The Makeba Orr Smith Scholarship
Some of the reason we do this has a name.
A scholarship that mentors and funds BIPOC interpreters on their way to national certification, and widens the door behind us, one interpreter at a time.
In her memory
Makeba Orr Smith.
Makeba was a nationally certified interpreter, a speech pathologist, and a child of a Deaf adult (CODA), and everyone in the field loved her bubbly spirit. She was passionate about helping more minority interpreters reach national certification, and just as driven to keep sharpening her own craft.
To honor her legacy, The SOS Agency created a scholarship in her name. Every recipient is one more step in the work she gave her life to.
The details
Exam funding + virtual mentoring.
Applications for the 2026 cycle open June 1, 2026 and close July 30, 2026.
- Who is this scholarship for?
- BIPOC interpreters who are not yet nationally certified.
- What does it cover?
- The fee for the NIC Performance Exam, plus virtual mentoring sessions with The SOS Agency, the kind of guidance that compounds.
- When are applications open?
- Applications open June 1, 2026 and close July 30, 2026. The recipient is announced shortly after the review window closes.
- What do I submit?
- An application plus two unrehearsed video samples, one ASL to English, one English to ASL, emailed to scholarship@thesosagency.com.
This is "Lift as you climb," made real.
A brand that doesn't just serve the community, it widens the door behind it, one certified interpreter at a time. It's the clearest proof that, for SOS, access is a responsibility, not a transaction.
Past recipients
Recognizing the interpreters carrying the work forward.
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2024
Dana Thompson
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2022
Monique Johnson
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2021
Dreu Davis
First recipient, passed national exam
Working toward your national certification?
If you're a BIPOC interpreter pursuing the NIC, we'd like to support you. Email your application below.