Introducing the 2013-2014 officers!
First, and most importantly.. if you ran and did not get elected run again next year! Being on the NSSLHA exec board is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had at Purdue. Being a team captain for Relay for Life and/or serving on a committee for the ARC dance or other events are great ways to step up and show you are committed to this organization.
President: Courtney Wisher
Junior, from Greentown, IN
Favorite NSSLHA event: The Arc Dance because its always fun to interact with the people of ARC and see how excited they are for the annual Valentine's Dance.
Reason she picked SLHS: I enjoy working with people and I am interested in learning more about communication disorders.
Hobbies/sports/other clubs: Running, shopping, College Mentors for Kids, Health & Human Sciences Ambassadors and Student Office Staff at Windsor Halls
Favorite class: SLHS 304 Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism
Dream job? Work in a hospital or private clinic as a speech language pathologist
Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue - Go out of your comfort zone and try new things! College is the best four years of your life so enjoy it while it lasts.
Vice President: Becca Henaghan
Junior, from Valparaiso, IN
Favorite NSSLHA event: Arc dance, it's always lots of fun dancing and hanging out with everyone there!
Reason she picked SLHS: One of the kids I used to nanny for had a speech impediment and I got to see his therapy with his slp! So it got me interested in it!
Hobbies: Alpha chi omega, Purdue ambassadors, PUDM PR committee
Favorite class: Slhs 430
Dream job? Be a slp at Chicagoan children's hospital
Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue:
I've learned that you need to make sure you enjoy what you're doing always!
Treasurer: Rachel Morrow
Junior from Dyer, IN
Favorite NSSLHA event: Easter Egg Hunt; The kids looked like they had so much fun and it was a blast to decorate for them!
Why she picked SLHS: My mom was in an accident when I was younger and had to go through speech therapy
Hobbies: Best Buddies, member of AOII, watching movies, hanging out with my friends
Favorite class: ASL
Dream job? work in a hospital's clinic to work with TBI patients
Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue: To be true to myself and never let anyone bring you down. Be the best you can be!
Recording Secretary: Hillary Greeson
Junior, from Richmond, IN
Favorite NSSLHA event: Crossroads Conference because it is just an overall great experience for undergradute students in that you have the opportunity to help put on the conference for those in the field, attend the lectures that are based on specific interests within the field, and meet and interact with those in attendance, which include both visitors and those from our own department.
Why she picked SLHS: I have always wanted to pursue a career that involves working with children. Because of this, I had considered being a teacher, but my mom, who is a teacher herself, encouraged me to look into speech-language pathology since it is a career that still involves working with children but more individually or in small groups.
Hobbies: dancing, shopping, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends. Other clubs that I'm involved in are Higher Ground Dance Company and College Mentors for Kids.
Favorite class: SLHS 420 (Introduction to Developmental Speech and Language Disorders).
Dream job? speech-language pathologist in New York City that works with bilingual children who speak English and Spanish.
Most important lesson she's learned at college: Manage your time well. Life is usually pretty busy, but it's so important to be able to balance your schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and free time.
Corresponding Secretary: Rachel Platt
Sophomore, Prospect Heights, IL
Favorite NSSLHA event: The ARC Valentines Day Dance. Food, dancing, crafts, and making new friends, what's not to love?
Why she picked SLHS:
The summer before freshman year, I had no idea what I wanted to major in. In an attempt to define my ever changing career path, I took one of those quizzes online that tells you what you should do with your life, and it matched me with Speech-Language Pathology. I did some research and loved how it incorporated my two passions: Psychology and English. I soon decided I wanted to take 115, the introductory course, and the rest is history!
Hobbies: I am a member of Higher Ground Dance Company. We put on a performance each semester to raise money for the Andrea Rizzo Foundation so that children receiving cancer treatment at Riley Hospital can benefit from Dance Therapy. I am also involved with Purdue Navigators, a Christian group on campus.
Favorite class: SLHS class: Anatomy...Favorite selective course has been ENGL 351 The Analysis of American Literature II.
Dream job? As of now, I would be ecstatic to work with children with special needs. But my dream job could be anywhere or anything, as long as I'm making someones life brighter and easier.
Most important thing/lesson you've learned at Purdue:
By far the most important lesson that I've learned here at Purdue is that if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything. Cheesy, I know, but confidence in yourself makes the biggest difference in the world.
Historian: Jessica Tolle
Junior, from Tipton, IN
Favorite NSSLHA event: ARC Valentine's Dance because it is so much fun. I loved helping make crafts and, of course, dancing with all the ARC members that attended. It is an experience I will never forget.
Why she picked SLHS: I was originally undecided but discovered SLHS was the perfect fit for me. I want to become a speech pathologist because I love working with children, and I really want to be able to help people and make a positive difference in their lives.
Hobbies: Cru, a Christian ministry organization on campus. I volunteer through GLASS at a local preschool and absolutely love it. I love to be outdoors and hanging out with friends.
Favorite class: My favorite class at Purdue is probably ASL. I enjoy learing ASL, and class is always fun.
Dream job? Helping people, preferably children, somewhere.
Most important lesson she's learned at Purdue: Trust God with everything because he has a wonderful plan for you, even if you can't see it yet.
Webmaster: Erin Boyle
Sophomore, from St. John, IN
Favorite NSSLHA events: Crossroads Conference and the Arc Dance. Crossroads is a great way to get your foot in the door and talk to real life SLP's and Audiologists. I had the opportunity to host Dr. Diane Williams who works specifically in a clinical setting with autistic children as well as doing research for autism and cognitive development. I learned a lot of information from her, and it was nice to meet someone who has been so successful in our major. The Arc Dance was a blast for me this year! I was in a program at my high school that put together events like our NSSLHA Arc Dance. The joy and happiness that I experienced at this event is one that I'll never forget and look forward to going to next year!
Why she picked SLHS: My mom is a nurse, so I've always been drawn to the medical field. In middle school I was very sick, with what doctors would years later discover as Celiac Disease. I went through a really rough time in my life up until the doctors understood what I had and diagnosed me. Before my diagnosis with Celiac Disease the doctors kept misdiagnosing me and I grew to become even sicker. Middle school was simply a blur for me. I often turned to God and asked him why he did this to me. Why out of anybody in the world did I have to get stuck with this sickness? In the middle of seventh grade I noticed that a girl with autism was in two of my classes, gym and choir. Her name was Emily. I truly believe that Emily was the answer to my prayers. By watching her in school day to day, I realized something. Her whole entire world could be upside down, but yet she never took a smile off her face. She had so much passion, desire, and drive for life. She loved everybody, and even though she couldn’t physically do a lot of the stuff I could do, she would always try. If she failed at a task she wouldn’t get upset. She would smile and shout for joy. She simply loved life, and she loved the life she was given. Emily brought me back to reality, and I look up to her so much for that. Even though I have never had a full conversation with her, she has done so much for my life just by her presence that I feel it is my mission and passion to help children like Emily learn to speak properly to communicate with the world. If her smile alone could light up my world, imagine what her words of wisdom could do.
Hobbies: I love to play volleyball, workout, go shopping, and hang out with family and friends! I'm a Team Supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush, on the Athletic Outreach Committee for Purdue University Dance Marathon, in Adopt a Grandparent, and play intramural sand volleyball.
Favorite class: Call me crazy, but I loved Anatomy (SLHS 304). It was hard and I had to put a lot of time and work into studying, but it was all worth it, and I learned so much from that class!
Dream job? Working at downtown Chicago at Lurie's Children's Memorial Hospital as an SLP
Most important lessons she's learned at Purdue: 1. Don't be afraid to be yourself! 2. Get involved! It's enriched my college experience and it's a great opportunity to meet new people. And 3. College is about trying new things. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
