The UW-Stevens Point School of Communication Sciences and Disorders honored students and alumni at its 2020 Awards Reception Sunday, May 3 in a video celebration. [Photo Gallery]
A School Tradition:
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders developed the tradition of giving student and alumni awards in 1967 and expanded that tradition significantly in 1982. Members of the school view the awards program as a way of giving special recognition to the best of the best. Outstanding students and alumni are award recipients. Plaques, which are associated with the awards described in this brochure, are proudly displayed in the lobby of the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic. The accomplishments of the recipients of these awards attest to the high quality of our communication sciences and disorders program. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to maintaining high standards that promote excellence.
Dean’s Awards Outstanding Students
Sophomore: Zachary Kozlowski
Junior: Emily Kopperud
Senior: Shannon Kruzicki
SLP Graduate Student: Kaitlyn Schetter
Au.D. Graduate Student: Amanda Cegelske
The criteria for these awards include academic excellence, potential as an outstanding clinician, enthusiasm for communicative disorders, outstanding interpersonal skills, and involvement in service and volunteer programs. Nominations are made by graduate and undergraduate students. The recipients are given a certificate presented by the dean of the College of Professional Studies and a monetary gift from the Communication Disorders Friends and Alumni Fund and Communication Disorders Excellence Fund.
Helen Franke Scheidt Outstanding Junior Student
Recipient: Blake Voss
This award is given to an undergraduate in the junior year who exemplifies the potential for graduate work through his/her service, scholarship and leadership.
John Joanis Outstanding Senior Student
Recipient: Shannon Kruzicki
This award is given to undergraduates in the senior year who demonstrate excellence in all aspects of the program. A certificate and a monetary gift from the John Joanis Endowment are presented.
Florence Donermeyer Award
Recipient: Keri Squires
This scholarship is presented to a senior in the major who demonstrates academic excellence and will be entering the graduate program in communication sciences and disorders at UW-Stevens Point. This year we have two recipients.
Outstanding Speech/Language Pathology Graduate Student
Recipient: Alyssa Warren
This is a faculty-nominated award. It is given to a graduate student in the speech-language pathology graduate program who exhibits excellence in the classroom and clinic and provides service to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders. A certificate and monetary award from the Communication Disorders Alumni Fund and Communication Disorders Excellence Fund are presented.
Outstanding Audiology Graduate Student
Recipient: Olivia Riemer
This is a faculty-nominated award. It is given to a graduate
student in the audiology graduate program who exhibits excellence in the
classroom and clinic and provides service to the School of
Communication Sciences and Disorders. A certificate and monetary award
from the Communication Disorders Alumni Fund and Communication Disorders
Excellence Fund are presented.
Liz Enos Memorial Award
Recipient: Jordan Armstrong
This scholarship is for a student who exemplifies courage, independence, academic excellence, contributions, loyalty to the program, and warmth.
Nash Family Communicative Disorders Scholarship
Recipient: Makenze Wagner
This scholarship is presented to a first-year graduate student in speech and language who intends to work in a medical setting.
Donald Aylesworth-Pauline Isaacson Non-Traditional Award in Communicative Disorders
Recipient: Karin Alvarez
This scholarship is awarded to a person who, after having delayed or interrupted education for a period of time, is enrolled to pursue professional preparation in communicative disorders and who demonstrates maturity, a positive attitude, and commitment to the field.
Outstanding Alumnus
Recipient: Jim Mcmahon
This award is given to UW-Stevens Point alumni who have been outstanding speech/language or audiology practitioners in the field.
Outstanding Practitioner
Recipient: Jamie Cronce
This award is given to professionals for excellence in program development, service to the school, supervision, publication, research and service to the profession.
Friends of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Recipient: Roger and Patti Molski
This award is given to individuals who have provided considerable support to the communication sciences and disorders program at UW-Stevens Point
Johnson Family Speech-Language Pathology School Award
Recipient: Taylor Michels
The speech and language pathology graduate student receiving this award will have demonstrated a professional commitment to working in the schools by declaring this option and externing in a school setting. In addition, the student will have demonstrated scholarship, clinical flexibility, creativity and insight, a keen sense of humor, and a genuine liking of children and their caregivers.
St. Michael’s Hospital Scholarship
Recipient: Kayla Kopacz
This award is for a graduate student in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders with the intent of working in a medical setting. This award is based on academic achievement, performance in clinical practicum, contributions to the university, school or department, involvement with student or professional organizations and community activities, as well as work experience.
Lisa Heise Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Kayla Kopacz
This award is intended for a first- or second-year graduate student, who is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. The awardee must have financial need and be planning to work with elderly patients in a long-term care facility.
Avada Audiology and Hearing Care Scholarship
Recipient: Reba Hauser
This scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to a first year audiology graduate student at UW-Stevens Point who demonstrates above average academic achievement, superior leadership skills, and declares an intention to dispense hearing instruments as part of the rehabilitative process.
Cook-Chappell Scholarship
Recipient: Jessica Presley
This award is for a fourth-year Au.D. student based on academic achievement, clinical expertise and performance, and a “pleasing,” interactive personality.
Gary Glascoe Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Kaitlyn Weiland
This scholarship is for an Au.D. student who demonstrates exceptional skills in patient interaction and professionalism (e.g., good oral and written communication skills; effective and appropriate interpersonal skills; skills evidenced with patients, peers, faculty, staff, supervisors, and other professionals).
Danielle Gorectke Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Brittany Erickson
This scholarship is presented to an undergraduate who has been accepted into the upper division classes of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders with the intent to work with children. Danielle Gorectke was an outgoing 23-year-old woman from Minocqua, Wis. She was an undergraduate student at UW-Stevens Point completing her degree in communicative disorders. Danielle loved children and especially loved working and helping those with learning disabilities. Danielle’s dream was to complete her speech-language pathology degree at UWSP and become a speech-language pathologist, but her life was tragically cut short. It is the hope of the Gorectke family that this scholarship will help another student reach his/her dream of becoming a speech-language pathologist.
Al and Jan Noel Scholarship
Recipient: Reba Hauser
This scholarship is awarded to a deserving student enrolled in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders who has demonstrated a financial need and who is at the senior level or first-year graduate student level. Scholarship recipients possess the kind of attitude and overall potential to do well in this field.
Terri Witt Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Jordan Stefanik
This scholarship is given to an undergraduate or graduate student in the major with financial need who has a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of students.
Tufts Graduate Student Scholarship
Recipients: Olivia Riemer and Dayna Schneider
The Tufts Graduate Student Scholarship is intended to provide assistance to students during their extern semester. The scholarship is intended to defray the additional costs of accepting externship assignments.
Lenice Christine Merrill Eskritt Memorial Scholarship
Recipient: Melanie Smith
This scholarship is awarded to the non-traditionalstudent with family or other obligations that prevented the student from attending UWSP in a pattern typical of most students.