Voting opens for awards program recognizing remarkable individuals with hearing loss
Hearing aid manufacturer Oticon, Inc. announced today the names of 12 finalists for the 2021 Oticon Focus on People Awards. This national program recognizes adults, students and advocates with hearing loss, along with the hearing care practitioners empowering and advocating for the hearing loss community on a daily basis. Voting in these four categories opens today and will run until Dec. 17, 2021.
Since 1997, the Oticon Focus on People Awards has been an integral part of Oticon’s mission to raise awareness, increase opportunity and deliver life-changing technology to people with all levels of hearing loss. In recognizing these outstanding individuals, Oticon continues to break down the stigma surrounding hearing loss and demonstrate how it does not limit a person’s ability to succeed.
Hailing from coast to coast, this year’s finalists consist of inspiring students, accomplished adults and innovative practitioners that are making a positive impact in their communities. The 2021 Oticon Focus on People Awards finalists include:
• Student – Lauren King of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Hunter Martin of Illiopolis, Illinois; Demii Wright of Madison, Wisconsin
• Adult – Destiny Lopez of Waterbury, Connecticut; Trip Neil of Dallas, Texas; Thomas Withrow of Austin, Texas
• Advocacy – Meryl Evans of Plano, Texas; Sarah Klegman of Sherman Oaks, California; Paul Wichansky, PhD of Freehold, New Jersey
• Practitioner – Phallon Doss, AuD of Shertz, Texas; Kamal Elliot, AuD of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Ricardo Gauthier, AuD of Punta Gorda, Florida
“Over the course of more than two decades, the Oticon Focus on People Awards has honored more than 300 outstanding individuals making a difference in the hearing loss community,” said Nancy Palmere, Director of Consumer Marketing and Public Relations for Oticon, Inc. “From authors to athletes, to humanitarians and public speakers, this year’s 12 finalists are no different. They’re inspiring their communities and working hard to eliminate barriers and affect change for all people with hearing loss. Please join us in recognizing these role models by casting your vote today.”
Online voting for the Oticon Focus on People Awards is open through Dec. 17, 2021, and winners will be announced in February 2022. First place winners in each category will receive a donation to the charity of their choice, and winners in the Student, Adult, and Advocacy categories will receive a pair of new Oticon hearing aids. All finalists will receive a cash prize.
To learn more about the Oticon Focus on People Awards and to vote for your favorites, visit oticon.com/FOP.
Oticon, Inc. – Life-Changing Technology
Oticon is one of the world’s most innovative hearing device manufacturers, with more than 110 years’ experience in the design and development of hearing aids for adults and children. Our comprehensive portfolio of life-changing technology improves not only the quality of hearing but the overall quality of life for people with hearing loss. Oticon challenges conventions and pushes the limits of technology to bring to market hearing solutions that exceed the needs and expectations of people with hearing loss so that they can live their lives without limit. Our groundbreaking BrainHearing™ technology is helping to provide better hearing with less effort by giving the brain the clearest, purest sound signals to decode. For more information visit oticon.com.
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