The National Student Speech Language-Hearing Association has awarded the NSSLHA Chapter at the U of A with 2021 Gold Chapter Honors.

Contributions made by the U of A chapter to achieve Gold Chapter Honors included:

• Maintaining National NSSLHA chapter affiliation
• Posting monthly chapter updates in the NSSLHA community
• Maintaining 30 percent national NSSLHA membership within the chapter
• Participating in community outreach activities 
• Participating in legislative advocacy
• Fundraising $200 for ASHFoundation's NSSLHA Scholarship

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

This is the third time the U of A NSSLHA chapter has been awarded Gold Chapter Honors since becoming an RSO on campus.

Along with achieving Gold Honors, the 142 members of the NSSLHA chapter at the U of A also raised money for their chosen local non-profit of the year, Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter. The RSO votes to support a different non-profit organization each year. Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter provides a 24-hour residential emergency triage care for children throughout Arkansas who are victims of abandonment, abuse or neglect. Their mission is to provide these children in crisis with a safe haven, high quality care and hope for the future. The shelter also has an on-site school for children in Pre-K through 12th grade. They provide children with basic needs that they deserve: a warm bed; consistent, balanced meals; healthy snacks; well-fitting clothes; access to baths/showers; and personal hygiene items. The U of A NSSLHA chapter raised money through percentage nights and other endevours. Additionally, they hosted a drive to collect items NACS is in need of, including clothes, toiletries and snacks. 

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 the 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.