CDIS major named Fall 2022 CAS Orange Gown Graduate

Monday, November 28, 2022

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu

The College of Arts and Sciences has once again selected an impressive student to be the December 2022 Orange Gown Graduate. Liesl Melnick, a communication sciences and disorders major and psychology minor, will wear the bright orange robe at commencement on Dec. 17 in recognition of her achievements as an Oklahoma State University undergraduate.

“I couldn't believe CAS chose me out of all the other admirable students,” Melnick said. “I feel honored to represent CAS and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders as the Orange Gown Graduate. I was so excited to tell my friends and my family about this honor.”

The Orange Gown Graduate recognition isn’t Melnick’s first accomplishment while attending OSU. Her achievements include being a member of the honor society, a Wentz Research Scholar and Freshman Research Scholar, being awarded top presenter at the Wentz Symposium, receiving the Honors Experiential Learning Award, placing third in the CAS 3-Minute Thesis competition and earning psychology student of the month back in 2020.

“Additionally, I submitted my honors thesis manuscript to the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences for publication,” Melnick said. “I consider this to be one of my greatest accomplishments as an undergraduate since it required much dedication, time and hard work."  

Department of Psychology professor Dr. Sarah Kucker has worked with Melnick since her freshman year and had many good things to say about Melnick’s studious behaviors and exceptional research capabilities. Now supervising Melnick’s honor thesis, Kucker commended Melnick’s accomplishments and believes her “classroom accomplishments are exceptional, but her scholarly pursuits outside the classroom are what truly set Liesl apart.”

“Liesl is someone who has always had an eye toward her post-graduation plans and has immense potential to succeed in her quest for knowledge,” Kucker said. “I hope to see Liesl as a colleague many years in the future. Liesl is a very bright, forward-thinking and well-rounded individual. She is highly motivated to perform well both in and out of the classroom and has shown a strong ability to continue to excel.”

Last summer, Melnick worked as a behavioral technician with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder and found a passion for working with young children with disabilities. She loved teaching them new skills and enjoyed learning about the children. Melnick is currently applying to speech language pathology master’s programs and hopes to start in the summer or fall of 2023.

“I could list a number of adjectives that would describe Liesl — studious, bright, deep-thinker, conscientious, personable and mature — but none would convey the unique combination of traits that make Liesl an asset to the lab and set her up for future success,” Kucker said. “She is, put simply, one of the most promising scholars I have had the pleasure of working with.”

Story By: Bella Vu, CAS student intern | bella.vu@okstate.edu