Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern's NSSLHA Chapter receives national honor

Contact: Rene Abadie

8/8/11

     HAMMOND – The National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association recently awarded the Bronze Chapter Recognition Award of 2011 to the local chapter at Southeastern Louisiana University.
     This honor is awarded to chapters that demonstrate an awareness of student issues and concerns, outreach to the community, educational opportunities, and social and fund-raising activities promoting the profession and the national association. NSSLHA is a pre-professional membership association for students interested in the study of communication sciences and disorders. 
     “Our members are extremely active and work very hard in the areas of fundraising, community service, advocacy, and career awareness,” says Lillian Stiegler, professor of speech pathology at Southeastern and the NSSLHA chapter advisor. “For the past two years, our chapter has represented our region in the Knowledge Bowl at the national convention, and at the 2010 convention in Philadelphia we won third place in the nation. We’re well known on the national level for the strength of our organization.”
     Chapters receiving “Bronze” recognition must meet several requirements, including being in good standing with the national association, participation in Communication Sciences and Disorders Awareness Month, and participation in advocacy issues, including letter-writing or meetings with elected officials. 
     Southeastern’s chapter – part of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders – has approximately 60 members and is one of more than 300 chapters nationally. According to Stiegler, Southeastern is the only chapter in Louisiana to receive this award.