East Stroudsburg University Senior Finalist for Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence

Samantha Ward

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on April 4, 2019, No Comments

Samantha Ward, a senior at East Stroudsburg University (ESU) from Swarthmore, Pa., was ESU’s finalist for the 2019 Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence.

Created in 2000, the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence is conferred upon a graduating senior from one of the Pennsylvania State System universities. The award was founded by Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a charter member of the State System Board of Governors.

Ward is majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a baccalaureate certificate in gerontology. Her strong academic success in the rigorous health science curriculum, along with her 3.989 grade point average, made her an ideal candidate for the award. Along with her demanding major, Ward is a participating member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, Sign Language Club, Gerontology Honor Society, and ESU’s honors program. She is also a large classroom assistant and a peer tutor, having tutored fellow students in course materials including psychology, cultural diversity, anatomy and physiology of speech, phonetics, speech science, and intro to audiology.

Ward had the opportunity to present class projects at the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association as well as presenting her honors thesis at ESU’s 2018 Student Research Symposium. She will present her honors thesis again, this time as a professional presentation, at the 2019 Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention.

Ward has been offered early acceptance to the graduate program in communication sciences and disorders at ESU, one of the most competitive graduate programs the university offers.

“It was an honor to nominate Samantha for this award. Her academic achievements are outstanding, she has an active pursuit of knowledge and her research in her field of study speaks volumes for work and her future,” said Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of ESU. “I can say without any hesitation that Samantha is a true Warrior and has clearly demonstrated her overall success at ESU. She will continue to make our commonwealth proud.”

Candidates for the 2019 award were recommended by their university president at the conclusion of a campus application and selection process that was open to all graduating seniors. Multiple selection criteria included outstanding academic scholarship, including prizes, honors, and honorary societies; participation in extra/co-curricular activities; and a two-page essay by the nominee addressing how the university has prepared him or her for the next career step.