News

TRANSCRIPT

[The Gallaudet Today logo appears on the upper right corner of the screen. On the bottom right corner is the Gallaudet University logo]

[Elijah Pietsch-Wolfe stands in front of a tree starting to shed its leaves. The remaining leaves are vividly colored red and orange shades, and the rest are on the ground covering the grass and bushes. Behind Pietsch-Wolfe is the Edward Miner Gallaudet (EMG) Welcome Center. Yellow umbrellas dot the periphery.

Pietsch-Wolfe dons a blue windbreaker with the Gallaudet logo on the upper right corner, and a black shirt underneath. Pietsch-Wolfe has a clean-shaven head, goatee, wears glasses, dangly black earrings, and a necklace.]

[Lower thirds identify Pietsch-Wolfe as Undergraduate, Social Work and Psychology.]

Happy you’re here today! I’m Elijah (sign name). I am an undergraduate student here at Gallaudet majoring in Social Work and Psychology, class of 2028. I will summarize the latest Gallaudet news. Ready?

Homecoming 2026 brings the Bison spirit

Homecoming is done! Wow… Bison from all over congregated here on campus. Alumni, students, faculty, and staff came together to mingle and enjoy themselves.

We celebrated our shared history, culture, and community. Want to re-live Homecoming? Go online! There are cool photos you can look at and appreciate.

Vergena Chee is curating a legacy of her own

Alumni Vergena Chee [sign name] grew up on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. She later came to Gallaudet, and majored in Art History. Now she is a teacher at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB). Her motivation is providing support for young deaf children to thrive, especially Indigenous Deaf children.

Vergena also partnered with Gallaudet National Deaf Life Museum. She was one of several Indigenous curators for an exhibit called “We, Native Deaf People, Are Still Here!”

Handwaves!

Deaf nurses turn setbacks into success and pave the way for future students

It is cool that more and more deaf people are involved in healthcare. Two Gallaudet alumni – Britny Bensman [sign name] and Bethany Baker [“Bebe”] are both successful nurses.

Recently, [the two of them] participated on a panel with another deaf nurse. The three nurses shared how they faced challenges, continue staying motivated, and advice for other deaf who want to become nurses.

Amazing work!

Decades of global advocacy and partnership: Gallaudet and the World Federation of the Deaf

The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) uplifts deaf and hard of hearing people around the world. WFD recently celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Did you know that WFD and Gallaudet have connections? A past WFD President, Yerker Andersson [sign name] was a Gallaudet alumni and staff member. The current WFD President, Dr. Joseph J. Murray [sign name] is a Professor of Deaf Studies here at Gallaudet.

Many other Gallaudet alumni, students, faculty, staff have been involved with WFD over the years. Gallaudet and WFD share a goal of improving rights and visibility for deaf communities worldwide.

Deaf pride!

Want to learn more about each story and event? Visit the Gallaudet website.

[Points to windbreaker] Like this? Go to the Bison Shop. On campus and online.

See you, Gallaudet!