29th Annual Convention · July 23 – 25, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton O'Hare Rosemont · Chicago, IL Register TodayBook Your Hotel RoomGraduate Student Training Program
Applications for the 2026 Friends Convention GSTP are now open
Download a flyer here to share with your departments and colleagues, and help spread the word about this incredible training opportunity.
Due Date: May 1, 2026
Friends developed the Graduate Student Training Program (GSTP) to help graduate students in communication sciences and disorders get a better understanding of stuttering and the experience of stuttering for young people and their families. The GSTP provides students with the opportunity to closely observe the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions associated with stuttering in children, teens, young adults, and their families.
Students participating in the GSTP are required to attend all three days of the convention, attend one pre- and one post-convention educational meeting, and volunteer during the convention by assisting experienced speech-language pathologists in the children’s workshops. During the convention, students will have the opportunity to work with stuttering specialists, ask questions, learn from children who stutter, and gain invaluable experiences.
In addition to the priceless learning opportunity, participation in the GSTP also includes:
- A reduced convention registration rate of $200 for accepted GSTP participants
- A full meal pass: Friends will provide delicious cooked-to-order daily breakfast, buffet meals for lunch, and plated meals for dinner. In addition, there will be complimentary snacks, and evening Happy Hour during all conference days. The only meal that is not included is dinner on Friday. Check out the tentative schedule for more details on meals!
- A ticket to the Saturday night banquet with dinner, karaoke, and dancing
If you have any questions, please email Dr. Tricia Zebrowski at tricia-zebrowski@uiowa.edu.
The graduate students will:
Obtain information on stuttering and receive hands on experience with children who stutter
Observe what the young person who stutters experiences throughout the three day convention, and see children’s transformations from the beginning of convention to end
Learn how to successfully engage children who stutter in conversation
Help each child become as comfortable as possible when talking and learning about stuttering, given the guidance and support of the workshop facilitator
The program’s mission is:
To provide a valuable and unique experience for graduate students studying speech-language pathology over a three day period working with young people who stutter and their families by learning from experienced stuttering specialists
In order to get the most out of this experience, we require graduate students to attend the entire convention. This provides consistency and increases comfort for the children who stutter while providing the graduate student with a more comprehensive experience and greater knowledge about stuttering.
If you are interested in this program:
Apply here by May 1st.
Application decisions will be made and communicated after the May 1 deadline. If accepted into the GSTP program, you will still need to register for the convention by clicking here. Be sure to select the ‘graduate student’ registration option. Accepted GSTP participants receive a reduced registration rate of $200.