Payton DeGraw - I am Gallaudet | Gallaudet University

Academics

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Payton DeGraw '23

International Studies

Utah

Gallaudet offers many opportunities to feel welcomed! Payton was involved as a student-athlete, Peer Leader, and then Senior Peer Leader at JumpStart, the immersion program for emerging signers. Those roles paved the way for Payton to develop leadership skills. No matter what communication tool(s) you use, you will find your place at Gallaudet, just like Payton did.

New and emerging signers are welcomed at Gallaudet University!

Regardless of your background, communication style, or where you come from, Gallaudet welcomes you! JumpStart, an immersion program for emerging signers, is one of the avenues to plug into as you start your journey at Gallaudet to discover the Deaf culture and have fun learning a new language along the way.

#IAmGallaudet Stories

Explore the stories of a variety of members of our Gallaudet community.

A person with shoulder length blonde hair and navy blue polo shirt is sitting and watching another person sign.

Sabina Shysh

Alumni
Belarus and Arizona

A person with black beard, white polo shirt and khakis, sitting in a chair, with hands clasped.

Elijah Henderson

Alumni
St. Louis, MO

Woman in long sleeve black top smiling at camera in her dorm room.

Annabelle Scroggins

Undergraduate
Texas

Woman sitting with arms crossed over chest, smiling with black hair on top of head, dark green camo jacket and pants.

Midajah Davis

Undergraduate
New York

The #IAmGallaudet campaign is part of The Gallaudet Promise, our ten-year vision to share the story from many different angles and show that there are many different ways to be deaf. These stories are moving, insightful, and often triumphant. These also reflect the importance of the space Gallaudet has offered to nurture the growth of a broad range of successful members of the deaf, hard of hearing, and signing community.