The Next Generation of Speech-Language
Pathologists and Audiologists

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Congratulations to the 2021 Michigan-Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship Recipient!

Lauren Denti,
Wayne State University Doctorate
of Audiology Program


            

Spotlight On:  Lauren Denti

 











Graduate student and Lauren administering
the screenings on two young boys in an office
at the orphanage in Honduras. 
Lauren Denti, 2021 MSHF scholarship recipient, shares her story:

Honduran Hearing Screening (December 30th, 2014- January 7th, 2015): 
In December of 2014, I joined a mission trip to an orphanage in Honduras organized by my church. I was in my junior year of my undergraduate degree, studying speech language pathology at the University of Toledo. At that time, I was studying under an audiologist who specialized in the early identification and intervention of children with hearing loss. I knew I would be applying to graduate schools for audiology programs and felt called to add my own strengths to the mission trip. After speaking with my supervisor, attending multiple meetings with the church, and contacting the orphanage, it was agreed that we could screen the 80 children who resided at the orphanage for hearing loss. We were able to have equipment and supplies including two portable audiometers, many toiletries, and toys donated by the church, University of Toledo National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, and the speech language pathology program. Over our week in Honduras, we were able to screen 70 of the children. A graduate student from the program at UT was also in attendance to assist in screening the children. The ages ranged from 3 to 18 years old. It was quite a challenge to find a quiet place to conduct the hearing screenings. I recall sitting in a closet, bathroom, and office during the week: any quiet place we could find.  

After our trip was completed, we collected data from the screenings and published two articles on the hearing status of children in developing nations. This opportunity furthered my realization that I wanted to become an audiologist and focus on bridging the gap of hearing healthcare access to children.

Acknowledgement:
I would like to express my sincerest gratitude towards Dr. Lori Pakulski, my mentor at the University of Toledo. Without her support and guidance, I would not have had the opportunity to administer the hearing screenings in Honduras. I would like to thank Samantha Paek, a speech language pathology graduate student at the time, for her efforts in administering the hearing screenings and assistance in planning the trip. I would also like to thank Lauren Moor, the Campus Ministry Associate at Corpus Christi University Parish. Her assistance in contacting the orphanage and arranging the hearing screening program as well as navigating, directing, and translating for the students was integral to our successful trip. Lastly, I would like to thank the University of Toledo's Speech Language Pathology program for their donations and support.  

What Lauren wrote to the MSHF board upon receipt of her scholarship award:
Thank you so much for selecting me as the MSHF scholarship recipient this year! As you know graduate school can be quite a financial burden. I plan to put this award toward my student debt. I am honored to receive this scholarship and look forward to my approaching career as an audiologist.
 
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MSHF Board Members, past and present, Kalamazoo 2018:  l-r back row standing: Aaron Hardy-Smith, Dawn Kutney, Derek Daniels; front row l-r: Kathy Rigley, Tamara Baubie, Judy Silverman, and Ellen Fairbrother.







MSHF Board members meet at the MSHA Conference in Troy, 2017:  l-r: Tamara Baubie, Heather Balog, Karen O'Leary, Aar Hardy-Smith, and Derek Daniels.






MSHF Board Members 2015 at Lansing
l-r, front: Fran Eldis, Derek Daniels, Heather Balog, Tamara Baubie, Laura Billetdeaux, Anitta Orr, and Ellen Fairbrother.
l-r, back: Aaron Hardy-Smith, Liz Stevens, Karen O'Leary, Dawn Kutney, and Rick Merson.

Annual Conference

     
MSHF Award Recipients 2016:                                                                                             MSHF 2017 Scholarship Recipients Justin Gripentrog and Elise Drager, Graduate Students at WMU



            






                               


2018 MSHF Silent Auction Items:
 





                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2020

Nafia Khan, Eastern Michigan University
Luke Shepherd, Central Michigan University
Elizabeth King, Wayne State University
Stephanie Nagy, Michigan State University
Alexandra Winegar, Central Michigan University
Abby McConnon, Central Michigan University


MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2019:

Jaimee Blahaski, Eastern Michigan University
Danae Brownell, Michigan State University
Elizabeth Kaurich, Wayne State University
Brionna Leach and Kayla Welker, Central Michigan University
Carolyn Mooi, Western Michigan University

MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2018:

Sarah Kourtjian and Brian McTaggart, Western  Michigan University;
Loris Yoon and Nafia Khan, Eastern Michigan University;
Ally Whitman and Claire Hug, Central Michigan University
Corie Ruiter and Kaleigh Cammenga, Michigan State University;
Vanessa Duri, Kelly Quin, Samantha Kestleloot-Carlton and Marla Wilcox, Wayne State University (who matches); and
Lucy Finkel and Erin Hawkins, Grand valley State University.

MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2017:
Elise Patricia Drager (AUD) and Justin Arik Gripentrog (SLP), Graduate Students at Western Michigan University;
Bridget Salvia, (SLP) Graduate Student at Eastern Michigan University; 
Lindsay Bitterman (AUD) and Jordan McCarthy (SLP), Graduate Students at Central Michigan University; 
Caleb Wilson  (SLP) and Gabriella Gilfoy, (SLP) Graduate Students at Michigan State University (who has matched funds);
Kimberly Brief (SLP), Katie Stevenson (AUD), Christine Forrest (SLP),  and Claire Miller (AUD), Graduate Students at Wayne State University (who has matched funds);  
Kelsey Hines (SLP), Graduate Student at Grand Valley State University.
 
MSHF Honorable Mention Awards: 
Sara Acton, M.A., (SLP) Graduate Student at Eastern Michigan University; and Corynn Marchesi, B.A., (SLP) Graduate Student at Central Michigan University.


MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2016:
  
Ellen Foltz (AUD) and Laura Kobylczyk (SLP), Central Michigan University         
      
Arista May (SLP) and Annette Shiley (SLP), Eastern Michigan University
      
Shelby Garbini (SLP) and Julie Marcel (SLP), Grand Valley State University

Alyssa Webster (SLP) and Rachel Nordbeck (SLP), Michigan State University
     
Angela Piccinato (AUD) and Shelby Swafford (SLP), Wayne State University
      
Thomas Beebe (AUD) and Karen Murawski (SLP), Western Michigan University

MSHF Scholarship Recipients 2015:
Blaire Brown (SLP), Samantha  Kliman (SLP),  Lauren Kassa (AUD) and Lisa DeHondt (AUD) Wayne State University (WSU matched these funds);
Kaitlyn  Marie Ayres (SLP) and Bridget Marie Molnar (SLP), Michigan State University;
Jaclyn Rowlett (AUD) and Erin Thomas (SLP), Central Michigan University;  
Caitlin Montague (SLP), Grand Valley State University;
Tess Donner (SLP) and Travis Stehouwer, (AUD) Western Michigan University;
Caren Gorga (SLP), Eastern Michigan University

Past Recipients:
Wayne State University
Allison Farat (SLP), Sarah Hunter (SLP), Mary Kassa (AUD), Zachary Zells (AUD)
Michigan State University
Dana Flowerday (SLP), Anna Hardenbergh (SLP)
Grand Valley State University
Adam Gray (SLP), Justine Koglin (SLP)
Western Michigan University
Alissa Haan (AUD), Ann Lamons (SLP)
Eastern Michigan University
Angela Jouel Truesdell-Smith (SLP)
Central Michigan University
Stefanie Gainor (AUD), Amanda Bruski ( SLP)
See Past Scholarship Recipients


With your help we have been able to grant scholarships yearly to two speech-language pathology and/or audiology graduate students at each of the six state universities which offer speech-language pathology and/or audiology programs:Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University...

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