By: Max J. Pell, MS, CCC- SLP, TSHF Service and Education Awards Chair

Celebration and excitement were evident at the annual Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) and Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (TSHF) 2023 Awards Breakfast during the TSHA 2023 Convention in Austin this past February. The following service and education awards were bestowed on highly qualified recipients.

The Burtis-Vogel and Elkins (BVE) Community Service Award is intended to advance the work of speech-language pathologists who exceed expectations in providing services that benefit the community at large or who advance the profession of speech-language pathology. This year’s award went to Lauren Mathews for UNT EPIC (Empowering Personal Interactions in the Community), which was established to provide organized social, philanthropic, and learning opportunities for neurodivergent and neurotypical young adults ages 18 and up. UNT EPIC was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to an apparent need for young adults to have social opportunities in a safe and accepting environment free of judgment and meets two to four times per month throughout the year. Some of the participants’ favorite activities thus far have been game nights, dining out, community events such as the Denton Jazz Festival, and trivia nights. One UNT EPIC participant was quoted in the Fort Worth Report as saying, “I keep going because I feel safe with the group to be myself. It gives us all a chance to get out of our houses or our dorm rooms and be with people where we can be ourselves and not have anyone judge us.”

The TSHA Young Leadership Award is for students or young professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology who have demonstrated leadership abilities and who show potential to become leaders of TSHA. The recipient of this year’s Young Leader Award was Alyssa Schulz. Alyssa is one of the current Graduate Student Representatives on the TSHA Executive Board and has been very active in engaging with students on social media, serving on task forces, revamping the TSHA University Visit protocol, and diligently working with the TSHA Board on the strategic plan and updating policies and procedures of the Association.

The Cherry Wright Texas Educational Loan Support Trust supplements payment of educational loans for speech-language pathologists and audiologists employed in a public-school setting in the state of Texas. This year’s recipients were Andrew Bennett, Irving ISD; Emily Harris, Belton ISD; Courtney Hunter, Fort Worth ISD; Mona Kaddoura, Alief ISD; Andrea Sustache Medina, Fort Worth ISD; and Kylee Washington, Grand Prairie ISD.