Photos of people and activities related to CHHS

Recipient Stories

Erin Muston-Firsch - Barbara J. Hemphill Endowment for Student Professional Development
Sasha Acker and Allen Hearn - Spring 2009 Whitney Young Jr. Scholar Award
Joyce Irvine – Robert L. Erickson Award for Excellence in the Study of Voice and Speech Sciences

Erin Muston-Firsch - Barbara J. Hemphill Endowment for Student Professional Development

ErinMunston-Firsch-Scholarship Recipient 002.jpg Erin Muston-Firsch is a WMU occupational therapy graduate. She received the Barbara J. Hemphill Endowment for Student Professional Development in the fall of 2007. Erin is a practicing occupational therapist with the rehabilitation department of the University of Michigan Hospital.

“The scholarship allowed me to present my research at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) conference in Long Beach, California, spring 2008. It allowed me to take the research I’d done at WMU and really represent the school on a national level at the conference. To be able to present there was a huge honor and I wouldn’t have been able to go without the endowment. I’m grateful for the experience. It’s something I might never have pursued on my own if the opportunity had not been given to me. I may not have thought that my research was important enough; receiving the scholarship gave me that confidence. Drafting the manuscript, developing the research project and presenting it is exciting and helps you start your career feeling competent—that you know about what you’re doing.”

Sasha Acker and Allen Hearn - Spring 2009 Whitney Young Jr. Scholar Award

Sasha Acker (r) is a senior social work student at the College of Health and Human Services.

I received the scholarship in March of 2009. This scholarship has made it possible to take summer classes and finish my internship with Ministry with Community. I’m grateful for the scholarship for two reasons. First, it is such an honor to be called the “Whitney Young Scholar.” Whitney Young was such a strong advocate for human rights, and I have a lot of respect for him. I am so honored that my department chose me! Second, the money is pretty helpful. The combination of student loans and Pell grants is beginning to dwindle now that I am nearing graduation, and it is becoming more difficult to pay for school

Allen Hearn (l) is a spring 2009 graduate of the School of Social Work at the College of Health and Human Services.

I was told I received the scholarship the week back from spring break. I walked into the social work office and admissions secretary Helen Beck told me there was a surprise for me. She took me to Dr. Cooney’s class while he was teaching. I really wasn’t sure what was going on. Don walked out of his classroom and took me over to the scholarship recipient display case. He pointed to the Whitney Young, Jr. plaque and told me I received the award. I was quite surprised. The scholarship puts the social work profession in perspective. The profession is very important and requires a serious commitment. The responsibility of a social worker is not just to the client but the community. As I grow professionally I hope to guide clients and help put them in a better position. I’m grateful to the committee for considering me for this scholarship. Whitney Young’s contribution to the Civil Rights movement has made it possible for African Americans to be in the position I am today. Receiving a scholarship in his name is a great honor and very humbling. I would like to again thank the committee for considering me for this scholarship. I also would like to thank the social work faculty and staff for their support and guidance, and my parents, Allen and Maria Hearn, for their great support throughout my life.

Joyce Irvine – Robert L. Erickson Award for Excellence in the Study of Voice and Speech Sciences
Joyce Irvine Joyce Irvine is a WMU speech pathology-audiology graduate student. She received the Robert L. Erickson Award for Excellence in the Study of Voice and Speech Sciences in May 2009.
The Speech Pathology and Audiology Department awarded my scholarship in May 2009. I had three choices of voice therapy conferences around the country and chose to travel to Boston for the Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy Training for children ages 5-10, presented by voice researcher Katherine Verdolini Abbott, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Professor Erickson’s family established the scholarship with the idea of facilitating students’ “interaction with experienced clinicians and experts.” The Verdolini course was a perfect match for this scholarship. Not only did the presenter educate participants about improving children’s voice quality, but she asked the group of speech-language pathologists for ideas to help improve the therapy approach. I know of Dr. Erickson’s commitment to educating students through my practicum work in the Unified Clinics voice lab. He remains a true source of inspiration to aspiring speech-language pathologists. I am honored to be among the recipients of his Award for Excellence in the Study of Voice and Speech Sciences and hope to carry his vision for clinical excellence with me throughout my career.

Spotlight