AnnMarie Ippolito and Marlena Davis at the ArkSHA Convention
Author: Marlena Davis | Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders | Semester: Fall 2024
My name is Marlena Davis, and I am an honors undergraduate student studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. I am pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I have been working on my honors project, which involves creating a curriculum for an aphasia support group. This 16-week support group will be implemented at the University of Arkansas Speech and Hearing Clinic. To develop the curriculum, I have reviewed past research and observed existing support groups. After completing my aphasia support group curriculum, my next step was to defend my project this spring. I decided to apply to present at the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA) Convention and was thrilled to be accepted.
On February 21, 2025, I traveled to Conway, Arkansas, to present my project at the ArkSHA Convention. On the first day, my peers and I attended the convention and listened to another presentation, which was beneficial in helping us understand how we would be presenting the next day. Additionally, the four other presenters and I had the opportunity to get to know one another. We bonded over our shared honors experience and the graduate school application process. This was valuable for me because I gained insight into their projects and perspectives.
Finally, the big day arrived, February 22, 2025, when I presented my project. Our group of five presented our PowerPoint-based projects at 8:30 a.m. I remember all of us feeling nervous, but once we arrived, it didn’t seem as intimidating as we had anticipated. We presented in a small room, so the audience was not overwhelming. We also had the support of two of our professors, Ms. Jessica Danley and Katie Threlkeld, which made a significant difference. Each of us presented for about 20 minutes, followed by a Q&A session. The support from our professors was incredibly helpful, as they asked insightful questions about our projects. The other attendees in the room were also kind and supportive, making the experience even more rewarding.
After our presentation, we had the chance to network with other speech-language pathologists, which made me even more excited about entering the field. Everyone was so passionate about their work and the topics they were presenting. Once the convention concluded, my peers and I reflected on how well it went and felt proud of everything we had accomplished over the past few years.
Presenting at the ArkSHA Convention helped advance my research project by allowing me to present it in an organized and digestible way. I wanted to ensure that my work was clear and well-structured. Additionally, this experience helped me become more comfortable presenting in a professional setting, particularly within the speech-language pathology field. It was not as intimidating as I had expected, and it solidified my desire to attend another ASHA conference in the future. I also realized how valuable these conventions are for networking with other speech-language pathologists. I was able to exchange contact information with several professionals, including one who even mentioned that I could reach out in the future regarding potential job opportunities.
Overall, presenting at the ArkSHA Convention was an incredible experience. It provided valuable practice in public speaking, research presentation, and professional networking. If anyone is considering presenting their project at a conference, I highly recommend doing it. Working on an honors project or thesis requires a significant amount of time and effort, so taking the extra step to showcase your work is absolutely worth it. This experience is something I will always remember, and I look forward to participating in similar events in the future.