12/06/16 lds
HAYS, Kan. -- A team of Fort Hays State University graduate students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders won the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association Knowledge Bowl recently in Philadelphia.

The graduate students competed against 10 other teams in the finals at the 2016 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference. FHSU's chapter of the national association will receive $750 for their student organization, and each of the five participants will receive $150 for the fee of the national certification exam.

"FHSU had a very good showing at the conference," said Dr. Fred Britten, professor of communication sciences and disorders.

The FHSU chapter was also recognized as a Gold Level Chapter for meeting requirements including fundraisers and an advocacy event.

"We had 18 of the 22 graduate students who attended making presentations," said Britten.

"Needless to say, people at the national level are taking recognition of FHSU and where we are located," he said.

The five graduate students who won are: Andrea Burcham, Sublette; Jill Gfeller, Oakley; Samantha Ingham, Bonney Lake, Wash.; Valerie VanRoeyen, Grayslake, Ill.; and Whitney Wietfeld, West Point, Neb.

Cutline: Left to right: Whitney Wietfeld, Jill Gfeller, Andrea Burcham, Samantha Ingham and Valerie VanRoeyen.