Mary Jo DeVleeschower Scholarship

The Mary Jo DeVleeschower Scholarship honors Mary Jo DeVleeschower, a dedicated special education teacher who worked with hearing-impaired students at the Alexander Graham Bell School from 1972. Mary Jo held degrees from Ball State University and Xavier University, including a Master's degree in special education. She worked through a grant with Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. for the Whole Language Program for the hearing impaired and published a related article in a national magazine. Mary Jo poured her whole heart into working with hearing-impaired children and had a special relationship with her students, which was demonstrated at her memorial when students shared tributes to her in American Sign Language. Through her will, she established this scholarship to continue supporting her students' educational aspirations. The scholarship supports graduating students from the Columbus Hearing Impaired Program who wish to pursue degrees in higher education at institutions in the United States.