The Alan D. Waggoner Sonographer Student Scholarship Award

2025 Program Director Nominations Open October 14 – November 15, 2024

The Alan D. Waggoner, MHS, RDCS, FASE Sonographer Student Scholarship program was established in 2001 in recognition of Mr. Waggoner’s professional achievements and service to ASE. The award amount is $1,000, and includes complimentary registration for ASE’s Annual Scientific Sessions, and an annual meeting travel grant of $1,000. The Katanick Student Scholarship Award, established in honor of Sandy Katanick, RN, RVT, CAE for her over 25 years of service as CEO of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission, will recognize the highest-ranking Waggoner scholarship applicant.

The Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Award is given to sonographer students enrolled in CAAHEP accredited educational programs who exhibit a passion for the discipline of echocardiography and demonstrate leadership abilities.

Program Director Nomination Process

Program Directors should complete the online Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Award nominations form, including a Letter of Nomination (see guidelines below for elements to include in a letter of nomination).

Program Director nomination deadline is November 15, 2024.

Once the nomination is received by ASE staff, the student will be contacted to advise them of the nomination, along with a link to an online Student Nominee Application Form.  The student will be required to complete the application packet and return by the deadline of December 30, 2024.

1. Program Directors may nominate up to two students from their program and they must provide the total number of students enrolled in the class, as well as the class rankings for nominee(s).
2. Students must be members of ASE to receive this award. Click here for ASE membership information.

Guidelines for Writing Letter(s) of Nomination:
Each letter should specifically address the following:

• Student’s program class rank in didactic courses
• Student’s program class rank in clinical education courses
• Specifically address what sets the student apart from other classmates
• Specifically address how the program feels this student will contribute to the field of cardiovascular sonography
• In summary, specifically address why “you” feel the student is deserving of this scholarship award
• Letters should by typed on school letterhead and limited to two pages.

Student Requirements for Nomination

In order to be considered for the Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Award, the nominee must meet the following requirements:

• Be nominated by their program director.
• Be actively enrolled in a cardiac or echocardiography ultrasound program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by an equivalent Canadian or international ultrasound program* at the time of the scholarship selection. Students graduating in the Spring/Summer of 2024 are eligible to apply.
• Ensure that the scholarship application is complete in accordance with application deadlines. To be considered for the Alan D. Waggoner Student Scholarship Award, the completed application with all relevant supporting documents must be received by ASEF on or before deadline.
• Students must be members of the American Society of Echocardiography to receive this award. Click here for ASE membership information.
• Students selected to receive ASEF scholarship awards will be requested to provide brief written testimonials and personal photos for use in promotional materials and/or on ASEF’s website.

*International candidates will need to submit information describing equivalency of program to CAAHEP standards and/or course work that follows the National Education Curriculum.

Student Nominee Submission Requirements

• Completed Student Nominee Application Form.  (Once a Program Director nomination is received, the student will be contacted with a link to the Student Nominee Application Form.)
• Two (2) additional letters of support (not including your Program Director’s nomination) preferably from a clinical instructor and/or program instructor/faculty in which at least one is an ASE member.   It is desirable to have one letter of recommendation from a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE). Click here to see a list of FASE members.
• A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae or resume.