Thelma Berland, Damar, has been named the 2008 Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year by the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Berland, a Fort Hays State University alumna, received the honor at the annual conference earlier this month in Overland Park.

Berland was recognized for her dedication to the field and commitment to helping children with communication disorders. During her career, she has also been a mentor and instructor to many students.

She earned a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology from FHSU in 1995. She works for Hill City USD 281.