On Thursday, September 8th, four students in the graduate Speech-Language Pathology program at Appalachian spoke at the annual Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation meeting in Boone. The Scottish Rite provides financial support to the Charles and Geneva Scott Scottish Rite Communication Disorders Clinic, provides academic scholarships for graduate students in the Speech-Language Pathology program, and supports reduced-fee services for some of the clinic’s pediatric clients.
Alana Bradley, a first year graduate student from Charlotte, NC, told the audience that she decided to attend Appalachian State University because the staff made her feel comfortable. Alana’s current clinical placement is at the Charles and Geneva Scott Scottish Rite Communication Disorders Clinic, where she works in the Preschool Language Classroom with clients three to five years old.
Kara Nickol, a first year graduate student from St. Petersburg, FL, told the group that she chose the program at App State because it is one of the few programs that allows students to begin their clinical practica in the first semester of training, and because she understands how important it is for an individual to have the ability to communicate. Like Alana, she is currently completing a clinical placement in the Preschool Language Classroom. Kara described her experiences doing traditional “pull-out” (individual) therapy as well as “push-in” therapy where children have the opportunity to receive play-based therapy along with peers. She noted that she has already witnessed children making great progress in their speech and language abilities!
Daniel Pittman, a second year graduate student from Roanoke Rapids, NC, completed his undergraduate degree at Appalachian State University and enjoyed it so much that he decided to stay at Appalachian for his graduate degree. He has worked with clients as young as 1 year old to adults in their late 80s, in clinical placements at an elementary school, pediatric private practice, the Preschool Language Classroom at the Charles and Geneva Scott Scottish Rite Communication Disorders Clinic, and adult outpatient rehab facility. He noted that when people think about Speech-Language Pathology, they usually think about teaching children how to talk, but emphasized that the field is much broader than that.
Caroline Williams, a second year graduate student from Hickory, NC, was the recipient of the Hillery H. Rink Jr. Scottish Rite Graduate Scholarship for Speech-Language Pathology. She told the group that she chose the SLP program at Appalachian State University because she wanted to make a positive change for children with HIN. Before her time in graduate school, she assisted telehealth sessions during COVID-19 at the Scottish Rite Communications Disorders Clinic, where she was able to see therapeutic interventions through a new lens. She stated that because of the scholarship, she is able to pursue her goal as a clinician working with Deaf/HoH children, and to take some aspects of training back to therapeutic horsemanship lessons.
