The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) Chapter at Faulkner University has been awarded Gold Chapter Honors for attaining a distinguished level of achievement in the areas of member recruitment and engagement, community outreach and service, legislative advocacy and fundraising during the 2023-24 academic year. The announcement was made today by the parent organization, National NSSLHA, whose members are studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD), speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels at college and universities nationwide.
“National NSSLHA chapters made a big difference in their communities this year,” said Hailey Kingsbury, National NSSLHA President, “We are so proud of the work each chapter has done to support students, campuses, and their communities. They embody the NSSLHA core values of leadership, diversity, service, collaboration, education, and integrity every day.”
Through its annual honors program, NSSLHA recognizes outstanding affiliated chapters that have made significant contributions to CSD programs, the national organization, and their local chapters. Chapter Honors are awarded at the bronze, silver, and gold levels.
During the 2023-24 academic year, our students worked hard to raise money and supplies to contribute to multiple community needs at One Place Family Justice Center and Big House Foundation, participated in multiple advocacy opportunities, and participated in monthly meetings to discuss chapter happenings.
Faculty advisor Stephanie Collum reflects on this accomplishment by these students. “This is now the 3rd consecutive year our NSSLHA chapter has received Gold Chapter Honors and we could not be more proud! Our students were up to the challenge to complete all the criteria required to receive this honor from the moment it was brought before them at the first chapter meeting of the year. They were committed and always seeking ways to serve our community and advocate for the profession, both of which are key components to receiving this honor as a chapter. We as a faculty strive to build up and train SLPs who continually seek to help others, and our students are a constant reminder that the future of speech-language pathology is bright!”
The Faulkner University NSSLHA Chapter is one of only 101 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to receive Gold Chapter Honors in 2024.
Efforts made by the NSSLHA Chapter at Faulkner University helped National NSSLHA:
- Increase awareness of communication sciences and disorders (CSD) on 152 local college campuses and in communities across the country as well as through virtual platforms;
- Increase advocacy efforts by sending more than 6,900 letters to state and federal legislators;
- Provide scholarships to students in CSD programs by contributing more than $28,000 to the ASHFoundation’s NSSLHA Scholarship;
- Support CSD-related organizations by donating over $65,000 and 30,500 hours of chapter members’ time.
About the NSSLHA Chapter at Faulkner University
The Faulkner University NSSLHA Chapter was established in 2018. Founded by current program director Dr. Amy Ogburn, it began during the inaugural year of Faulkner University’s Master in Speech-Language Pathology program. During the 2023-2024 school year, under the leadership of chapter faculty advisors Stephanie Collum and Kellie Rine, there were 28 members who played an integral role in the chapter’s success.