Barbara J. Conrad Fellowship Grant
In keeping with our core values of collaboration, excellence, professionalism, and leadership, OSSPEAC is pleased to announce the establishment of the Barbara J. Conrad Fellowship Grant. This grant will be awarded during the annual conference in October.
The annual award of up to $1,000.00 will assist early career school-based SLPs obtain continuing education to provide high quality speech language services to Ohio's school children.
Eligiblity
This grant is designed for speech-language pathologists who are working in Pre K-12 schools. The funds must be used for professional training to enhance your knowledge and inspire leadership in your profession. Approved expenses can include conferences, classes, on-line webinars, college courses, etc. The budget can also include items related to the continuing education such as books or required items, mileage, hotel and meal expenses.
Requirements:
- A master's level SLP in their Clinical Fellowship or with their ASHA certification.
- Employed in a Pre K- 12 grade school position.
- Five years or less experience working in a school-based position.
- A completed grant application including a budget and one personal reference.
- Willingness to write an article for the OSSPEAC newsletter and/or present at the conference regarding how the funds were used to enhance your professional growth.
SUBMIT APPLICATION BY SEPTEMBER 1ST
Contribution
Every donation, of any amount, is helpful and appreciated. Contributions may be made by using the button below or by sending a check payable to OSSPEAC and writing Conrad Fellowship in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to OSSPEAC, 8840 Greenwood Rd, North Royalton, OH 44133. Thank you for your consideration in donating to the Barbara J. Conrad Fellowship Grant. OSSPEAC is looking forward to hearing from you.
Barbara J. Conrad, M.S., CCC-SLP
Barbara (Barb) Conrad, a visionary, dedicated her career to creating and promoting many of the local, state, and even national-level SLP professional practices considered best practice today. Barb's leadership was characterized by mentoring young professionals, advocating for school-based SLP practices, developing progressive professional continuing education, and ensuring a better future for students with communication impairments. In 2023, OSSPEAC created the Barbara J. Conrad Fellowship Grant to recognize and honor her accomplishments and contributions to our field. This competitive grant program provides funds to early-career SLPs to develop their leadership, advocacy, and professional skills in order to continue the standard of excellence that Barb exhibited throughout her career. Barb's passion was to support school-based SLPs, and the Fellowship Grant will help ensure the continuation of her legacy.
2026 Barb Conrad Fellowship Grant Recipient:
Claire Modesto:
We are happy to announce that Claire Modesto is the 2026 Barbara J. Conrad recipient. Claire is from Middletown, Ohio. Claire is currently a clinical fellow, working as a preschool speech-language pathologist through Butler County Educational Service Center. Her education includes a bachelor’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. She excited to start off her career serving her community by supporting early learners in their speech, language, and literacy development!
Claire stated, "This grant would allow me to attend the ASHA conference in Indianapolis for my first time. Attending this conference can help me to dig in and develop more niche areas of practice (ex: supporting GLPs, literacy instruction for AAC users, complexity approach for speech sound disorders) that may have only been briefly introduced in graduate school.”