MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University’s Lydia White, a second-year speech-language pathology student from Murray, Kentucky, has been selected for the prestigious St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital clinical program.
St. Jude offers semester placements for graduate students in speech-language pathology.
This highly competitive placement will allow White to work in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
White said she initially applied for the placement as practice in going through the application process.
“After the process was finished, I was very pleased with how it went. A couple of days later, I was notified I got the position,” White said. “I was thrilled and shocked, but knew I couldn’t pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
White will live in Memphis for eight weeks while completing her placement. During that time, she will work with children under age 18 who have been diagnosed with cancer and other health conditions.
Dr. Stephanie Schaaf, chair of the Center for Communication Disorders, said White is an outstanding candidate whose academic and professional qualities make her well-suited for a clinical experience in a setting as prestigious and demanding as St. Jude.
“She has consistently demonstrated excellence in her coursework, managing a rigorous academic load while also maintaining employment — a testament to her unwavering work ethic and time management skills,” Schaaf said.
To learn more about the speech-language pathology program, please visit murraystate.edu/coehs.