Rachel Siemens, a graduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at the U of A, has been awarded the Benjamin Franklin Lever Tuition Fellowship. This fellowship recognizes graduate students who contribute to the university community through their diverse backgrounds and insights while demonstrating academic excellence and professional growth.

Siemens earned her bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders at the U of A and is now pursuing her masters, expected to graduate in 2026. She chose this career path because of her desire to help people across the lifespan and her belief that communication is essential to building meaningful connections.

Her coursework in Cognitive Communication, Feeding and Swallowing, and the Medical SLP elective, along with her current placement at Mercy Acute Care, have fueled her passion for medical speech-language pathology. These opportunities have helped her connect theory with practice and confirmed her interest in working in healthcare settings. As an undergraduate, she also served as treasurer for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and volunteered with special needs and disability ministries, experiences that strengthened her leadership and relationship-building skills.

"Rachel is a steady and committed student who always gives her best effort," said clinical instructor Jessica Danley. "She brings enthusiasm to class, motivates her peers and has a knack for engaging clients in therapy."

Katie Threlkeld, assistant professor, added, "Rachel is a dedicated graduate student and an excellent representative of the CSDI program. She consistently impressed me with her ability to apply class concepts to real-world clinical scenarios. This scholarship is so well deserved!"

After graduation, Siemens plans to pursue a career in medical speech-language pathology, continuing to develop her expertise while serving patients across the lifespan. She hopes to stay connected to her community and contribute to the field through both service and ongoing professional growth.