Each spring, faculty of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program recognize three exceptional graduate students. The three awards represent three separate achievements, all of which will be recognized at the program's annual spring celebration.

The Emerging Excellence Award recognizes a first-year graduate student who demonstrates the ability to be a future leader in the field. This recognition was given to Leslie Williams. She is a 23-year-old Arkansas native who has been highlighted for her professionalism, strong sense of clinical intuition and dedication to the advancement of research. Williams is currently working on her thesis in interoceptive awareness of stuttering, alongside her faculty mentor, associate professor Andrew Bowers.

Williams said, "I have been attending the University of Arkansas since my senior year of high school, and am grateful for the quality of my education and the outstanding faculty that I have been fortunate to work alongside."

The Outstanding Clinician Award recognizes a second-year graduate student who has demonstrated excellent clinical skills in a variety of placements. This award was given to Morgan Little. The Program in Communication Disorders has loved watching Little thrive in a variety of clinical placements throughout her graduate journey.

"My passion for communication sciences and disorders began on a beach while I was babysitting for two families," Little said. "One mother was a school-based speech pathologist, and the other was a medical speech pathologist. I will never forget the spark I felt hearing them discuss this field, and I changed my major as soon as we got home! Thank you to our wonderful faculty and community members who have helped me grow into an 'outstanding clinician,' as I wouldn't be here without them."

The final award recognizes a second-year graduate student who has proven to be an outstanding student in the classroom and in clinical settings. This is the highest accolade provided by the CSDI program. This award was given to Sarah Paddock. She was born and raised in Texarkana, Texas. She had the privilege of attending the U of A for both her undergraduate and graduate careers. She is excited to have accepted a position at Temple Memorial Pediatric Center in Texarkana.

"I am honored to have been chosen by the faculty for this award," Paddock said. "I am thankful for the education received at the University of Arkansas and am grateful for the CSDI professors who have encouraged and poured into me these past six years. Their support has had a tremendous impact on my desire to learn and become a valuable part of the SLP community. They have set high standards exemplified by their teaching as well as their actions. I hope that I will be able to contribute to and encourage future SLP generations as they have done for me and all of us in the class of 2025!"