The Hearing Loss Association of America - Chester County Chapter has announced the award of the seventh annual Mortimer Bauer Memorial Scholarship to Jimmy Scherer, who is graduating from West Chester East High School. The scholarship seeks to encourage postsecondary education among the high school population with hearing loss. Scherer was chosen for his award-winning essay and a life spent learning how to speak up for himself and advocating for people with hearing loss. He received the award and certificate during an award ceremony and ice cream social on June 8 at Christ Community Church in West Chester.

Scherer was born with sensorineural hearing loss in both of ears but has a passion for music. Through listening to and playing music, he has been able to develop his hearing abilities so he can determine pitches, the key of a piece, chord progressions, and rhythms by ear, and he is able to play from memory. He noted the importance of his teachers and mentors Tim Celfo, Genevieve Kline, and Chris Orlando in his music journey so far.

Scherer plans to attend Duquesne University in the fall to study music technology with a focus on the cello. His goal is to work as a music producer and composer for a media or game company.

HLAA is a consumer advocacy organization for people with hearing loss and provides information, education, support, and advocacy to enable those with hearing loss to live full and productive lives. For more information about the HLAA - Chester County Chapter, visit http://www.hearinglosschesco.com or http://www.facebook.com/hearinglosschesco/ or email hlaachesco@gmail.com.