By: Naomi A. Hernandez, MA, CCC-SLP, and Casey L. Taliancich-Klinger, PhD, CCC-SLP, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs
The Convention Scholarship Committee reviewed applications to award Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) members and student members with scholarships to attend the TSHA 2023 Convention. The member recipients were Lauren Greer, Myriah James, Heidi Hasfjord, Cesar Jaquez, and Lorraine Moreno. The student recipients were Vivian Stevens, Edith Martinez, Natalie Duque, Madison Olney, Hira Uddin, Jacob Cheek, Jackie Minyard, and Darcy Guerrero. Several recipients wrote about their experiences for the Communicologist.
Madison Olney
“It was an honor to attend this year's annual TSHA Convention with hundreds of fellow Texas SLPs. The most inspiring part of the Convention each year is sharing our wealth of experiences and expertise with one another so we can return to our home cities with the motivation to effect change in our communities. I enjoyed attending lectures, visiting the exhibit hall, and speaking with seasoned professionals in the field. I am forever changed as a clinician and committed to lifelong learning for the brave individuals I will serve for years to come.”
Darcy Guerrero
“I want to thank TSHA staff for selecting me as one of the recipients for the 2023 TSHA Convention student scholarships. I was most excited to attend the pediatric dysphagia/feeding seminars offered at the Convention this year. The NICU presentations with Jenny E. Reynolds and Brittany Rush were my absolute favorite to attend. I was able to talk to Brittany at the end of one of their sessions, and she provided me with amazing advice and guidance. I also enjoyed the ‘Touching Tomorrow: The Magic of Mentoring’ Amp-Up session presented by Shari Robertson. I was inspired to improve my mentee approach with my current mentor using her mentoring ‘secret sauce’ recipe. Throughout my stay at the Convention, I created new friendships and built new networks. I will definitely be returning to next year’s TSHA Convention!”
Heidi Hasfjord
“Thank you for the TSHA scholarship to attend the Convention this year. It was fabulous!
Every year, I look forward to TSHA, not just because of the convenient way to gain those needed CE hours in an efficient manner but because of all the other treasures I find there, pack up, and take home. Sometimes a treasure I didn't even know I was in desperate need of until it was there before me, sparkling, and waiting for me to pick it up. What kind of treasures? The treasure of learning something new. Research and sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience from others in the professions that provided me with new ideas for therapy, workload management, burnout, mentoring, and work-life balance. The treasure of encouragement. Old friends and new friends I gathered with to share about our journeys. To sit and share a coffee break or a meal and to laugh, remember, cry a little, and leave refreshed and encouraged to keep going. The treasure of enthusiasm. The folks new in the field who shared fresh vibrancy through all the poster sessions, clamor to see and find all the new things in the exhibit hall, and the stories of their first success. The treasure of endurance. Seeing the faces and hearing the words of those I view as pillars in the field who have consistently given through either behind-the-scenes service, sharing of knowledge in session presentations, or simply participating as a fellow TSHA participant. I have already used some of my treasures, shared some with my peers, and placed a few on the shelf in my mind to use as a workbench. And as I unpacked my giveaway bag this year, nearing the bottom I found myself saying, ‘Next year—Fort Worth!’ Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”