“Being a part of [Student Speech and Hearing Association] introduced me to many different volunteer activities and helped me become more connected with the professors and the other students in my major,” Katie Luthin, Student Speech and Hearing Association treasurer and junior speech pathology and audiology major, said.

According to the SSHA RSO Web site, the group is a student organization open to anyone in the ISU communication sciences and disorders department.

Their purpose is to join in volunteer, educational and social activities throughout the year in order to represent and strengthen their field.

Torrie Fishel, SSHA member and ISU graduate student, said, “SSHA is a very motivating organization that gives CSD students a chance to explore the worlds of speech pathology and audiology.

“It is a great way to learn about volunteer opportunities, as well as listen to professional speech-language pathologists give personal insight from their careers.”

According to Luthin, benefits for members include volunteering opportunities, learning about work opportunities within their field, meeting professors and other students and having fun with other people in their major.

“Through my involvement in SSHA I have learned more about the wide variety of settings and opportunities available for speech pathologists and I have gained a more focused idea of what areas of speech pathology I would like to pursue,” Fishel said.

“SSHA has also been a great way to meet other people in my major and I have made a lot of friends through attending SSHA events,” she said.

SSHA has few requirements for membership. Interested students only need to have a general interest in speech pathology or audiology.

Once a member, the organization requires its members to pay a yearly fee and members are encouraged to attend monthly meetings.

Last semester, SSHA took part in and hosted several events.

The group hosted a family day to give students and parents the opportunity to get to know professors and learn more about their major. SSHA also played Bingo at a nursing home and had a fundraiser at Noodles and Company.

Currently, SSHA is preparing for a “Purse Party” fundraiser and their annual banquet at Medici.

The group also plans to play Bingo at a nursing home as they did last semester and SSHA is also participating in the Al Bowman Rockstar Challenge.

The group plans to donate to the Speech and Hearing Clinic in Fairchild at the end of the school year.

“SSHA does an amazing job of providing members with opportunities to volunteer and become a more active member of the community.

“It is also an opportunity to meet both professional and aspiring speech-language pathologists and gain further insight into the wide field of speech pathology and audiology,” Fishel said.

“In my opinion, one of the greatest benefits of being in SSHA is listening to the guest speakers. Each month a speech-language pathologist is invited to come and speak to us about his or her career and offer advice and answer any questions we might have,” she said.

When asked about her wishes for SSHA in the future, Luthin said, “I would love to see SSHA involved even more in different volunteer activities, and I would really like to see more people consistently involved in the RSO.”