Student Organization Receives National Recognition

The University of Scranton’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA), was awarded Gold Chapter Honors for attaining a distinguished level of achievement in the areas of member recruitment and engagement, community outreach and service, legislative advocacy and fundraising during the 2022-23 academic year.

NSSLHA 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, the national NSSLHA supports nearly 11,000 members and more than 350 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide. NSSLHA members are studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD), speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels at college and universities nationwide.

“We are so proud of the 2022-23 Gold Chapter Honors awardees, and we congratulate them on all they’ve achieved this year,” said NSSLHA Executive Council President Gabrielle Howard in announcing the chapters receiving gold status. “Each chapter demonstrated a deep commitment to its members, its community, and the professions, and embodied NSSLHA’s values in the areas of collaboration, diversity, education, integrity, leadership and service.”

Each year, NSSLHA recognizes outstanding affiliated chapters that have made significant contributions to CSD programs, the national organization and their local chapters. Chapter Honors are awarded at the bronze, silver and gold levels.

During the 2022-23 academic year, The University of Scranton’s NSSLHA chapter participated in multiple community outreach and legislative activities, including partnering with the Bjorn This Way Foundation raising more than $1,000 to provide speech-language pathology services to individuals with communication disorders. The chapter distributed information for stuttering awareness day, including tips on communicating with individuals who stutter, and worked with the University’s parking services to update accessible parking signs to reflect person-first language. The chapter plans to suggest the same signage changes for the City of Scranton during the next academic year. The chapter participated with Take Action Letters through NSSLHA to request that Congress permanently cover telehealth services under Medicare after the pandemic public health emergency coverage was over.

“I am incredibly proud of all of our chapter members for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year. This is our first full-year as a chapter and first year we were eligible to receive chapter honors. I am elated that we were able to receive Gold Chapter Honors this year,” said Megan Knecht, Scranton’s NSSLHA chapter president. Knecht, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton.

Other student members of Scranton’s NSSLHA chapter are:

Amelia E. Alacqua, Sewell, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Ava N. Amato, Middlesex, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Alessia N. Clericuzio, Monroe, Connecticut, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Sofia B. Colucci, Saint James, New York, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Maggie J. Cygan, Schnecksville, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Emma D. Dougherty, Ambler, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Madison G. Dunlop, Oreland, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Mianicole Duverge, Scranton, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Kaelan A. Ellis, Wind Gap, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Molly A. Enright, Havertown, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Francesca G. Failla, Merrick, New York, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Teresa R. Fernandes, Philadelphia, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Brooke T. Haltmeier, Towaco, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Marilyn E. Keating, New Providence, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Christina M. Kennedy, Morristown, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Ashley A. Kessell, Exeter, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Anna K. Lunbery, San Antonio, Texas, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Gia R. Maayan, West Caldwell, New Jersey, is a community health education major at Scranton;

Molly R. McGuinness, Stewart Manor, New York, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Elizabeth P. McKechney, Fairport, New York, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Julianna B. McRell, Edwardsville, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Deirdre R. Meagher, Staten Island, New York, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Sheila A. Miller, Milford, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Nora G. O’Connell, Cranford, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Jacob J. Rogomentick, Havertown, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Domenic M. Scaffidi, Hammonton, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Kayla J. Tilwick, Nazareth, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Tanner J. Updyke, Guilford, Connecticut, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Joshua S. Vargas, Verona, New Jersey, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton;

Abigail J. Walsh, Scranton, is a communication sciences and disorders major at Scranton.

In addition, Scranton’s NSSLHA chapter at helped the National NSSLHA organization increase its awareness of communication sciences and disorders on more than 140 local college campuses and communities across the country as well as through virtual platforms. Scranton’s chapter supported the national organization’s advocacy efforts of sending more than 5,400 letters to state and federal legislators; providing scholarships to students in communication sciences and disorders programs by contributing more than $22,500 to the ASH Foundation’s NSSLHA Scholarship; and by supporting CSD-related organizations by donating $60,000 and more than 25,000 hours of chapter members’ time across the country.