By: Em Acuña
Honors College alumna Stacy Thornton ’25 is heading to UNC Chapel Hill in the Fall to pursue a Master of Science (M.S.) in speech and hearing sciences. Thornton came to Appalachian State University and the Honors College in Fall 2021. She just recently graduated in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders and minors in American Sign Language and Appalachian studies. She graduated with both University and departmental honors.
Thornton feels that her Honors education at App State has prepared her for this specific graduate program at UNC Chapel Hill. The Honors College offers students unique opportunities to engage and explore in ways that foster their holistic development. Thornton reflected on her own experience and growth. She stated,
The rigor and growth that took place during my thesis and Honors seminars is something that I never imagined would occur when I committed to App State a few years ago.
Thorton’s thesis, titled “Learning and Anatomical Representation: How Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Students Draw the Head and Neck,” was directed by Dr. R. Jordan Hazelwood, associate professor of speech-language pathology in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Peaches Hash, assistant professor with the Department of English, served as the second reader.
Thornton’s thesis showcased how visual art and health science education intersect through assessing a student's ability to draw and orient “certain anatomical structures necessary for explaining swallowing disorders.” Thornton explained how there are current gaps in literature neglecting the significance of anatomical drawings. She stated, “My study is the first part of a longer objective of determining how to better measure student clinical competence and patient dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) education.” Her thesis also allowed her to view App State’s graduate environment and curriculum by working with the speech-language pathology graduate students.
Thornton also shared that her participation in the Southern Regional Honors Council Conference (SRHC) in Chattanooga, TN, this past Spring semester was a unique opportunity in the Honors College from which she benefited. While at SRHC, Thornton was able to share her thesis research with a broader audience and develop and utilize communication skills through public speaking.
Photos above (left) features Stacy Thornton and Dr. Hazelwood at Thornton’s thesis defense, and (right) features Stacy Thornton at SRHC presenting her research during a poster session. Photos submitted.
Thornton was deeply engaged in the Honors College at App State. She served as an Honors College peer mentor and as the assistant editor to the Honors Wednesday Memo from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023. As a peer mentor, she was able to meet and work with other undergraduate students who were just as motivated and excited about their Honors education and major field of study. As the assistant editor, Thornton gained valuable experience writing stories about her Honors peers and faculty.
My time as assistant editor allowed me to blend academic and creative writing, which was something that I didn’t always have the opportunity to do in other areas of academia.
Thornton was also involved as a student researcher in the AppLCEED lab in the Beaver College of Health Sciences. The lab, directed by Dr. Jordan Hazelwood, focuses on projects surrounding dysphagia and is where she worked on her honors thesis. Thornton was also a part of the Beavers Scholars Programs, which allowed her to fund much of her undergraduate career and act as a support system for other first-year health science students by helping them with course registration, defining career goals, and building campus connections. The Beavers Scholars Program was established in 2019 by Don Beaver ’62 ’64 and his wife, Vickie Beaver. The program offers $10,000 renewable support to incoming first-year undergraduate and graduate students from North Carolina who show a commitment to a career in direct patient health care. Reflecting on her scholarship, Thornton had this to say,
If it weren’t for the two of them (Don & Vickie Beaver) and Dean Marie Huff of the Beaver College of Health Sciences selecting me for this scholarship, I would’ve had a drastically different undergraduate experience, and likely wouldn’t be enrolled in graduate school right now.
Photo features Stacy Thornton (far left) with fellow Beaver Scholars and Vickie Beaver (middle). Photo submitted.
Thornton’s interest in speech language pathology began when her grandfather experienced an ischemic stroke that led to hindered motor abilities. Her personal experience led her to pursue this field of study. Now she is heading back to her hometown, where her interest began, to continue pursuing it.
UNC Chapel Hill’s graduate program in speech and hearing sciences appealed to Thornton largely because of her familiarity with the Chapel Hill area. She says that as a native Tar Heel, she is familiar with the clinical placement options as well as the determination and persistence this graduate program values.
Thornton shared that her goal at UNC Chapel Hill is to explore and pursue the medical aspects of speech pathology since this graduate program offers various hands-on opportunities. Starting in the Fall semester, she will start conducting and presenting research under faculty mentors in UNC Chapel Hill’s speech and hearing sciences graduate program. Thornton plans to continue to develop her research that she began at App State for her Honors thesis, and focus more on either dysphagia or adult cognitive rehabilitation.
As Thornton embarks on this next adventure, she has this advice to impart to current Honors College students,
I would emphasize learning to be okay with the uncomfortable. When it comes down to it, growth occurs when you step outside of your comfort zone. You’ll quickly learn how connected everyone is in the grand scheme of things and might land yourself a pivotal opportunity that may not have otherwise been available to you had you stayed in your comfort zone. Undergrad truly is the best time to experience and experiment.
Top photo features Honors College alumna Stacy Thornton. Photo submitted.
