Three Graduate Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders Awarded with Recognition for the Program

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The 2023 honored graduate students are, from left, Sutton Bauman receiving the Emerging Excellence Award, Katie Motherwell for the Outstanding Clinician Award, and Charles "Ash" Totten with the Outstanding Student Award.

Each spring, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program faculty recognize three of the program's exceptional graduate students. The three awards represent three separate achievements.

Emerging Excellence

One award recognizes a first-year graduate student who demonstrates "Emerging Excellence" as a future speech-language pathologist. This recognition was awarded to Sutton Bauman. Bauman consistently receives positive feedback from her academic instructors and off-campus clinical supervisors. She is already having a positive impact in the field.

Bauman's current clinical supervisor commented, "Sutton has done a great job exceeding expectations for a first-year graduate student. There are many things that make a great therapist, but some come more naturally and cannot be taught. Sutton exhibits those gifts in her sessions. Establishing rapport is key, and Sutton does a great job with that. She takes the student/client's personal interests and finds activities tied to those interests. She shows great initiative and organization."

Outstanding Clinician

Another award recognizes a second-year graduate student who has demonstrated themselves to be an "Outstanding Clinician" during their time in the program. This recognition was awarded to Katie Motherwell.

"Katie has been an outstanding student this semester. She demonstrates a strong commitment to excellence and willingness to learn in a challenging placement! Katie readily accepts feedback with a positive attitude and immediately implements it into her next session. She is also great at establishing rapport with both the patients and caregivers! Katie exudes professionalism, from her dress to her communication with other professionals and caregivers. She has been a joy to coach and we look forward to seeing what she will do next!" commented her current clinical supervisor.

Outstanding Student

The final award recognizes a second-year graduate student who has proven to be an "Outstanding Student" in the classroom and in clinical practice. This is the highest accolade provided by the CDIS program. This recognition was awarded to Charles "Ash" Totten.

Totten's current clinical supervisor commented, "Mr. Ash was a behavior specialist when I met him. I observed him to be playful, extremely patient and a natural born teacher to his students. I recognized something special in him...so much so that I encouraged him to think about speech pathology. I am so glad I did! As my student clinician, Mr. Ash's reputation preceded him...every supervisor I chatted with said he's the absolute best — and he really is. Mr. Ash is exceptional in client care. He is extremely innovative in his therapy and finds unique techniques to engage the students. He has the patience of a saint and is also nurturing and seeks to see the best in his clients. Mr. Ash is always a professional and conducts himself in a manner that inspires those around him — coworkers as well as clients. I'm so excited to see what Mr. Ash does with his career; our profession will gain greatly from those clients whom he treats, due to the positive connections he makes."