Hema entered the MA program in Communication Studies in the fall of 2007 with a graduate assistantship award at the University Speaking Center

Hema Yarragunta was honored as one of 6 recipients of the 2007 Betty Dobson Klemm Outstanding Volunteer Award. This honor is awarded by the NC Refugee Program run by the NC Division of Social Services. Hema was one of six people awarded this year. Hema was the only student honored. Hema was recognized for her UNCG student work at Lutheran Family Services (LFS) in appreciation for her hours of dedicated service.

Hema first worked at LFS as part of her Communication and Society course work. The following semester Hema earned internship credit for a speaking center outreach project which found Hema designing and facilitating over 15 oral communication workshops for two groups at LFS. Her training program serviced the needs of both the refugees and the staff at LFS.

At the 2008 National Association of Communication Centers in Colorado Springs, Hema won the Huddy-Gunn graduate student paper competition for the top graduate research paper.

Hema was also named the National Communication Association's (NCA) Communication Centers Section 2008 Outstanding Tutor, to be formally awarded at the upcoming November NCA convention.