Transforming Lives One Word at a Time: HSU’s Innovative Speech Camp Empowers Children

This summer, Hardin-Simmons University once again demonstrated its commitment to serving the Abilene community through the continuation of its transformative Summer Speech Camp. 

Backed by a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Abilene and strengthened by generous university and community support, the camp provided specialized, multidisciplinary therapy to 70 local students with communication challenges. 

Over the course of two weeks, children participated in structured 30-minute sessions of speech therapy, music therapy, and hippotherapy, totaling 15 hours of treatment. Hosted by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department (CSD), parents paid only $20 for services that would typically cost between $750 and $1,000. 

These services bridged the critical gap between school-based therapy and the unique needs of children during the summer months. While federal and state programs provide essential in-school therapy, many students still fall short of grade-level expectations. HSU’s Summer Speech Camp sought to narrow that gap with compassion, creativity, and evidence-based care. 

One student, initially hesitant, approached the horse on day one with tearful eyes and trembling hands. He agreed to ride—just for one minute. The next day, he returned with a smile, rode confidently for the entire session, and declared, “I want to be a cowboy!” His journey from hesitation to joy captures the spirit of the camp: helping children overcome fear and discover their strength. 

Another camper, struggling for months to pronounce the “k” sound, found unexpected success while lying on his back during a hippotherapy session. The rhythmic motion of the horse and the change in body position activated new muscle memory. For the first time, he produced the sound clearly—and with pride. 

Sierra Reeder, one of the student clinicians, discovered an effective technique during hippotherapy sessions.  

“For students working on producing the /k/ and /g/ sounds, I had them lie on their backs while riding the horse,” she explained. “In that position, they could feel how their tongue naturally settled toward the back of their mouth, which made it easier to produce those back sounds.” 

These breakthroughs, while small on the surface, are foundational building blocks in a child’s communication and confidence. 

“This experience made everything I’ve been learning in class feel more real and showed me just how much I really am excited to become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP),” said Reeder, a senior from Fort Worth. “I learned how to adapt activities in the moment, use different types of cues, and connect with each child in a way that helped support them.” 

The camp also provided parents with a deeper insight into their children’s abilities, offering hope and tools to foster continued growth at home. 

On the last day of camp, one student’s mother approached Reeder to share the impact.  

“She told me how much improvement she and her husband have seen in their son and thanked me for all my help,” Reeder recalled. “Hearing that kind of feedback from a parent reminded me why I want to do this work. It showed how even small steps in therapy can make a big difference for families.” 

For Courtney Manz, a senior from Katy, the experience confirmed her calling.  

“I fell in love with the idea of becoming an SLP when I was 14 years old,” she said. “There were times during college when I questioned if this was still the field I truly wanted to pursue. However, after camp, there was no doubt in my mind that God had put me exactly where I needed to be.” 

HSU’s Summer Speech Camp stands as a shining example of what’s possible when faith, education, and community engagement intersect. It is not just about teaching children how to speak—it’s about giving them the confidence to be heard. 

This summer, Hardin-Simmons University once again demonstrated its commitment to serving the Abilene community through the continuation of its transformative Summer Speech Camp. 

Backed by a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Abilene and strengthened by generous university and community support, the camp provided specialized, multidisciplinary therapy to 70 local students with communication challenges. 

Over the course of two weeks, children participated in structured 30-minute sessions of speech therapy, music therapy, and hippotherapy, totaling 15 hours of treatment. Hosted by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department (CSD), parents paid only $20 for services that would typically cost between $750 and $1,000. 

These services bridged the critical gap between school-based therapy and the unique needs of children during the summer months. While federal and state programs provide essential in-school therapy, many students still fall short of grade-level expectations. HSU’s Summer Speech Camp sought to narrow that gap with compassion, creativity, and evidence-based care. 

One student, initially hesitant, approached the horse on day one with tearful eyes and trembling hands. He agreed to ride—just for one minute. The next day, he returned with a smile, rode confidently for the entire session, and declared, “I want to be a cowboy!” His journey from hesitation to joy captures the spirit of the camp: helping children overcome fear and discover their strength. 

Another camper, struggling for months to pronounce the “k” sound, found unexpected success while lying on his back during a hippotherapy session. The rhythmic motion of the horse and the change in body position assisted him in achieving the precise tongue movements for the sound. For the first time, he produced the sound clearly—and with pride. 

Sierra Reeder, one of the student clinicians, discovered an effective technique during hippotherapy sessions.  

“For students working on producing the /k/ and /g/ sounds, I had them lie on their backs while riding the horse,” she explained. “In that position, they could feel how their tongue naturally settled toward the back of their mouth, which made it easier to produce those back sounds.” 

These breakthroughs, while small on the surface, are foundational building blocks in a child’s communication and confidence. 

“This experience made everything I’ve been learning in class feel more real and showed me just how much I really am excited to become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP),” said Reeder, a senior from Fort Worth. “I learned how to adapt activities in the moment, use different types of cues, and connect with each child in a way that helped support them.” 

The camp also provided parents with a deeper insight into their children’s abilities, offering hope and tools to foster continued growth at home. 

On the last day of camp, one student’s mother approached Reeder to share the impact.  

“She told me how much improvement she and her husband have seen in their son and thanked me for all my help,” Reeder recalled. “Hearing that kind of feedback from a parent reminded me why I want to do this work. It showed how even small steps in therapy can make a big difference for families.” 

For Courtney Manz, a senior from Katy, the experience confirmed her calling.  

“I fell in love with the idea of becoming an SLP when I was 14 years old,” she said. “There were times during college when I questioned if this was still the field I truly wanted to pursue. However, after camp, there was no doubt in my mind that God had put me exactly where I needed to be.” 

HSU’s Summer Speech Camp stands as a shining example of what’s possible when faith, education, and community engagement intersect. It is not just about teaching children how to speak—it’s about giving them the confidence to be heard.