Harding University Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (HUSSHA) has been busy this semester. Ellie Coffey and Marisa Ewing, president and vice president, have done a fantastic job of encouraging active participation this year. Each member of HUSSHA must serve on a committee of their choice, including service, fundraising, public relations, alumni, apparel, audiology, autism awareness, Stirrups and Smiles, and Relay for Life. HUSSHA began the semester by serving our community at the White County Fair.
They passed out earplugs to individuals to raise awareness about hearing loss prevention. The Stirrups and Smiles committee decorated a float for the White County Fair parade. Members rode the float with the children from Stirrups and Smiles.
This semester HUSSHA has had two bake sales. The fundraising committee chose to have a bake sale to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. All proceeds went to a monetary gift in memory of Keri Tullos and in honor of Tony Vendetti, spouses of our chair and administrative assistant. The Audiology committee decided to have a bake sale as well to raise money for Dogs for the Deaf, an organization that gives service dogs to deaf children, those who are hard of hearing, and children with autism.
The Brackett Library hosted a book fair during October to raise funds for a mission trip to Tuba City, Arizona. Many individuals from the Communication Sciences and Disorders department will be participating in this mission trip. HUSSHA members volunteered their time to work the book fair.
HUSSHA hosted a reception during homecoming weekend in honor of HUSSHA alumni. Many alumni were reconnected with each other and their professors. Students were able to make connections with individuals in the field of speech pathology and audiology.
On October 27, Harding University hosted Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Organizations on campus are asked to have a booth. Many HUSSHA members helped set up, work the booth, walk in honor of those who have lost their lives to cancer, and so much more. Overall, Harding’s event raised around $17,300.
The Harding University Speech Clinic hosts a trunk or treat each year. HUSSHA members volunteer their time to do face painting, decorate their cars, pass out candy, play games, and interact with our clients. This is a good way to provide a safe place for children to get candy on Halloween, and for Harding to interact with the community. Below, you can see some familiar “Inside Out” faculty and staff faces “get into the fall spirit” as they join in on our trunk or treat!
As the semester comes to a close, HUSSHA is planning to visit a local nursing home, and this trip is always a highlight of the semester. HUSSHA members interact with the residents there, learn a little about their story, and gain so much love and knowledge from them.
Next semester, HUSSHA will be working on an Autism Awareness event to raise awareness across the campus of Harding University. In the past years, HUSSHA has gathered the Harding community together to play games, eat snacks, and light up the Swaid building with blue lights in honor of autism. This is an event that is very important to HUSSHA and is also an opportunity to raise the awareness for autism in our community.
As an organization on campus, Harding University Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association hopes to continue to grow and serve our community better each year. This semester has been a semester of growth in participation, leadership, and service. Thank you to all those who have given their time and efforts in helping HUSSHA grow as an organization.