Author: Carrie Wyatt

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is thrilled to announce that its graduate student team took home the first place trophy from the 2025 Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) Prairie Cup competition.

The annual knowledge bowl was held Sept. 29 at the KSHA Convention, hosted this year in Manhattan, Kansas. The team won by an astonishing 45 points; representing an almost five-question advantage over second place, an extraordinary feat.

CSD could not be prouder of its clinical scholars team: Sabrina Gooch, Alice Keithly, Kayenta Frye, Courtney Toner and Lauren Stephenson (not shown). Congratulations on a well-deserved win.

Are you interested in an amazing career that also supports individuals with communication disorders? Join Wichita State Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) faculty for virtual open houses on the speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology (AuD) graduate programs.

The open house is from 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Find the meeting links to each below:

• Speech-language pathology meeting link
• Audiology meeting link

For further information on our graduate programs and to view virtual clinic tours, visit the program links below.

• MA speech-language pathology program
• Audiology program

There are also useful CSD student resources on the website that provide general information and connects students to valuable department, college and university resources.

If you have specific questions or would like to request an in-person clinic tour, submit a request via the CSD Program Information/Campus Visit Request Form.

Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) undergraduate and graduate students joined Katharine Fitzharris, associate clinical professor, to provide free hearing screenings in Hays, Kansas March 22 for a Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Event.

The event was held during the Hays State Basketball Tournament from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gross Memorial Coliseum for a day dedicated to improving athletes’ health and wellness. They served over 50 participants at the event.

Are you interested in an career that also supports individuals with communication disorders? Join Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) faculty from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 for a virtual open house on its speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology (AuD) graduate programs.

For further information on the graduate programs, and to view virtual clinic tours, visit the program links below. If you have specific questions or would like to request an in-person clinic tour, fill out the CSD program information/campus visit request form

Program links:

• MA-SLP program webpage
• AuD program webpage

Help congratulate five Wichita State communication sciences and disorders (CSD) graduate students from the college of health professions who were selected for 2024 Margaret Byrne Sarricks Student Scholarships from the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA).

MA-CSD speech-language-pathology recipients are Isabelle Wolters, Gabrielle Winter, Kenzie Craig and Jenna Gochenauer. Project research mentors are Imran Musaji and Erin O’Bryan, assistant professors, and Aaron Bowen, University Libraries.

The Doctor of Audiology recipient is Edie Reese. Her research mentor is Xiao-Ming Sun, audiology professor.

Students will present their research at the 2024 KSHA Convention at the Hyatt Regency Sept. 26 and 27. Wichita State students were selected for two out of the top three awards given. Additionally, WSU will be presenting 13 student research posters (out of a total of 30 from universities across Kansas), which approaches numbers not seen since pre-COVID.

Hungry and want to support a good cause? The WSU Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (WSUSSLHA) annual fundraiser can satisfy both cravings.

Learn more about the fundraiser on the WSUSSLHA Instagram.

Corri Newman, first year SLP student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), was recently awarded the Kansas Speech-Hearing Association’s (KSHA) Dixie Heinrich Servant Leadership Award.

Susie Ternes, KSHA’s executive director, surprised Newman before a class to present her certificate and award check. CSD faculty, staff and students joined in the celebration of a well-deserved recognition. In October, Newman was also selected as one of the winners of KSHA’s Margaret Byrne Sarricks Scholarship.

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be selected for such a prestigious award,” Newman said. “I’m proud to be part of the CSD program and appreciate our wonderful staff.”

Melissa Vagts, associate clinical professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), was an invited presenter on the “Making Sense of Myo: Using Orofacial Myology To Support Differential Diagnosis” episode of the SLP Learning Series podcast on SpeechTherapyPD.com.

The episode explored how knowledge of orofacial myology allows speech pathologists to effectively use differential diagnosis to determine the best plan of care for patients. Melissa explained when a myofunctional approach would not be appropriate and the qualifications a patient needs to effectively participate in a myofunctional program. She also shared ways knowledge of typical oromyofunction can allow speech pathologists to modify treatment approaches and include myofunctional concepts to support speech and swallowing skills.

Vagts has worked in outpatient clinical settings, public schools and university clinics. She currently teaches and supervises speech-language pathology graduate students. She developed the Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD) graduate course and co-developed a Pediatric Feeding Group to provide students with applied learning opportunities.

Corri Newman, MA-CSD (SLP) student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, was selected as second place winner for the Kansas Speech-Hearing Association’s Margaret Byrne Sarricks Scholarship. Her award-winning virtual poster presentation was entitled, “Supported Conversation Training Outcomes for Future Healthcare Professionals: A Pilot Study.”

Her pilot study, completed with faculty mentor, Dr. Erin O’Bryan, is in preparation for a larger study they will be conducting at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center. This affiliation is part of a collaboration between the VA and the College of Health Professions.

This pilot study examined learning outcomes from six students to measure effects of a self-paced online learning module about effective communication with patients with communication disorders. The results will be used for a larger comprehensive study investigating whether future healthcare professionals can improve skills for communication with aphasic patients.

Interested in a career while supporting individuals with communication disorders? Join faculty from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 for a virtual open house on the audiology and speech-language pathology graduate programs.

For more information on the graduate programs, and to view virtual clinic tours, visit the links below or email csd@wichita.edu.

• Master of Arts Speech-Language Pathology program page
• Doctor of Audiology program page