Memorial scholarship established at Sinclair Community College for sign language interpreter students

Sinclair Community College has a new scholarship available for students in the Sign Language Interpreter Education program. The Teddy Sharik Memorial Scholarship has been established to honor the memory of Teddy Sharik, a Deaf man who passed away after a short battle with cancer in February of 2023. Sharik utilized American Sign Language interpreters who had graduated from Sinclair Community College to help him better communicate with his family as he spent the last few weeks of his life in hospice. Throughout his life he was a proponent of increasing inclusivity for people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 

According to an article on Sinclair Community College’s website, Dr. Zachary Beck, who serves as the Chief Development Officer of the Sinclair Community College Advancement Division, was quoted as saying of the new scholarship, "The Teddy Sharik Memorial Scholarship embodies the values that the Sinclair Foundation holds dear – empathy, inclusivity, and the power of education to transform lives. We are proud to be able to honor Teddy Sharik's legacy and support students.”

The Teddy Sharik Memorial Scholarship will provide tuition assistance as well as coverage for books and fees to students who are enrolled in the associate program for Interpreter Education at Sinclair Community College. The program prepares students to become interpreters in educational and community settings to serve individuals who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired. There have been 50 graduates of the program in the past five years. The idea for the scholarship came to Sharik’s siblings as the family interacted with Sinclair Community College-educated ASL interpreters while Teddy was in hospice care.

“There is so much I could say about these interpreters. They were a phenomenal group, and they were Teddy’s voice. They traveled the two hours each way from Dayton to Lima and sometimes slept overnight at the hospital to provide 24/7 interpreting between Teddy, our family, and the hospice staff. It struck me so much as to the value of these bridge building interpreters and the importance of interpreting that my sister and I decided we wanted to set up a scholarship fund to help ASL interpreter students get into school and to manage the finances for their education,” said Scott Sharik, Teddy’s brother. He went on to say, “My brother's life was a testament to resilience and the power of communication. He showed me the importance of bridging the gap between the hearing and Deaf communities. I want to honor his memory by supporting students who share his passion for sign language interpretation and are committed to breaking down communication barriers. There is a mission here and there is a purpose that is deep and impactful on lives.”

Dr. Jessica Minor, who serves as the chair of the Sinclair Community College Education Department, said of the new scholarship and the possibilities it represents, “Sinclair Community College is incredibly proud of the Interpreter Education Program graduates who make such a meaningful impact in the lives of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. The Teddy Sharik Memorial Scholarship is an incredible way to support students who have chosen a career path that creates a more inclusive world.”

For more information about Sinclair Community College, visit the school’s website.