Five Scholarship Awards to be presented at 17th Annual TWU Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon Honoring
Dale Petroskey for his leadership in the community
Meghan Labiak, a graduate student pursuing a Dual MBA/MHSM (Master of Business Administration and Master of Health System Management) in Texas Woman’s University’s new College of Business (COB), which opened in 2018, is the inaugural Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship Recipient from that college. She will be honored as one of five scholarship recipients, representing each of TWU’s colleges, on February 27 at the 17th Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Bank of Texas, Texas Woman’s University, and the Texas Woman’s University Foundation, at The Belo Mansion and Pavilion. She expects to complete her coursework in 2020.
Labiak has 8 ½ years of experience as a licensed speech language pathologist and has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and skilled nursing facilities. Labiak resides in Dallas and is currently employed at Parkland Hospital, where she treats adults who have sustained acquired brain injuries.
A native of Bellmore, New York, Labiak was influenced by two hard-working parents. Her father is an engineer, and her mother is a physical therapist.
“Both of my parents moved into leadership roles within their occupations, and I always knew I wanted to do something in health care,” added Labiak. “My mother guided me toward a career in speech pathology. While my work at the bedside has been extremely rewarding, I have seen many changes within the healthcare industry and know that many more are on the horizon,” said Meghan Labiak. “I feel as though my experience as a frontline clinician will be extremely beneficial as a manager or health care employee in a different capacity.”
Labiak completed her bachelor’s in speech language pathology at Towson University in Maryland, where she played Division I Soccer and was awarded the Maryland Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (MACDA) Post-Graduate Scholarship. She then completed her master’s in speech language pathology at Columbia University, Teachers College, and graduated in 2010.
“I feel so honored to be receiving this scholarship,” added Labiak. “The fact that Virginia Chandler Dykes has accomplished so much within the field of rehabilitation makes it even more special for me. I am thankful to continue my studies with reduced financial burden.”
“Meghan Labiak is a professional, a practicing speech pathologist working in the health care industry who came to the College of Business to hone her business skills,” said Dr. James Lumpkin, Dean, College of Business. “Completing her MBA will allow her to gain relevant management skills that will help her advance professionally, and the COB is proud to place a spotlight on this deserving young woman.”
In addition to Labiak, graduate students from the remaining four TWU colleges will be honored at the luncheon as recipients of Virginia Chandler Dykes scholarship funds: Patricia Flint, College of Education; Amie Bedgood, College of Nursing; Paramita Basu, College of Arts and Sciences; and Janice Kishi Chow, College of Health Sciences, OT.
In the past 16 years, more than $700,000 has been raised for scholarships from the proceeds of this luncheon. TWU’s 17th Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon, on February 27 at the Belo Mansion and Pavilion, will honor Dale Petroskey, president and CEO, Dallas Regional Chamber as the 2019 recipient of the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award. Tickets for the February 27 luncheon are $175 for silver patron; $250 for gold patron. For more information, call 940-898-3865, visit www.twu.edu/vcd, or email kquinones@twu.edu.
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest public university primarily for women with 15,500 students at its three locations in Denton, Dallas and Houston. Texas Woman’s is known for its contributions and leadership in the fields of education, nutrition, business, the arts and sciences, and especially in the nursing and health care professions. The university offers the student support, class sizes and campus esthetics more typically found at a private university. For more information, visit www.twu.edu or call 940-TWU-2000.