Recent communication sciences grad receives statewide achievement award

Nicole McRight, who graduated from Western Carolina University's communication sciences and disorders program this spring, recently received a statewide award for student educational achievement.

Presented by the North Carolina Speech, Hearing and Language Association, the award is given on the basis of academic excellence and merit. The student recipient must have a grade-point average of no less than 3.0 while actively enrolled in or accepted to a program in communication sciences and disorders at a North Carolina university.

"Nicole won for a variety of deserving reasons," said Bill Ogletree, head of the department of communication sciences and disorders at WCU. "She was consistently present, prepared and willing to participate and help in any way.  In the classroom, she was an excellent oral presenter and writer, yet she in no way sought the spotlight for her accomplishments. As a clinician, she was intuitive, decisive, and effective, yet always open to learning."

A resident of Sylva, McRight said she feels proud of her award and of WCU's communication sciences and disorders program.

"I think the communication sciences and disorders graduate program at WCU is a gem, and I believe the award was the result of the consistent support and encouragement the professors and clinical supervisors provided throughout the program," said McRight, who will begin work as the speech-language pathologist at Blue Ridge School in Cashiers.