Radford University celebrates its partnership with the Scottish Rite
After a two-summer hiatus, Radford University hosted its annual reception and luncheon on July 12, 2022 to celebrate its partnership with the Scottish Rite and the conclusion of the RiteCare® Clinic summer programs. The celebration began with a carnival that allowed members of the Scottish Rite to interact with Radford University graduate students and their clients.
This year marks the 29th year of Radford University’s partnership with the Scottish Rite, the 27th year of summer programs and more than $1 million in total donations from the Scottish Rite.
Support provided by the Scottish Rite allows the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, a RiteCare® Clinic, to provide free specialized summer programs to preschool and school-aged children with speech and language disorders, as well as research and service scholarships to graduate students majoring in the field of communication sciences and disorders.
The 2022 celebration began with A Marvelous, Magical Carnival! in Waldron Hall, hosted by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. This event gave members of the Scottish Rite the opportunity to meet graduate students, their faculty supervisors and the children and families they have been working with through the RiteCare® Clinic summer programs.
Radford University is one of those universities that has developed programs really meeting specific needs in the communities, and in our mind, they make a difference in real lives. Higher education obviously wants to improve communities, but some universities do it in a more direct, hands-on way than others. As these students are obtaining an education so they can do their life’s work, they’re also getting hands-on experience. That’s what Radford University seems to do so well.
Diane Millar, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders welcomed attendees to the luncheon.
The attendees then gathered in Kyle Hall for a luncheon where they were welcomed by Diane Millar, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
“Today’s luncheon is an exhilarating intersection of many remarkable individuals. We all play a unique role together, and the result is a state-of-the-art clinical program that we can offer to children in our own community,” said Millar. “We have an exceptional group of 29 students this year. To say they put in long hours would be an understatement. Their dedication to serving is inspirational.”
Under the guidance of five faculty members – Rachel Greene, Brandi Holland, Kayley King, Elizabeth Laux and Angela Obst – these students were able to provide services to more than 60 children this year.
Five students were recipients of the 2022 Radford University RiteCare® Summer Scholarship: Kayla Altice, Shauna Huguley, Miranda McHugh, Bethany Sexton and Natalie Kristoff. The recipients explained their areas of focus and expressed their gratitude to the Scottish Rite for making the summer programs possible.
The 2022 Radford University RiteCare® Summer Scholarship recipients stood to be recognized at the luncheon.
Huguley worked with her clients on improving expressive language skills with labeling
“We had a lot of fun scavenger hunts to work on this skill,” recalled Huguley. “My favorite part of the summer was building relationships with my clients and sharing laughter.”
McHugh worked on articulation and technology goals.
“I studied music therapy as an undergraduate, so I thought of ways to involve music during my time as a speech student. We played games and did a lot crafts. It’s been really fun to get to know all the clients and families I’ve worked with,” said McHugh.
Kristoff worked on social pragmatic skills with one of her clients.
“Through that, we talked about what it means to share conversations and how to just be a good friend,” explained Kristoff. “It has been rewarding and fun.”
Radford University President Bret Danilowicz and First Lady Kay Danilowicz were also in attendance.
“This is one of Radford University’s longest standing partnerships, and it has improved the quality of life for many – the children, their families and our Radford students as future speech-language pathologists,” said President Danilowicz. “My sincere thanks go to our philanthropic partners in healthcare who make the university and our community a better place to learn and live.”
Members of the Scottish Rite were joined by Radford University President Bret Danilowicz, the 2022 RiteCare® Summer Scholarship recipients and their clients for the presentation of the Scottish Rite donation to Radford University and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
ABOUT THE RITECARE® SCOTTISH RITE CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE PROGRAM
The RiteCare® Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program (SRCLP) stems from a program initiated by the Scottish Rite in the early 1950s to help children with speech and language disorders. The SRCLP is now able to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities. Today there are 178 RiteCare® clinics, centers and special programs located across the United States.
Because of its partnership with the Scottish Rite, the Radford University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic (RUSLHC) is able to offer services provided by graduate interns and supervised by state licensed and American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech-language pathologists. The RUSLHC provides over 3,000 clinical clock hours of training each academic year while providing services to clients from the New River and Roanoke Valleys and across Virginia.
To learn more about supporting the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, please contact Penny Helms White by emailing pwhite@radford.edu or calling 540-831-5344.