Scholarship for Hard of Hearing Students, established by Margaret Ferris, a dedicated teacher, supports hard of hearing students from Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties. It aims to assist graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education. This scholarship honors Margaret's impactful career and commitment to the deaf community, emphasizing aural/oral training over American Sign Language. By providing financial aid, it continues her legacy of fostering educational opportunities for hard of hearing individuals.

Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region serves the Wisconsin Fox Valley area—including Calumet, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, and the Neenah-Menasha area of Winnebago County—by managing enduring charitable funds created by families, businesses, and organizations, and by awarding grants and scholarships that strengthen the region’s social, educational, economic, and cultural well-being.
Mission, Vision & Priorities
It envisions a region where everyone can flourish, supported by inclusive networks and connected opportunity. Guided by values of respect, integrity, stewardship, teamwork, and belonging, the Foundation prioritizes:
Facilitating philanthropic giving and building permanent endowments to support the community’s future.Educating and partnering across generations and sectors to foster informed and effective charitable action.Supporting nonprofit capacity, collaborative problem-solving, and community priorities that uplift underserved populations and promote long-term impact.
Margaret Ferris was a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing children in the special education program at Oshkosh Public Schools. She retired in the early 1980’s after a long career that touched the lives of many deaf and hard of hearing children from the Fox Valley region. She often stated she taught 27 years without ever being heard. During the years Margaret taught, Oshkosh was the hub of education for children from the region who were deaf or hard of hearing. The program she developed was focused on aural/oral training, rather than on American Sign Language. Margaret’s father was severely hard of hearing, and Margaret became hard of hearing herself when she was in her 50’s. She became involved in the Hearing Loss Association of America in mid-1980 when Wisconsin’s first chapter was formed in Appleton and remained involved until she was physically unable to attend meetings when shewas in her late 80’s. Margaret served as chapter president and mentor to people of all ages who became involved in the regional chapter of the organization. She worked tirelessly to get banks, churches, and public buildings to acquire hearing loops to aid the deaf and hard of hearing. In 1994 Margaret wrote a book for parents of hearing-impaired children called “Bright Silence”. This scholarship was established by Margaret Ferris as a tribute to her years of involvement in the Fox Valley Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America. Margaret wanted to be sure this scholarship would carry forth into perpetuity.

Eligibility

Hard of hearing students who have a significant hearing loss and use technology to participate in the hearing worldGraduating high school seniors from a public or parochial high school in Calumet, Outagamie, or Winnebago counties Planning to pursue post-secondary education at an accredited college, university, or technical college as a full-time student