This is a guest blog post by student leader, Haylie Walker ’27, a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Major in the College of Communication and 2023 Washington County Lilly Endowment Scholar. Haylie is a Diverse Learners Minor (College of Education), a Butler Student Ambassador withh the Office of Admissions, Events Team Lead with the Butler Ambassadors for Special Olympics, and a member of the Butler National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Thank you, Haylie!

As students, we are not meant to do our learning in one environment. Experiential learning is how we build connections, gain real-life experiences, and apply what we have learned in meaningful ways. This is exactly what we did on our inaugural Butler SLHS Trek to Washington D.C.

Arriving in D.C., we were excited and ready to explore! We packed a lot of experience into a few short days, and we hit the ground running (there is also a recap video below that shows you more of what I’m writing about).

Our first stop, the Planet Word museum was the perfect place to begin. Located in the historic Franklin School building, Planet Word brings language and literacy to life in their interactive exhibits. From singing karaoke together to learning new languages, we were reminded how powerful communication truly is. I especially appreciated that our trek allowed us to explore some of the unique sites in D.C. while allowing for visits to iconic monuments and time spent exploring the National Portrait Gallery as a group.

Day two was both busy and meaningful! After meeting with the advocacy team at American Speech-Language-and Hearing Association’s (ASHA) lobbyist offices, we headed to Capitol Hill to meet with representatives from Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. We advocated for Speech Pathology and Audiology programs to be recognized as professional degrees, which would allow for better representation in our field and increased access to graduate school funding. Using my own voice to advocate for an issue that directly shapes my future was an incredibly powerful moment for me.

Our last day was spent touring Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf and hard of hearing. We were able to tour their Speech Pathology graduate program and learn about how students become immersed into their flourishing ASL community.

Looking back, this trip was so much more than just a fun experience—it was a turning point for me. It showed me that the issues we talk about in class are real, and that students like me have a place in those conversations. I left D.C. realizing that change is possible, and that it starts with being willing to step up, speak out, and believe that my voice can make a difference.