Rolando Rodriguez, a second-year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of Arkansas, was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Lever Tuition Fellowship. This award is highly competitive and only given to qualified students who reflect both the University of Arkansas' commitment to academics and diversity.

As an incoming freshman, Rolando had always been interested in pursuing a career that involved providing therapy services to assist and positively impact individuals, whether it be through physical, occupational, or speech therapy. After continuing to learn more about the rewarding field of speech-language pathology and taking an introduction to communicative disorders course during his first year, he knew he wanted to pursue becoming a speech-language pathologist.

In 2019, Rolando graduated from the University of Arkansas with his B.S.E. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and decided the graduate program at the University of Arkansas was the best place to continue his studies. From there, his commitment to excellence and his passion for the field led him into the graduate program at the University of Arkansas where he has continued to thrive.

Rachel Glade, the program director of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, said, "Rolando has a bright future ahead of him. He is thoughtful and detail oriented with a passion for working with individuals with communication disorders."

Rolando is to graduate May of 2021, and he said, "I am very thankful for being a recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Lever Fellowship as it allowed me to further my education as a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. After graduation, I look forward to working as a speech-language pathologist as well as making a positive impact on individuals and assisting them in overcoming their challenges."