Medal-winner devoted to helping children speak

Jubilee Medal in Social Sciences

Morgan McCririck, the top student in the faculty of social sciences, is straightforward about her drive to succeed.

"I didn’t want to waste my time and have to come back," says the psychology and linguistics major. "I study to understand the work, not just to do well on a test. I’ve always been like that."

McCririck is also well aware of the competition she faces for graduate school. "I’m applying for a master’s in speech and language pathology at the University of Alberta," she says. "It’s really tough to get into the program."

Her decision to become a speech pathologist was inspired in part by her godmother. "She’s a speech pathologist, too. I’ve volunteered with her and she loves her job."

McCririck has also worked with children who use special devices and techniques to help them communicate. "They might use computers to communicate, or point at picture books to show what they want to say. Some children have their own personal methods that they’ve developed with their speech pathologist."

McCririck has worked at Virtual Voices, a speech therapy camp, and Summerside Express, a camp for children with special needs. She’s also done one-on-one work with children with autism and cerebral palsy.

"I love kids, and working with them is the best job you could ask for. I can see the potential that all of the special needs children have—they just need a little extra support to reach it."

McCririck was assisted during her studies by the Howard Petch Scholarship and the Columbia Coast Scholarship.