ArkSHA Awards
Celebrating excellence in the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology
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ArkSHA Awards
Honors of the Association
Honors of the Association is the highest honor the association can give and recognizes distinguished contributions to the field of communication disorders. It is limited to members of the Association.
Ashlen Thomason
ArkSHA Clinical Career Award
Nominees for this award should exhibit a distinguished career in speech pathology or audiology. Outstanding clinical career accomplishments over a period of 20 years or longer may include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Outstanding clinical achievement with a client or group of clients
- Outstanding clinical service or training program
- Outstanding achievement in state, or local organization or government agency activity
- Outstanding accomplishments in clinical teaching, research, or administration Association
Penny Vaught
ArkSHA Public Schools Award
This award recognizes distinguished clinical service by an individual speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist in recognition of outstanding commitment and specific contribution to the delivery of speech-language pathology and/or audiology services in a school setting.
Elizabeth Marsden
ArkSHA Award for Clinical Achievement
This award is presented to a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist in recognition of the advancement of knowledge in clinical practice as evidenced by significant accomplishment within the past six years in speech-language and/or audiology. Nominees for this award are not limited to any particular type of clinical achievement or activity. However, the achievement must be specific, well defined, and clearly within the time limit of the most recent six years. Eligible activities or accomplishments for which an individual might receive this award include, but are not restricted to, the following examples:
- A single achievement with a client or group of clients
- A specific clinical service or training program
- A specific achievement in a state or local organization or government agency activity
- A specific accomplishment in clinical teaching, research or administration
Jill Fitzpatrick
ArkSHA Research Award
This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the research literature related to the professions of speech pathology or audiology.
Sunjung Kim Thao
ArkSHA Audiology Award
This award recognizes distinguished service by an audiologist.
Natalie Benafield
ArkSHA Medical Award
This award recognizes distinguished clinical service by an individual speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist in recognition of outstanding commitment and specific contribution to the delivery of speech-language pathology and/or audiology services in a medically based setting (rehab, hospital, skilled nursing, acute care).
Stevi McCain
Nomination Process
Deadline for Nominations
Nominations will be open for submission in the fall of each year and will be announced via social media. Those selected will be announced and recognized at the annual convention.
Nomination Requirements
Nominations must include the following information:
- The online nomination form (with a statement of nomination in 3 sentences or less).
- Photo of Nominee
- REQUIRED: Narrative text that provides the rationale for why this individual is being nominated. Consider the following points for the narrative text:
- Identification and description of the outstanding clinical or research achievement.
- Information on when and where the specific achievement took place
- Description of the significance of the achievement
- Explanation of how the nominee’s actions have advanced knowledge in the area of clinical, practical, or research.
- Explanation of the nominee’s role in the achievement
- OPTIONAL: Supporting letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the nominees’ works.
The requested supporting documents may be uploaded in PDF format as one combined file when filling out the nomination form, or submitted through our Contact Page.