Communicative disorders student Naomi “Samantha” Brugman
Naomi “Samantha” Brugman’s younger brother struggled with an articulation disorder in elementary school. After school, she practiced sounds, syllables and words with him until he became confident in speaking.
Helping her brother sparked her interest in studying speech-language therapy.
“I want to help others find their voice,” said Brugman, a Cal State Fullerton student majoring in communicative disorders.
“I’ve come to appreciate the profound impact speech therapists have — from helping infants learn the crucial suck-swallow-breathe pattern to enabling adults to regain communication skills lost due to neurological conditions.”
Brugman aspires to a career working with older adults with neurodegenerative diseases and speech and language conditions.
“Samantha is a dedicated student with a clear goal to become a speech-language pathologist,” said HyeKyeung Seung, chair and professor of communication sciences and disorders. “She has a bright future ahead.”
To help Brugman finish college, she was awarded a $2,000 Emeriti Memorial Scholarship from the Emeriti Association of Cal State Fullerton.
“The Emeriti scholarship is making a huge difference in my life by helping to pay for school,” said Brugman, who works part time as a city recreation leader. “Balancing school, work and family responsibilities can be overwhelming, but this scholarship will give me some much-needed breathing room.”
Naomi “Samantha” Brugman thanks members of the Emeriti Association of Cal State Fullerton for awarding her a scholarship.
Brugman, the first in her family to attend college, earned three associate degrees from Fullerton College before transferring to CSUF.
She has participated in university programs to help her reach her academic and career goals, including the “Professions Advancing and Transforming Health Academy,” which supports and trains students interested in pursuing careers in health fields. As a participant in the PATH Research Scholars Program, her project focused on the benefits of speech therapy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Brugman enrolled in the Career Center’s “I Am First” program, which offers career and leadership development for first-generation college students. She continues to receive counseling from the Educational Opportunity Program and guidance at the Transfer Adult Re-entry Parenting and Pregnant Student Center.
“Becoming a Titan was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” she said. “CSUF has opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed. Joining these programs set me up for success.”
Brugman has gained work experience in her discipline by volunteering 200 hours in the speech therapy unit at UCI Medical Center to assist patients dealing with conditions such as strokes and traumatic brain injuries. She is also a camp counselor at RAD Camp — Rising Above Disabilities — and works with children and adults with Down syndrome.
After earning her bachelor’s degree next year, Brugman plans to pursue a master’s in communicative disorders at CSUF. The path includes completing a one-year clinical fellowship and obtaining a state license and a national certificate of clinical competence to work in hospitals and private practice clinics.
“Speech therapy has the power to connect people to the world around them — and that’s the impact I want to make,” she said.