Second-year speech-language pathology master’s degree student Brie-Anna Bolton has been awarded a Foster Brooks Parriott Graduate Scholarship. Established by his family in memory of Foster Brooks Parriott, an early leader in the Tulsa oil industry, these scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of scholastic achievement and need and cover up to 24 credit hours of tuition for the year.
While Bolton received the award for her merits inside the classroom, she has been equally busy outside of it. This fall, Bolton began working with the Deborah Brown Community School through her graduate program in The University of Tulsa’s Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences. The Deborah Brown Community School is a public character school in Tulsa that serves children from underrepresented populations.
For Bolton, working at the school is more than just gaining professional experience. As an alumna of the school herself, it is personal.
“My experience as a student at Deborah Brown was incredibly pivotal,” she said. “It was a nurturing environment that fostered academic excellence and confidence in oneself. Deborah Brown laid an early foundation for me, instilling the values of perseverance and the belief that I can achieve anything I set my mind to because the sky’s the limit.”
At the school, Bolton provides speech language therapy services under the supervision of a speech language pathologist and also acts as a role model to the students. “Returning as a mentor is extremely rewarding. I feel so grateful to have the chance to inspire and guide the younger generation of students,” she added. “It’s surreal to be seen as a role model in the same halls where I once learned and grew.”
Bolton’s work at Deborah Brown is part of a collaboration between the school and Bolton’s graduate program clinical coordinator. Bolton is thankful for the guidance and encouragement her professors have offered, and credits Suzanne Thompson Stanton, chair of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, and Ronda Marfechuk, clinical associate professor of speech language pathology, as being key to inspiring her to pursue work that blends clinical practice with community engagement.
After graduation, Bolton plans to work as a speech language pathologist, in a setting where she can make a meaningful impact on undeserved communities and advocate for social justice.
“My graduate school experiences have broadened my perspective, opening me up to a variety of settings where I can make a difference,” Bolton said. “Whether my setting is in a clinical, educational, or community-based setting, my goal is to contribute to meaningful change by improving access to quality care while supporting/addressing individuals’ specific needs.”
The Parriott Scholarship is one of many financial aid opportunities available to UTulsa graduate students. To learn more, contact the Graduate School.