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SOMERSET, NJ
October 25, 2010 Since its inception in 1997, the Oticon Focus on People Awards has honored outstanding people with hearing loss who prove that hearing loss does not limit a person’s ability to live a full, productive and even, inspiring life. In thirteen years, the Focus on People Awards has brought well deserved recognition to over 195 extraordinary people who defy the stigma of hearing loss. This year, the national awards competition, sponsored by Oticon, Inc., one of the world’s oldest and most respected hearing aid manufacturers, celebrates twelve individuals whose courage, vision and commitment are changing the perception of what it means to have a hearing loss. “The twelve individuals who were selected by our judges as award winners are living proof that in a world where challenges exist and the potential for misfortune may be great – it is still possible to change your luck for the better with courage, determination and a good hearing care professional,” stated Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. “Our award winners have taken their unique circumstances and transformed their lives with a positive outlook that has enabled them to overcome challenges and accomplish goals well beyond what many thought possible. And they didn’t stop there, each found his or her unique way to direct that positive energy to make the world a better place for others with hearing loss. “ Among this year winners are: Jim Detterline (Adult Category), a highly accomplished mountaineer and a former park ranger who has been recognized for his service in rescue with the prestigious Medal of Valor from the Department of the Interior; Bill Rogers (Advocacy Category) who helped to found HEAR Nashville, an easily accessed resource for low-income people in middle Tennessee who need hearing help; eleven-year-old Hayleigh Scott (Student Category) who holds a provisional patent from the U.S. Patent Office for her unique hearing aid charms designed to help people let their hearing instruments shine; and Jacqueline Rogers Scholl, AuD (Practitioner Category) who helped to ensure that vital hearing services would continue to reach a rural population where the incidence of hearing loss is great. The Oticon Focus on People Awards program is designed to focus attention on common misconceptions about hearing loss, correct negative stereotypes and motivate people with hearing loss to take advantage of the help that is available to them. Each year, hundreds of nominations representing people from all walks of life are reviewed by our judging panel comprised of leading hearing care practitioners. Each nominee has a unique story and has made a unique contribution to changing negative perceptions of hearing loss. “We are both humbled by their accomplishments and inspired by their ability to make a meaningful difference for people with hearing loss,” says Lauritsen. In addition to a $1000 prize, first place winners received a $1000 donation from Oticon, Inc. to the non-profit organization of their choice. First place winners in the Adult, Student and Advocacy categories also received a pair of advanced technology Oticon hearing instruments. Also honored at the Awards presentation were eight second and third place winners in the program’s four categories: Student (full-time students with hearing loss, ages 6-21), Adult (people with hearing loss, ages 21 and beyond), Advocacy (individuals of all ages involved in advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community) and Practitioner (for hearing care professionals currently in practice). Blue Ribbon Judging Panel The winners were selected by independent judging committee composed of leading hearing care professionals. This year’s program judges included: Carol Clifford, AuD of Albuquerque Hearing Associates, Albuquerque, NM; Meg Kalady, MS, FAAA of Valley Forge ENT of Phoenixville, PA; and Kiley Stephenson, AuD of Green Clinic, Ruston, LA.
2010 OTICON FOCUS ON PEOPLE AWARD WINNERS FIRST PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS ADULT
Jim Detterline of Estes Park, CO
Jim Detterline, who is hearing impaired, has been an advocate for those with hearing loss most of his life. A former park ranger who served with the Rocky Mountain National Park for more than 25 years and a highly accomplished mountaineer, the Estes Park-Allenspark area resident has been recognized for his service in rescue with numerous awards including the prestigious Medal of Valor from the Department of the Interior. As the Long’s Peak supervisory Climbing Ranger, he personally took part in many of the rescue missions, law enforcement incidents, wildfires, and management of the peak’s diverse resources and human needs. While serving with the National Parks Service, Detterline became an advocate for other experienced rangers across the park system who have hearing loss. Currently, Detterline volunteers for the Marion Downs Hearing Center and has taken young teens with hearing loss rock climbing, hiking and to the summit of Long’s Peak, the highest peak in the Park at 14, 259 feet above sea level. Detterline holds the all-time record for reaching the summit of Long’s Peak with more than 350 successful ascents. As part of his award, Detterline has designated the Marion Downs Hearing Center as his choice for a $1,000 donation from Oticon, Inc. STUDENT
Hayleigh Scott of Hollis, NH
Eleven-year-old Hayleigh Scott, who has worn hearing instruments since she was 18 months of age, is determined to help others with hearing loss feel as confident and comfortable wearing hearing instruments as she is. In 2008, Hayleigh received a provisional patent from the U.S. Patent Office for her unique hearing aid charms aptly named Hayleigh’s Cherished Charms. In a world where many look for ways to camouflage their hearing aids, Hayleigh wanted to help people let their hearing solutions shine. Her successful website business at www.hayleighscherishedcharms.com, features more than 50 hearing aid charms, all designed and constructed by Hayleigh, along with matching pierced earrings for anyone who uses one hearing aid and wants a matched charm for the other ear. She donates 10 percent of the proceeds from sales to support hearing impairment research and education of people with hearing loss. Hayleigh has designated the Christian Missionary Fellowship International, Hope Partnership Nairobi, Kenya and Hear in New Hampshire to share the $1,000 donation from Oticon, Inc. ADVOCACY
Jim Rogers of Henderson, TN
Jim Rogers, who is hearing impaired, has been instrumental in founding HEAR Nashville, a hearing consortium whose goal is to be an easily accessed resource for the kind of help that is available to low-income people in middle Tennessee who need hearing help. Early on, the Hendersonville resident recognized that some people who were older and on fixed incomes seemed to be shuffled from one agency to another until they became frustrated and stopped trying to get hearing help. In helping to develop and promote HEAR Nashville, Rogers relies on his considerable experience volunteering with such groups as E.A.R. Foundation where, in the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, he spearheaded an initiative to rebuild the Meniere’s Network to address the needs and concerns of individuals experiencing the little known and often devastating effects of Meniere’s Disease. During his time with the E.A.R. Foundation, Rogers participated in the Young Ears program, speaking to children in grades 3-7 about the anatomy of the ear, protecting hearing and causes of hearing loss in young children. A former trustee for the Sertoma International Foundation, Rogers was named Sertoman of the Year by the Sertoma Club of Nashville for his efforts as an advocate for those with hearing loss and for helping to establish the Fantasy Baseball Camp in Nashville for deaf and hard of hearing children in the Metro Nashville school system. The Awards ceremony is attended by more than 200 leading hearing care professionals from across the country. Rogers has designated the Sertoma Club of Nashville, Hear Nashville as his choice for a $1,000 donation from Oticon, Inc. PRACTITIONER
Jacqueline Rogers Scholl, AuD of the Scholl Center for Communication Disorders, Tulsa, OK
Frustrated by the lack of services for children with hearing and speech impairments in the Tulsa area, Dr. Scholl opened the Scholl Center for Communication Disorders in 2008. Before the opening of the Center, the closest clinic of its kind was more than 90 miles away. TSC goes above and beyond much needed hearing and speech services, providing the many families it serves with knowledge that empowers them to advocate for their children. Recently, when Oklahoma experienced budget cuts that slashed audiological services in rural communities surrounding Tulsa, Dr. Scholl collaborated with county health departments to save much needed rural services and to continue to support a population where the incidence of hearing loss is great. Recognizing that communication disorders put children at higher risk for illiteracy, she secured a grant from the FirstBook the enabled TSC to receive more than 2,000 new books for distribution to children treated at the Center. Among her many achievements, Dr. Scholl has been instrumental in efforts to pass newborn hearing screening mandates and to facilitate education of Tulsa pediatricians on the mandates merit and validity. She is also responsible for the job creation of educational audiologist for the Tulsa Public Schools, the only educational audiologist in the state. Most recently, she created the Children’s Hearing Aid Program in Oklahoma to support families seeking private insurance reimbursement for their hearing aids. Dr. Scholl has designated the Children’s Hearing Aid Project as her choice for a $1,000 donation from Oticon, Inc. 
2010 OTICON FOCUS ON PEOPLE AWARD WINNERS were honored at an awards ceremony held at the Oticon Human Link Conference in Stevenson, WA. Pictured (l-r): Bill Rogers (Advocacy), Oticon President Peer Lauritsen, Jacqueline Rogers Scholl, AuD (Practitioner), Jim Detterline (Adult) and front, Hayleigh Scott (Student). SECOND & THIRD PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS ADULT
Jennifer Gibson (Ontario, CAN)
William Houpt (Summit, NJ) STUDENT
Zachary Cramer (Portage, MI)
Jennifer Siu (Burlingame, CA) ADVOCACY
Ranie Mattingly (Idaho Falls, ID)
Louis Touchette (Green Valley, AZ) PRACTITIONER
Bari Pham, AuD (Hurst, TX)
Bettie Borton, AuD (Pike Road, AL)
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