Ms. Krista Canida

Ms. Krista Canida

The Jackson College of Graduate Studies is pleased to present the 2009-10 E. C. Hall Award to

Ms. Krista Canida
of Speech Language Pathology

As a program, we could not be more proud that Krista Canida is being recognized with the E.C. Hall Award from the Jackson College of Graduate Studies. Krista is originally from Centrahoma, Oklahoma, and graduated from Coalgate High School. Krista transferred from East Central University and entered the undergraduate sequence for Speech-Language Pathology in August 2006. She was a truly outstanding student throughout her undergraduate and graduate educational programs at UCO. She maintained a 4.00 in her major courses as well as all other courses completed during her degree programs. In most cases, at least within my courses, she consistently set the standard and achieved at the top of her class in almost every course.

Krista was an exemplary student citizen. She always demonstrated the highest regard for her classmates and faculty during and outside of class. Krista contributed valuable comments and questions and provided important feedback regarding the information being provided. She maintained the highest standards of conduct in all of her interactions representing the university and the program. During her undergraduate program, Krista worked as a Habilitation Training Specialist, assisting families with children who were disabled. Krista served as a graduate assistant in the OSD/UCO Preschool for Children with Hearing Impairment during the 2008-2009 academic year. I know she was a highly valued member of that team and represented UCO in the best possible light through her interactions with the children and their parents.

In her on-campus and off-campus clinical assignments, consistently received high praise for her clinical abilities, which is the ultimate test of a student’s ability to demonstrate and apply what he or she has learned in class. Krista has accepted employment with Deer Creek Public Schools and I am confident she will continue to represent UCO in the best way while she contributes to our profession. Krista is an excellent candidate to receive this prestigious award!

Ms. Nicole Ballard Marcoux

Ms. Nicole Ballard Marcoux

The Jackson College of Graduate Studies is pleased to present the 2010-11 E. C. Hall Award to

Ms. Nicole Ballard Marcoux
of School Psychology

Nicole Ballard Marcoux, a native Texan and recent University of Central Oklahoma graduate, received the 2010-11 E.C. Hall Award from Central's Jackson College of Graduate Studies for her outstanding academic success while attending Central.

Named in honor of Central's first graduate college dean, the E.C. Hall Award is presented each year to the graduate student who achieves the highest academic record.

Nicole Ballard Marcoux, who first went into fashion merchandising, in New York City, came to UCO as a Counseling Psychology major and then as a School Psychology major. She has distinguished herself by her constant pursuit of perfection. While completing the graduate program in school psychology at UCO, she served as student representative to the National Association of School Psychologists, presented at two national conferences, and served as a TA in the UCO Learning & Behavior Clinic.  She is now completing her post-graduate internship at Norman Public Schools where she serves as a school psychologist for two Norman elementary schools.

Nicole is committed to her new profession and truly exemplifies that for school psychologists, "Kids are our only business."  She is sorely missed at the UCO Learning & Behavior Clinic.

Ms. Samantha Lay

Ms. Samantha Lay

Ms. Samantha Lay
of Speech-Language Pathology

Samantha graduated from Muskogee High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 2006. She enrolled at UCO in Fall semester of 2006 and entered the Speech-Language Pathology undergraduate major in Fall 2008. Ms. Lay was one of a select group of students who were permitted to participate in clinical practicum as seniors due to her superior level of achievement in her junior level classes. In Spring semester 2010, Samantha applied to the graduate program and was selected in the first round to begin her graduate studies in Summer 2010.

Samantha was an outstanding student throughout her undergraduate and graduate programs at UCO. She maintained a 3.86 GPA in her undergraduate coursework and a 4.00 in all of her graduate courses. She consistently set the standard and achieved at or near the top of her class in every course. She was named to the President’s Honor Roll or the Dean’s Honor Roll in every semester in which she was eligible.

Throughout her undergraduate and graduate programs, Samantha earned high praise for her clinical abilities, which is the ultimate test of a student’s ability to grasp academic concepts and apply them to clinical problems to help the people he or she works with. Samantha has accepted employment with the Norman Public Schools.