SLP Student Awarded American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Scholarship

Applying for grad school was very stressful for Qurratulaain “Annie” Imran ‘27SLP. There were countless times she called her parents and friends feeling dejected and asking them to convince her to drop out because she couldn’t afford higher education.

“Every single one of those people told me to keep my faith and keep going,” said Imran. “I had reached a point where I just gave it my best by applying to scholarships, holding down multiple jobs, and putting my faith in help coming when I least expected it.”

They all were right. Help did come when she least expected it: the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) awarded her a 2025 Graduate Student Scholarship of $5,000 to support her education studies.

“What’s funny is that my friends and I were having a picnic where we were sharing what our hopes were for the rest of the year, to which I had replied, ‘Being able to pay for grad school.’ That same day I checked my email to find a message that notified me of being awarded this scholarship,” said Imran.

She said the scholarship was a sign to her to keep moving forward and to keep working hard. “It truly makes me feel like this path is destined for me and it only strengthens my passion in finding new ways to benefit my community,” she said.

Born in Pakistan but raised in South Jersey, Imran graduated from Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey with a degree in biology. The more she began to learn about the SLP profession, the more she began to believe that it was the right career path to pursue.

She completed the Post-baccalaureate program in Speech-Language Pathology at what was then Salus University – now Drexel University, Elkins Park campus, after the two institutions merged in July 2025 – and decided to stay and apply to the Master of Science SLP program at the University.

“What really solidified my decision was seeing how passionate the faculty were about this profession. Their excitement gave me a sense of pride to be on this path,” she said. “Their passion went beyond just their own individual careers. It became undeniable to me that the faculty genuinely cared about my success.”

Imran added that in the early stages of graduate school, when she would start to doubt whether she could accomplish her career goals, her professors would validate her fears and promise her she would get the hang of things.

One of up to 15 students across the country who received the scholarship, Imran had the opportunity to attend the ASHA convention in Washington, D.C., in November 2025 to be recognized as one of the scholarship recipients. Scholarships are available to students who are undergraduate seniors or who are currently pursuing master's or doctoral degrees. Both research and clinical doctorate students are eligible.

“No matter where I end up or where I go, I hope that I can take what I've learned and use it to uplift those around me who did not have the same opportunities and privileges as me,” said Imran.