Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASSHA)
The Augustana Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASSHA) is a student service and social group that promotes awareness about and provides support for individuals affected by speech, language and hearing impairments. ASSHA is a local affiliate of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association that is affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Each year, ASSHA members provide service and outreach on the Augustana campus and in the Quad Cities community.
President: Jessica Leff
Vice-President: Chassidy Mangers
Secretary: Gina Spinosa
Treasurer: Megan Wethington
Speaker Chair: Kelli Ochenkowski
Service Chair: Taylor Hanson
Historian: Brooke Capp
Royal Neighbors Coordinators: Katie Devore & Lindsay Croegaert
Advisor: Dr. Allison Haskill
Phone: (309) 794-7350
Community
ASSHA members have volunteered to support community agencies such as Hand in Hand, the Autism Society of the Quad Cities and the Rock Island public schools. Each term, members host a parents’ night out event for families who receive services from the Augustana College Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing. For the past two years, ASSHA has sponsored a spring dance for tweens and teens with communication impairments.
Fundraising
ASSHA receives financial support from the Royal Neighbors organization. ASSHA’s primary annual fundraiser is a cookie sale for Halloween. Proceeds from this fundraiser support an annual winter holiday carnival for clients of the Center for Speech, Language, and Hearing and children of Augustana faculty and staff.
Membership
Though most ASSHA members are Communication Sciences and Disorders majors, Augie students from any major are welcome to join. Annual dues are $20. Dues support outreach efforts, administration expenses, and they help defray the cost of the annual student banquet that is held at the end of April. Members are expected to participate in meetings and service projects. Members are encouraged also to join the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Meetings
Monthly meetings are held on the first or second Tuesday of each month from 11:30-12:20 in the Brodahl classroom. Meeting content varies; in addition to reviewing upcoming and previous ASSHA events, guest speakers on speech, language, and hearing topics frequently are invited.
Honors
ASSHA is a well-organized and active group that has received national attention for its fundraising and outreach efforts. The Augustana chapter in 2007 was named the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association Chapter of the Year. Each year, ASSHA members nominate a student to receive chapter honors. The 2010-2011 Augustana NSSLHA student of the year was past president and current NSSLHA regional counselor, Jenna Didier.
