Scholarships
AATH offers opportunities to apply for scholarship funding to help cover some of the registration fees to attend the AATH Annual Humor Conference and/or to participate in the AATH Humor Academy. Each Scholarship has specific guidelines, so please review carefully.
You may apply for up to three scholarships but, if chosen, may only receive one award. You must apply for each scholarship individually. While preference is given to AATH members, many non-members have successfully applied and have been awarded scholarships.
For scholarship questions, contact the AATH Office at 888-747-2284 or [email protected]
2022 Scholarship Application deadline is November 15, 2021.
2022 Scholarships Available - 
NEW FOR 2022: BE KIND SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship Eligibility: The Be Kind Scholarship is for someone who plans to use humor to bring more kindness to the world.
This scholarship is for one conference registration and one Humor Academy registration.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing why they would like to learn more about the use of humor and how they plan to
increase kindness in the world.
THE DAVE FAMILY "HUMOR STUDIES" SCHOLARSHIP
The Dave Family "Humor Studies" Scholarship was created by past AATH president Lenny Dave and family to help cultivate the next generation of AATH members.
Scholarship Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a college student (undergraduate or graduate level) pursuing humor and laughter studies with the intention of entering the field of applied or therapeutic humor. Priority is given to applicants entering colleges and universities in the United States.
This scholarship is for conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) answering the following questions:
- How do you plan to apply your Humor/Laughter education in the field after college?
- Why do you feel you are most deserving of this conference scholarship?
- How has humor/laughter helped you in a difficult situation?
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2013 - Siobhan Kavanah
- 2012 - Sarah Auerbach
- 2011 - Beza Merid
- 2010 - Edward Singer
- 2009 - Vera Stalker
- 2008 - Barbara Miller
- 2007 - Zach Warren
COVEY HEALTHY HUMOR IN MEDICINE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship was created by Dwayna Covey, M. Ed., founder of New Season Coaching.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Covey Healthy Humor in Medicine scholarship is for a medical professional, resident/fellow, medical student, nurse, or associate provider who would like to learn more about the benefits and use of therapeutic humor in health care.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing why they would like to learn more about the use of therapeutic humor in the medical field.
PAST RECIPIENT:
ED DUNKELBLAU SCHOLARSHIP
 In Honor Of: Ed Dunkelblau, AATH past conference chair. It was created by AATH membership to honor his work, dedication, commitment, and contribution to AATH and the field of therapeutic humor.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Ed Dunkelblau Scholarship is awarded to a practitioner of color, or researcher, interested in the cultural or scientific applications of therapeutic humor.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) demonstrating your interest in therapeutic humor, documenting your work in the field of therapeutic humor, and expressing your awareness of the mission of AATH.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2019 - Rick Bell
- 2018 - Frank Chindamo
- 2016 - Debra Norwood
- 2015 - Sara Cort
- 2012 - Maia Aziz
- 2010 - Mary McCabe
- 2007 - Rev. Gordon W. Marchant
- 2005 - Michael J. Fletcher & Dorothea Keeling, M.Ed.
ESTHER & JACK HYATT "SENIOR CARE" SCHOLARSHIP
In Honor Of: The Esther and Jack Hyatt “Senior Care” scholarship is given in honor and memory of Esther Hyatt, a devoted AATH member, who demonstrated good humor, grace, verve, and a spirit of determination in the face of life's many challenges.
Scholarship Eligibility: This scholarship is for either
a) an "Active Senior" who seeks to revitalize, reinvigorate and re-energize with humor and laughter.
b) a Senior Caregiver (family member/volunteer or a professional) who is coping with the challenges associated with providing such care.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants are to submit responses (up to 250 words per question) to the following:
For the Active Senior applicant:
How does humor play a critical role in your daily life, as it relates to improving the world immediately around you?
For the Senior Caregiver applicant:
Give at least 2 examples of how your "shared use of humor" has helped both you and the senior(s) for whom you provide regular care.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2019 - Bronwyn Roberts
- 2018 - Sindy Hild
- 2017 - Noel Cairney
JOYCE SALTMAN HUMOR IN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
 Scholarship Eligibility: The Joyce Saltman Humor In Education scholarship is awarded to an educator who believes in the importance of using humor in education.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) explaining why using humor is an important component of education, and describing how they have used and/or plan to use humor in teaching children and/or adults.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2018 - David Mann
- 2017 - Whitney Grant
- 2016 - Kristie Cervantes
- 2014 - Beth Slazak
KNOX FAMILY HUMOR FOR PEACE SCHOLARSHIP
Created by AATH past president Jill Knox and her family.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Knox Family Humor for Peace scholarship is awarded to an individual who is involved in the practice of humor in order to promote peace, either locally or globally.
The scholarship is for one conference registration and one Humor Academy registration.
Applicants will submit an essay (250 words or less) answering the following questions:
- How do you, personally, define the words humor and peace?
- How can the concepts of humor and peace be aligned in order to create a better world?
- How are you presently using humor in order to promote peace? How might you apply humor and peace for future use?
- How might attending the AATH conference be beneficial to your practice of peace?
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2019 - Emily Vance
- 2018 - Colleen Cook
- 2017 - Bronwyn Roberts
- 2016 - Guy Giard
- 2015 - Helen Stuckey Weaver
- 2014 - Debra Norwood
PATTY WOOTEN SCHOLARSHIP
 In Loving Memory of Patty Wooten, AATH past conference chair. It was created by AATH members to honor her work, dedication, commitment, and contribution to AATH and the field of therapeutic humor.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Patty Wooten Scholarship is awarded to a nurse who is currently involved in creating humor interventions that are being used in a therapeutic manner for patients, family, and/or staff. Applicants must be a nurse- R.N., L.P.N., L.V.N., or C.N.A.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing how you perceive humor to be therapeutic and how your work, program, or intervention efforts have benefited patients, family, or staff.
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2019 - Ellen Klein
- 2018 - Claudette Webb
- 2017 - Tabatha Mauldin
- 2016 - Vera Dujmic
- 2015 - Debbie Derflinger
- 2014 - Amil Kusain Tan Jr.
- 2013 - Michael Terry
- 2012 - Patricia Jannell-Pacheco
- 2011 - Sidonie Salmon
- 2010 - Lori Breitmaier
- 2009 - Amy Verble
- 2009 - Tami Vallarano
- 2008 - Judith (Judy) Oliverio
- 2007 - Helen Stucky Weaver
- 2006 - Marie Bethke
- 2005 - Naomi Blundell & Deb Gauldin
STEVE WILSON CERTIFIED LAUGHTER LEADER SCHOLARSHIP
 In Honor Of: Steve Wilson, senior core professional and devoted AATH member, psychologist and self-proclaimed “Joyologist,” 1998 founder of the Would laughter Tour.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Steve Wilson Certified Laughter Leader scholarship is for any current Certified Laughter Leader (CLL), CLL-E, or CLL Trailblazer who wants to add value to their own CLL practice, and further their education and application of therapeutic laughter and humor. This scholarship can add to the World Laughter Tour Grand Vision: Together we can lead the world to health, happiness, and peace through laughter. The scholarship recipient should be willing to write a summary of AATH conference keynotes and breakout sessions attended at the conclusion of the conference.
This scholarship is for conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing how you are currently using Certified Laughter Leader Guiding Principles in your life and in application: Service, Spirituality, Community, Accuracy (about science and studies), and Value.
PAST RECIPIENT:
TEEN ANGEL SCHOLARSHIP
 In Honor Of: This scholarship is given in honor of Gay Ruble Bowen, mother of AATH president Jennifer Keith, who raised her girls with this motto: "We may not have much money, but we will laugh a lot." In fact, she and her three daughters developed a pantomime routine to the one-hit-wonder Mark Dinning's 1959 ballad "Teen Angel" which reminded them to find the funny in a situation.
Scholarship Eligibility: The Teen Angel scholarship will be awarded to a professional who is currently working with teens (middle or high school or college level) in a teaching, counseling or mentoring capacity and wants more tools to bring back to use with those young people.
This scholarship is for one conference registration only.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing how you are currently using humor to work with teens and how you will use the information found in the AATH conference to further your work.
THE WILLIAM (BILL) FRY HUMOR ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP
 In Honor Of: Dr. William (Bill) Fry, devoted AATH member, humor researcher renowned for his generosity and approachability. Bill Fry constantly sought ways to make himself available to new researchers, enthusiasts, and all friends of humor. Before email, he sent articles he wrote by U.S. Mail, without any commercials or expectation of being paid for sharing his expertise. He also approached the exploration of humor as also a form of play, so the humor wasn't lost in the science.
The scholarship is for one conference registration and one Humor Academy registration.
Scholarship Eligibility: The William (Bill) Fry Humor Academy scholarship is for a Humor Academy member interested in pursuing research in the science of humor.
Applicants will submit an essay (up to 250 words) describing how you:
- Demonstrate generosity in support of colleagues
- Write and publish
- Show wit and curiosity
- Respect science
- Think globally
- Be charming
- Be approachable
- Share generously without self-promotion or commercialization
PAST RECIPIENTS:
- 2018 - Linnea Heintz
- 2017 - Frank Chindamo
- 2016 - Penny Willmering
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Disclaimer for ALL Scholarships:
If in the opinion of the scholarship committee, there are no suitable entries for a particular scholarship, that scholarship may not be awarded. Scholarships are awarded for the specified conference year only and cannot be carried forward to future conferences. Submitted essay responses should not exceed 250 words unless otherwise directed.
For the 2022 Conference, applications must be received by November 15, 2021.
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