NSSHLA, the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is a pre-professional membership association for students who are interested in, or studying Communication Science and Disorders. The FSU chapter boasts 120 members with around 80-90 active members, according to Eric Curkan, NSSHLA President. Most recently, NSSHLA traveled to the annual ASHA Convention. ASHA, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, held the 2014 Annual Convention of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, in Orlando on November 22-24, 2014.
Because of it’s close proximity, 25 NSSHLA members accompanied faculty and doctoral students to the convention. “We listened to lectures from many professionals in the field, which was insightful,” shared Curkan. “There were research posters and technology for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to use in their clinical work set up to view.” Eric and a few others were selected by ASHA among many applicants to serve as volunteers for the convention. One day of volunteering covered the student’s admission into the convention. Student volunteers were responsible for directing traffic from overflow rooms and set up AV equipment in rooms. “It was a great learning experience as pre-professionals,” said Curkan.
The Florida State chapter of NSSHLA was recognized at the convention. The chapter was recognized for “Chapter with most submissions to NSSHLA and ASHA awards, scholarships, and grant competitions” and was 1st runner-up for “Chapter with most students registered for the ASHA Convention.”
Presenters:
Alexandra Saa & Dr. Carla Wood presented, “Relationship between Caregiver Language Dominance & KG Children’s English Vocabulary Performance & Growth.”
Kili Meckler presented her Honor’s thesis, “Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Oral Narratives: Spanish-English Speaking Kindergarten Children and Non-Mainstream Dialect.”
Jessica Perrin presented, “Use of Capacity Building Coaching Strategies in Parent-Implemented Early Intervention.”
Ariel Basden presented a poster with Emily Diehm & Dr. Carla Wood, “Preschools Use of Action, Mental-State, and Linguistic Verbs in Response to Static and Animated Stories.”
The poster was awarded a Meritorious Poster Submission award.
