Celebrating Student Research
Another banner year of student research at the 2025 SHAV conference occurred when 23 students and student groups showcased their research in poster presentations over two Friday afternoon sessions. We were particularly pleased to have first-ever posters from Shenandoah University’s new Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Students also represented Hampton University, James Madison University, George Washington University, and Old Dominion University. In total, 11 of the 23 posters were entered for CDF competition, judged blindly before and again at the conference by 20 volunteer judges (see below). We are happy to celebrate these winners:
First place blue ribbon with a $500 CDF check went to Olamide Olajubutu, Hampton University, for “Telepractice with Head and Neck Cancer Patients: Future Directions.”
Second place red ribbon with a $300 check was awarded to Cassidy Shugrue, JMU, for “Informational Masking and Stochastic Resonance in Mutant Mice.”
Third place white ribbon with a $100 CDF check went to Nicole Kirk, James Madison University, for “Novel Paradigm for Assessing Vestibular Perception in Children.”
Congratulations to all who participated in this exciting event. Your individual and collective work assures us that the future of our professions is secure in your hands.
On behalf of the CDF, Brenda Seal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Olamide Olajubutu
Cassidy Shugrue
Nicole Kirk
It takes a village of SLPs and AUDs:
CDF is most grateful to Audiologists Steven Kulsar, Andrew Nash, Gary Pillow, Jin Hyung Park, and our own AuD Trustee, Sarah Gills, for judging. We are equally grateful to SLP friends and colleagues Jessica Sullivan, Johanna Klein, Melanie-Joy Dorn, Ed Vann, Geralyn Timler, Alison King, Beverly Khabo, and LaVae Hoffman for judging; and to our own CDF Trustees Stacie Raymer, Seijra Toogood, Lissa Power-deFur, Tamara Freeman-Nichols, Katrina Miller, Scott Rankins, and Brenda Seal. Shiree Harbick was wonderful in collecting and transmitting redacted posters, and the SHAV Board, particularly Emily Bromer, Alison King, and Johanna Klein, were excellent collaborators (the first 10 submissions got special gifts) in supporting these student sessions.
The 2025 Student Poster Session Submissions were evaluated according to this rubric:
