Scholarships in Communication Disorders and Sciences 2020

Scholar: Anna Beatriz Guerrero

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Communicative Disorders

About Scholarship Recipient: Anna is an international student from the Philippines, born and raised in Manila. Her undergraduate degree is in speech pathology from the University of the Philippines – Manila, where she worked for a couple years as a pediatric speech language pathologist before pursuing graduate school in the United States. She is currently living in the San Gabriel Valley, where she has found plenty of good Asian food, that brings her comfort whenever she misses home. Receiving this scholarship has been an honor for Anna and she is grateful for the financial support. Most importantly, she is glad that her previous work as a speech language pathologist in her home country has been recognized. Anna thanks Helen Wade for her dedication each year to supporting students studying communication disorders. Anna believes that such generosity allows students like her to continue pursuing a profession that focuses on service and empowerment. After graduation, her goal is to work with diverse, multi-cultural populations and empower children with cleft lip and/or palate to communicate effectively. She also plans to continue researching bilingualism and contribute towards promoting diversity and inclusion in the field of communication disorders and sciences.

Scholar: Alina Fimbres

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Communicative Disorders 

About the Scholarship: An instructor at CSUN for over 25 years, Helen Sherman-Wade remains active within the university through activities with the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, the Language, Speech and Hearing Center and the alumni chapter.  She established this scholarship to support graduate students who have decided to further their education after already serving as speech-pathologists. It is also available to students who can clearly describe how a future as a speech-pathologist would impact their lives.

Scholar: Na Young Shin

Year Awarded: 2020

Working towards degree: Master of Science in Communicative Disorders

About Scholarship Recipient: Na Young was born in South Korea and moved to California in 2015 to study speech language pathology. Her undergraduate degree in life sciences and counseling psychology led her to choose this path, hoping to become an effective, culturally sensitive therapist. With the great faculty and supervision CSUN provided, Na Young was enriched with opportunities and experiences working with a variety of populations and learned to collaborate with fellow clinicians. Na Young is honored to receive the Ruth Harris Award and is grateful to Ms. Harris for her continued support in guiding the way for new professionals in the field of communication disorders and sciences. Na Young strives to work with pediatrics, monolinguals and bilinguals, in supporting their communication and exploring crosslinguistic influences in this multilingual world.

About the Scholarship: Ruth Harris was the first full-time coordinator of the Language, Speech, and Hearing Center. Her career in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences spanned nearly 30 years, and although she is now retired, she engages with the university as a volunteer and donor. Ruth established this award to help support a graduate student who has demonstrated strength in collaboration with fellow students, supervisors and other professionals.  Award recipients are exemplar of effective and culturally sensitive communication and treatment–the hallmark of the field of speech pathology and audiology.