GETTING ADVICE FROM THE GRADS Communication Sciences and Disorder graduate students provide informational panel to undergraduates While many majors with a bachelor's degree led directly to employment, this was not the case for communication sciences and disorders majors. The undergraduate program served as a prerequisite to a graduate program, and for this reason, all the CSD students were strongly advised to join Harding University Student Speech and Hearing Association, which began in 1953. "We have to get in a grad school, and then we have to be prepared from that to going into a huge career field," HUSSHA president senior Ashley Russell said. "For me, HUSSHA is about making sure that students know everything they can do to better the chance of getting into a grad school, so that they don't get [lost] in a second semester of [their] junior year and then realize they didn't do anything they were supposed to do [in their] freshman and sophomore years." HUSSHA undergraduate students hosted a panel Sept. 13, with speech pathology graduate students. The graduate students informed HUSSHAstudents about Harding's CSD graduate program and answered KVHU Est. 2006: Row 1: C. Morrison, V. Janelle, T. Grey, A. Mare, M. Jones, M. Chaffin. Row 2: P. Morrow, J. Duren, J. Norwood, J. Cronin, D. Hoggatt (sponsor), L. Tindell. Row 3: P. Meredith, M. Dobson, J. Graham. 234 1 Organizations questions about the application process, requirements for graduate school, clients and clinics. HUSSHA secretary senior Abby Picker believed the panel helped students get excited for graduate school. 'We were able to get the nit picky questions answered by not only the faculty, but also by the people who have been through it," Picker said. "It's really great to be able to see people [who] have done it and [to have them say], 'You can make it through.' Yes, it's scary, but it's doable. It was a big encouragement." The association met every other week to discuss upcoming service projects and fund raisers and to share ideas for therapy and clinical sessions as well as information for graduate school. According to Picker, when the younger students began their clinical work and therapy sessions, they could go to the upper-level CSD students for advice. Russell also said that HUSSHA bridged the gap between the seniors and freshmen. Meetings gave the new students a chance to meet upper-level CSD majors, an opportunity for leadership and connections with faculty TV16 Est. 1983: Row 1: J. Little, D. Casella, Y Liu, T. Grey, K. Czerwonka, A. Mare, V. Janelle, D. Davenport. Row 2: G. Blackstone (sponsor), M. Chaffin, G. Lewis, N. Smith, M. Mare, B. Burcham. Row 3: M. Dobson, M. Jones, J. Duren, C. Morrison, J. Cronin. Row 4: J. Norwood, L. Tindell, P. Meredith, D. Hoggatt, B. Petree. members who were "wells of information," according to Russell. "The students and the faculty have a huge impact on me," Russell said. "The faculty is very involved in HUSSHA. I know that they're supporting me, just like I'm supporting them." Picker said the faculty was a source of her confidence. Because she had professors and teachers she could talk to, she was able to overcome a fear of clinical experiences and therapy sessions. "I think what encourages me to keep going is that [the faculty] helps me to recognize how you can incorporate your God-given talents into your career," Picker said. Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders Dr. Melanie Lowry said a big part of the process of the students getting into a graduate school was their professors writing them letters of recommendation. "We want to do this for [them]," Lowry said. "We want [them] to get into graduate schools. I love it when a student comes up and says, 'I got into graduate school."' Chanhee Song Debate Team Est. 1924: Row 1: E. Grant, B. Holt. Row 2: P. Garner (sponsor), K. Graham, J. Baker.
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