Multiple Florida State University (FSU) School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) students received funding from the Irene Phillips Backus Scholarship to fund their research endeavors at an array of national conferences this past year. From Washington, D.C. to San Diego, these scholars shared how the endowment helped bridge the gap between their academic findings and professional practice.

Representing FSU in the nation’s capital, two students, Alexis Moser, an SCSD PhD student, and Fran Baehman, an SCSD Master’s student, attended the 2025 Annual Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Washington, D.C. Moser’s research and presentation focused on a holistic approach to assessing children with speech sound disorders. Baehman’s presentation was titled “The BabyTok Project 3.0: A Preventive, Social-media Based Intervention for Caregivers of Young Infants.” Both students expressed appreciation for what this scholarship meant for their presentations and conference experiences.

“Receiving the Irene Phillips Backus scholarship made it possible for me to travel to Washington, D.C. to present at the conference. As a first-year PhD student who recently relocated from out-of-state and left full-time clinical work to pursue doctoral training, the support helped offset those transition and travel costs,” said Moser. “Because of this scholarship, I was able to share my research with a large audience of clinicians, mentors, and researchers, which is an important step in growing as an emerging researcher.”

“From my perspective,” Baehman said, “when alumni donate to support the College through scholarships and the Great Give, current FSU students feel the support of a larger community that is working together to advance the best, evidence-based research to make a difference in the field of CSD.”

The impact of the scholarship extends to the undergraduate level as well. Hannah Figueras, an undergraduate senior, was able to visit the 2025 American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Annual Conference alongside the FSU Student Academy of Audiology. At the conference, she attended presentations, toured the Hear Tech EXPO, and met with multiple researchers and audiologists from around the United States. Awards like the Irene Phillips Backus Scholarship make these incredible opportunities possible for both undergraduate and graduate students.

“As a senior approaching graduation, it is important for alumni to stay connected and donate to the college through scholarships, especially the Great Give, to support future students with similar aspirations and like-minded pursuits,” said Figueras. “These scholarships will contribute to participation in experiences that are influential in shaping career path decisions, plans to continue education at a graduate-level program, and open networking opportunities.”

On the west coast, Ashley Sellers, an SCSD PhD student, attended the Conference for Research Innovations in Early Intervention (CRIEI) in San Diego, California. The goal of her research and project was to better understand what teachers felt they needed to support young children’s communication and social-emotional development in their classrooms. Sellers highlights the scholarship’s role in making cross-country professional travel accessible for students.

“Conferences are where we learn how to share our work, ask questions, and become part of the larger professional community. It is also the primary place researchers showcase the amazing research being done at FSU,” Sellers said.

Alumni donations like the Irene Phillips Backus scholarship allow undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students alike to attend conferences that enhance their knowledge of their field and gain confidence in their research and presentation abilities.