May 2020 communication sciences and disorders graduate spotlights
04 May 2020
Eleven communication sciences and disorders graduates – Joelly Anderson, Rachel Beeney, Wesley Deuel, Brooke Doyle, Samantha Dziuk, Maddy Felix, Courtney Kment, Brenna Schulte, Clair Trenhaile, Mallory Tvrdy and Lizzie Waters – share Q-and-As ahead of the May 9, 2020, commencement ceremony.
Joelly Anderson
Lexington, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I’ve always known I wanted to go to UNL. I grew up coming to campus a lot for game days and different school field trips and I always got a sense that I belonged here. I also have a lot of family members who are UNL alumni and they’ve always spoken highly of their college experiences. I came into college undecided on a major and the variety of options for majors at UNL was very appealing to me as well.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
When I went to UNL Career Services my first semester of college they helped me identify careers that would fit my goals, personality and interests. Throughout this process communication sciences and disorders stuck out to me. I needed speech therapy when I was younger so I had a personal connection to it and once I looked into it further I knew it was the right path for me. Having personally experienced the frustration and patience it takes to make progress on speech will make it easier to relate with my clients in the future. I’m excited to take this personal experience and my new-found passion for this career field to help others communicate better as well.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to stay at UNL to pursue my master’s degree in speech-language pathology!
Rachel Beeney
Mitchell, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL was the variety of majors it had to offer. At the time, I wasn’t set on a specific major and knew that UNL would help guide me to a career field that I would be passionate about. The positive environment on campus and small community feel were also significant factors.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
After exploring both teaching and medicine, I knew I liked aspects of both fields, but they were not a perfect fit for me. Initially, I was very interested in occupational therapy. When I spoke to my advisor, she told me UNL didn’t offer an occupational therapy academic track, but I could adapt a speech language pathology track with other pre-requisites if I wanted to apply to an OT program after graduation. After I took my first speech-language pathology introductory course, I was hooked and knew this is the field of study I was meant to pursue.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be pursuing a Master of Science in speech-language pathology here at the University of Nebraska. I will be a part of the Mid-Plains Professional Upgrade Partnership - Interdisciplinary Preparation in Deaf Education and Speech-Language Pathology (MPUP-IP) and I am very excited for the training and coursework to begin in June.
Wesley Deuel
St. Paul, Minnesota | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education Studies minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
Being from Minnesota, I have always had a love for the Midwest. However, I knew that what I needed moving forward was to leave my hometown and plant my roots somewhere else. I love being from the Twin Cities, yet, I needed something new. I was lucky in knowing that I wanted to pursue the path of becoming a speech pathologist, making my search for a great program that much easier. I found UNL and everything had to offer so I looked into it. When I visited my senior year of high school I fell in love. Lincoln felt like the city that I fell in love with, while also feeling small enough where I could really make a difference in the spaces I chose to occupy. I felt like the people here actually wanted to hear what I had to say, so I took that in stride.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I have always wanted to be an educator. I knew that I loved sharing the things I was passionate about with others, and I knew that I wanted to learn from other people too. I almost entered my college search with the understanding of going into English education, maybe in another life, but in this one I found the field of communication sciences and disorders. I value my voice, and I value the voices of others, so a field in which I could pair that love of education with that love of using my voice and telling my story felt like a no-brainer. Every voice matters, and every story deserves to be heard; this field taught me that.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am super excited to be able to continue my journey to becoming a speech pathologist here at UNL! I look forward to learning so much more about a field that I love so dearly, and really come into myself as a speech pathologist. Here is to a few more years as a Husker!
Brooke Doyle
Imogene, Iowa | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education, Humanities in Medicine minors)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I loved all the opportunities around Lincoln for future shadowing, observations, and externships. There were very attractive things on campus and the atmosphere in Lincoln went unmatched. I wanted to earn my education in a city like Lincoln with a hometown feel to it. Another benefit was being a part of a Big Ten school with a team like the Huskers for our football program. I was raised a Husker fan and have always loved the traditions Nebraska has shown.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I shadowed a speech-language pathologist back home for a high school senior class requirement and after that day I knew I had to get into this field. I was amazed, inspired, and could easily see myself performing the roles the SLP was doing throughout her sessions. I haven’t looked back since that day. I loved that UNL started me in classes related to this field right away. Having these classes each semester fortified my ambition for this field.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plant to stay right here in Lincoln to be part of the master’s program at UNL to become a speech-language pathologist! I am open to what I discover in my interest for specialty after grad school, whether that be adults or children based. I am very excited for more schooling toward earning my degree and certification.
Samantha Dziuk
Waunakee, Wisconsin | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education and Child, Youth, and Family Studies minors)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL was the research opportunities that were available to me as an undergraduate student. I had the pleasure of working in Dr. Marc Goodrich’s Bilingual Early Language and Literacy Lab and Dr. Cynthia Cress’s Infant Communication Lab. Both of these experiences were tremendously rewarding for me.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I was certain I wanted to study communication sciences and disorders when I discovered how boundless the field was. I considered studying to be an English as a second language teacher amidst my undergraduate career, but stuck with communication sciences and disorders because it encompassed what I was interested in (language and culture), plus an abundance of other subjects that grew to excite me.
What are your plans after graduation?
After I graduate, I will be pursing my master’s in speech-language pathology at the University of South Carolina. I am hoping to get more research experiences here, particularly in a lab whose main focus is on improving language and reading assessments for young children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Maddy Felix
Lincoln, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education, Psychology, International Studies minors)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I was looking for a program with a well-rounded, research-based curriculum. After looking at other schools, I couldn't pass up UNL's incredible faculty and program curriculum.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I knew I wanted to study communication sciences and disorders in high school after shadowing a school-based SLP. I immediately fell in love with the profession.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to stay in Lincoln and begin my master's in June as a part of the MPUP-IP program. Go Big Red!
Courtney Kment
Fremont, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
When I was deciding on where to go to college, I was looking for a school with a quality education that was close to home. Now that my graduation is quickly approaching, I am very happy with my decision on attending UNL. I have had the opportunity to learn from outstanding faculty members along with many learning opportunities that have prepared me for the professional world.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I became interested in the field of communication sciences & disorders early on in my undergraduate career. As I began taking entry level courses, I quickly realized how interested I was in audiology. I was drawn to this career field because of my interest in science and passion for helping others. I'm excited to continue working toward becoming an audiologist and to be a part of such a rewarding profession.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will begin the doctorate of audiology program here at the UNL in the fall!
Brenna Schulte
Auburn, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I knew I wanted to attend a larger campus but was drawn toward all the opportunities UNL gave to form community and relationships. The school pride is also second to none, there really is no place like Nebraska!
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
My sophomore year at UNL I began job shadowing various speech pathologists and fell in love with the opportunity to serve clients with vastly different backgrounds in a variety of diverse settings. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of some of the settings as well as the chance to build long term relationships with clients in other settings. I’m excited to continue exploring all the different settings!
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas to earn my master’s in communication disorders, continuing my journey of becoming a speech language pathologist!
Clair Trenhaile
Bloomfield, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education Studies minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I visited UNL the summer before my senior year of high school. There were so many opportunities for networking and growth within the College of Education and Human Sciences, and I immediately could picture myself as a Husker. After my tour was over, I told my mom that I didn’t need to tour anywhere else; I’d found my home for the next four years.
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
I was a junior in high school. I had previously considered pursuing occupational therapy, but I was drawn to speech-language pathology after exploring topics such as literacy and articulation. So many people said I would change my major, but the past four years have only strengthened my passion for the field.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be starting my master’s degree in June here at UNL as part of the Mid-Plains Professional Upgrade Partnership cohort. I’m thrilled to have this collaborative opportunity and to be able to build on the incredible experience I’ve had here in Lincoln thus far.
Mallory Tvrdy
Beatrice, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education Studies minor)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend UNL?
UNL has a fantastic Communication Sciences and Disorder program, and what Nebraskan doesn't want to be a Husker?!
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
During my senior year of high school my dad suffered from a stroke. I was really intrigued by all three therapy services he was receiving (OT, PT, and Speech). It wasn't until my sophomore year of college that I took action and pursued a degree in speech-language pathology.
What are your plans after graduation?
In the Fall of 2020, I will be attending Kansas State University to pursue my master's in speech-language pathology.
Lizzie Waters
Grand Island, Nebraska | Communication Sciences & Disorders (Education Studies, Spanish minors)
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
Besides the fact that I am a huge Husker football fan, I knew that UNL would cultivate not only my academics but also my personal growth. I am proud of the fact that I come from a family of UNL graduates, in fact, my great-grandfather graduated from pharmacy school at UNL in the 1920s. Almost 100 years later I will become a fourth-generation graduate on May 9, 2020. GBR!
When did you know you wanted to study communication sciences & disorders?
Growing up in a community with a large Spanish-speaking population, I developed a profound ambition for learning another language. Since then, I have been committed to learning Spanish, but, there was always a part of me that wondered how I could make an impact on communication beyond just speaking another language. With this in mind, I became curious about the field of speech pathology. I began to realize how these two interests would enhance one another by having a compound influence on others. My decision to study communication sciences & disorders was solidified my freshman year during an introduction to communication disorders class.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will attend graduate school at the University of Texas-Dallas to obtain a Master of Science in Communication Disorders with the ultimate goal of becoming a bilingual SLP.
Special Education and Communication Disorders