FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association has awarded the NSSLHA Chapter at University of Arkansas with 2019 Gold Chapter Honors.

Efforts made by the U of A chapter at the University of Arkansas helped national association:

• Increase awareness of communication sciences and disorders on more than 100 local college campuses and communities across the country
• Increase advocacy efforts by sending more than 10,000 letters to state and federal legislators
• Provide scholarships to students in communication sciences and disorders programs by contributing to a donation of more than $18,000 to the ASHFoundation's NSSLHA Scholarship

"It has been an honor to serve as the NSSLHA president and watch our chapter grow this past year," said Amy Meek, the 2018-19 president of the University of Arkansas chapter. "This was our first year to earn Gold Chapter Honors, which was a huge goal set by the 2018-19 Executive Board. Gold Chapter Honors entails maintaining affiliation with national NSSLHA, posting monthly chapter updates in the NSSLHA blog community, maintaining 30% or more national NSSLHA membership in our local chapter, participating in at least two community outreach activities and two legislative advocacy activities, and donating to the ASHFoundation's NSSLHA scholarship fund. In addition, University of Arkansas NSSLHA reached record high numbers for membership at 150 members and fundraised $900 for the Speech Therapy and Audiology Department at Arkansas Children's Northwest Hospital." 

This is the first time the University of Arkansas NSSLHA chapter has been awarded Gold Chapter Honors since becoming an RSO on campus.

National NSSLHA Chapter Honors are awarded to affiliated NSSLHA chapters that demonstrate an outstanding effort to support National NSSLHA's mission to inspire, empower, and support students in communication sciences and disorders programs.

About the NSSLHA Chapter at the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Chapter of NSSLHA assists in providing professional development for students and professionals associated with communication disorders, providing information about the profession to students and the community, and serves as a vehicle for positive growth toward the awareness of communication disorders. Membership is open to all students enrolled at the University of Arkansas. For additional information, check out the University of Arkansas NSSLHA Facebook or HOGSync page.

About National Student Speech Language Hearing Association: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association  is the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Established in 1972, National NSSLHA is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, and supports 13,400-plus members and 300-plus chapters at colleges and universities nationwide.