ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Spring 2021 advanced degree graduates in South Carolina State University’s Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology achieved a 100% passing rate on the Praxis exam required for national certification.
The Spring 2021 class of Speech Pathology and Audiology graduate students included Carley Boone, Shawn Gillens, Colleen Gordon, Pleshette Kelly, Lauren Lopez and Kiera Rufus.
Also, two of the department’s students obtained 4.0 grade point averages en route to bachelor’s degrees conferred at Spring Commencement. Kierra Simmons and Megan Swirczek will enter highly competitive graduate programs in the fall.
Simmons was accepted to four graduate speech pathology programs, including the University of Houston, Teacher’s College at Columbia University, Temple University and Florida International University. Simmons will attend University of Houston in the fall.
Swirczek was accepted to three graduate speech pathology programs, including the University of Texas, Michigan State University and Auburn University. She will attend Michigan State in the fall.
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of both our undergraduate and graduate students,” said Dr. Jessica Berry, acting chair and an assistant professor in the department. “They worked hard during their tenure at the university and are prepared to serve a growing field in SC and across the country.”
For more information about SC State’s Speech Pathology and Audiology programs, contact Dr. Jessica Berry at 803-536-7063 or jrichard@scsu.edu.
