NBRC William W. Burgin, Jr. and Robert M. Lawrence Education Award

Scholarship Sponsored by American Respiratory Care Foundation

Overview
The American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF) together with the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) offers an annual award—up to $7,500—intended for students in their third or fourth year of an accredited respiratory therapy program that leads to a Baccalaureate degree. In addition to the cash award, the recipient will receive a certificate of recognition, coach-class airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for AARC Congress.

Eligibility
- Must be a third- or fourth-year student enrolled in an accredited Baccalaureate respiratory care program.
- Applicants must meet the academic and documentation requirements listed below.

Required application materials
1. Completed application form.
2. Official transcript showing a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
3. A letter from the director of admissions verifying current enrollment in an accredited Baccalaureate respiratory care program.
4. An original, referenced paper on a topic related to respiratory care. The paper must include a cover page that lists only the paper’s title. The manuscript itself must not contain any identifying information (for example, your name, address, or school) to prevent reviewer bias.
5. An original personal essay (minimum 1,200 words) explaining how this award will help you complete your degree and pursue leadership roles in health care. The essay must have a cover page with the author’s name, address, and phone number. The body of the essay must be free of any identifying information (name, address, school, etc.).
6. Two letters of recommendation:
- One from the program director or another senior faculty member, and
- One from the medical director or another physician instructor.
Each letter should: a) endorse the candidate’s paper, b) attest to the candidate’s suitability for the award, and c) speak to the candidate’s potential for a career in respiratory care.

Application process and deadlines
- Applications are accepted annually from Jan. 1 through June 1. The firm application deadline is June 1; materials received after that date will not be considered.
- Applications will only be reviewed if all required supporting documents have been submitted.

Specific attachments required online
- Undergraduate applicants must attach the original referenced paper (with title-only cover page and no identifying information in the manuscript).
- Applicants for the William W. Burgin/Robert Lawrence awards must also attach the personal essay (≥1,200 words) with author contact information on the cover page and no identifying information in the essay body.

Eligibility of previous recipients
- Former undergraduate award winners may apply again.
- Former postgraduate award recipients may be considered for a second and third year provided they remain in good standing in their advanced degree program and are judged by the Board of Trustees (or its designated selection committee) to be the most deserving candidate.

Manuscript preparation and essay guidance
I. Formatting
- Type all submissions.
- Double-space the text.
- Number every page.
- Proofread carefully for clarity, completeness, grammar, and spelling.

II. Content and style
- These essays are not research articles. Use them to present your accomplishments, clarify your short- and long-term goals, and explain how those goals connect to health care and to the field of respiratory care specifically.
- Be concise and avoid padding. Aim for clear, precise language that highlights positive experiences and concrete objectives—judges look for well-defined personal and professional targets.
- Have others review your manuscript critically to improve content, grammar, and flow.

Notes
- The ARCF Education Recognition Awards include categories such as All Postgraduate, William W. Burgin, and Robert M. Lawrence; follow the above submission guidelines unless directed otherwise for a specific category.