Celebrating Excellence

Each year, the Speech and Hearing Sciences faculty recognize students from the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs for their outstanding achievements during their time in our Department. Students are selected for their excellence not only in academics, but in their commitment to improving the lives of people with communication disorders.

Siva Undergraduate Achievement Award

The Siva award is presented each year to a graduating senior in Speech and Hearing Sciences, who has been accepted into one of our department’s graduate programs. This award was established in 1995 by the Siva family in honor of their daughter, Nithya, in order to help support and promote advanced study in the discipline of Speech and Hearing Sciences. Nithya Siva was an exceptional Undergraduate and Graduate student in our Department, who has become a highly respected teacher, clinician, and professional colleague in the community.

Past Recipients

Katy Straalsund Endowed Memorial Scholarship

This award and is presented to a graduating student who will be attending a Master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology with a specific interest in advocacy, assessment and treatment of traumatic brain injury and other neurogenic communication disorders.The Katy Straalsund Endowed Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship created by the Straalsund family in honor of their daughter and former speech and hearing sciences major, Katy Straalsund. Katy was the victim of domestic violence during her senior year at UW and was tragically killed in March 2016 secondary to a traumatic brain injury. Brain injury is a very real and serious consequence of domestic violence and this scholarship is intended to continue this dialogue and give a voice to Katy and others affected. The award is bestowed on a graduating senior in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences who is interested in advocacy, assessment, and treatment of traumatic brain injury and working with individuals with neurogenic communication disorders. Each awardee is selected based on their outstanding academic achievements as well as their well-articulated interests, experience and commitment to traumatic brain injury and advancing our therapeutic role with this important population.

Past Recipients

Carrell-Miner Clinical Achievement Award

The recipient of this award is selected not only for their strong academic performance and demonstrated excellence in clinical practice, but for their potential to make significant contributions to our profession as they embark on their new career as a clinician. This award was originally established in 1986 in tribute to two important faculty members in the life of our Department: Dr. James Carrell and Dr. Ada Miner. Dr. Carrell began his career at the UW in 1939 and for 35 years, he helped develop and inspire the clinical and research programs that ultimately formed our department in 1975. Dr. Miner joined the faculty in 1955 where she took charge of our Department’s clinical education program. She has been described as passionate, demanding the very highest level of commitment and performance from our students.

Past Recipients

SPHSC Social Justice Award

Established and funded by the first non-White chair of this department, this award honors a faculty / staff / student who has shown exemplary leadership in bringing SPHSC towards social justice.

Past Recipients