Cindy Landeros, a first-year graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the U of A, was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Lever Tuition Fellowship. This award is highly competitive and only given to qualified students who reflect both the U of A's commitment to academics and diversity.

In 2021, Landeros graduated from the U of A with her Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders. Landeros always knew that she wanted to work with children, but never fully knew how that would come to be. When she found the field of speech-language pathology, Landeros knew that she had found a career that she loved. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), she will be able to work with diverse clients with diverse needs. Growing up bilingual, she always knew the importance of communication and the great value it holds.

Landeros' commitment to excellence and her passion for the field led her into the graduate program in the U of A, where she has continued to thrive. Rachel Glade, the program director of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program stated, "Cindy has been a stand-out in our program for years. She has a passion for working with the Spanish-speaking community, and we could not be happier for her receiving this much-deserved award." 

Landeros is scheduled to graduate with her master's degree in May of 2023, and she said, "I look forward to graduation. I will be able to professionally provide treatment services in Northwest Arkansas as a SLP. This region is constantly growing in its Spanish-speaking population, and I am grateful that I will be able to serve and advocate for these families that often come across challenges due to language barriers."