SARASOTA, Fla. (May 14, 2019) – The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) has awarded the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s NSSLHA chapter with Gold Chapter Honors. Gold Chapter Honors is the highest recognition a NSSLHA chapter can attain. “It was so great to see the chapter’s board set a goal and meet it,” instructor and chapter advisor Jenna Luque, PhD, said. “They did an amazing job allowing this chapter and its members to shine. I am proud to be an advisor to one of the top NSSLHA programs in the country.” The NSSLHA recognizes college chapters for supporting its mission to inspire, empower and support students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs. USF Sarasota-Manatee’s NSSLHA chapter received Gold Chapter Honors on May 1. The chapter was founded in 2013 to assist CSD students and promote awareness about CSD programs. “The 2018-2019 USFSM NSSLHA chapter was the first to be recognized nationally at USFSM, and our work has created a solid foundation for future CSD students to build upon,” said USFSM graduate and NSSLHA chapter President Amanda Chalaire. A former high school English teacher, Chalaire earned a Bachelor of Science degree in CSD this past May. She recently relocated to Mandeville, Louisiana, where she’s working to become a certified speech-language pathologist. USF Sarasota-Manatee offers degrees in CSD with a concentration in speech-language sciences (SLS). A degree in CSD-SLS prepares students for graduate school or employment as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant in educational and healthcare settings. To win the award, USFSM’s chapter helped national NSSLHA to: – Increase awareness of communication sciences and disorders at more than 100 college campuses and communities nationwide – Send more than 10,000 letters to state and federal legislators to promote awareness of CSD – Raise funds to provide an $18,000 donation to the ASHFoundation’s NSSLHA Scholarship. “Our current USFSM NSSLHA board has worked with dedication and hard work to reach its goal of Gold Chapter Honors,” said assistant professor and chapter co-advisor Sarah Szynkiewicz, PhD. “This is an exciting time for the USFSM NSSLHA chapter and I am very proud of the board and its members.” To learn more about USF Sarasota-Manatee’s communication sciences and disorders program, visit usfsm.edu/academics/programs-and-majors/undergraduate/communication-sciences-and-disorders/index.aspx. ### |
About the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD) recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Established in 1972, NSSLHA supports 12,040+ members and 320+ chapters at colleges and universities nationwide.About USF Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM)USF Sarasota-Manatee is a regional campus of the University of South Florida system, offering the prestige of a nationally ranked research university with the convenience of a hometown location, including classes in Manatee and Sarasota counties, Venice and online. USFSM is ideal for those interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit in a small, personal setting with distinguished faculty and a dynamic curriculum of more than 40 academic programs. Website: www.usfsm.edu. |