October 19, 2005 – Shirley Luna

Scholarship honoring SFA faculty member established at SFA

The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation has established a scholarship honoring Stephen F. Austin State University faculty member Gil Hanke. The scholarship was announced at the foundation's gala by Debra Bankston, director of the SFA Stanley Speech and Hearing Clinic, along with a former student of Hanke's.

"The idea for this scholarship and the initial donation came from Karen Craig, an alumnae of the program who now lives and works in the Houston area," Bankston said. "Not only was Gil her clinical supervisor, he later became her employer and has been a long-time mentor and friend."

According to Bankston, a member of the executive board of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the scholarship will benefit graduate students in the speech-language pathology program at SFA. Scholarships will be awarded when donations to the fund reach at least $10,000.

"The goal for the fund is at least $20,000, which will generate a $1,000 scholarship annually," Bankston explained. "At the time of its announcement at the gala, more than half the $10,000 had already been raised. Donations are continuing to come in from former students, former patients and professional colleagues from across the state."

Hanke, a speech pathologist, also serves as manager of speech pathology services at Nacogdoches Medical Center and has been very active in his profession at the local, state and national level. He and his family have lived in Nacogdoches for more than 20 years.

For more information about the scholarship, contact Bankston at (936) 468-1252.