Zabia Evans, a Speech-Language Pathology graduate student, has been awarded the Tracking Foundation Scholarship by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. This competitive award recognizes academically talented and highly motivated African-American or Black students pursuing degrees across various disciplines, and can be renewed annually for up to four years.
Evans, who graduated from ODU in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, earned a 4.0 GPA. Her commitment to serving marginalized communities, particularly dual-language learners, has been a guiding force throughout her studies. She also participated in a study abroad program in Belize, where she worked with dual-language learners and gained valuable clinical experience. The trip not only expanded her skills but deepened her passion for serving underrepresented communities. Her desire to address health disparities and improve care for historically disenfranchised populations is central to her goals as a future clinician.
“She is an absolutely exceptional student,” said Dr. Stacie Raymer, Professor and Chair of the School of Speech-Language Pathology, who expressed her pride in seeing Evans be rewarded for all of her hard work.
With the support of this scholarship, Evans continues to embody the leadership and resilience that define ODU students. She plans to use her education to bridge gaps in care and make a lasting impact on the communities she serves.