Honors, Awards and Recognition

This is NJSHA’s highest honor. The award recognizes the significant contributions to the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. The nominee must be a NJSHA member for at least 10 years with significant and ongoing leadership roles in the Association on a broad and continuous basis. This award is approved by the Board of Directors.

This award recognizes a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who has been a NJSHA member for at least five consecutive years including the award year and has at least five years of professional experience. This person must directly serve individuals with speech, language and/or hearing/balance disorders by:

• Providing exemplary service to patients and families
• Being recognized as an expert
• Sharing expertise through teaching, mentoring, supervising, publications and/or professional presentations
• Developing innovative programs
• Pursuing continuing education, actively involved in the advancement of the profession (per NJ State licensing Law and ASHA/AAA CE programs; ACE Award)

This award recognizes someone who has been a NJSHA member for at least five consecutive years including the award year and has at least five years of professional experience focused in academics, research or as an administrator of speech-language and/or audiology services. The recipient must be distinguished in:

• Developing or supporting new and innovative techniques in speech-language pathology or audiology
• Being recognized as a leader the field (i.e. publication history, presentations at local, state and/or national meetings)
• Sharing expertise through teaching, mentoring, supervising, publishing and/or professional presentations
• Contributing to the advancement the profession on local, state and/or national levels
• Pursuing continuing education (per NJ State licensing Law and ASHA/AAA CE programs; ACE Award)

NJSHA honors a non-member who is not an SLP or audiologist, or organization that supports the goals and mission of the Association and its members. Nominees are considered for:

• Consumer advocacy
• Governmental affairs
• Public awareness
• Education
• Healthcare
• Research
• Service to NJSHA and the lives of those served

Awarded to a NJSHA speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist who has made significant voluntary and/or philanthropic contributions to under-resourced, underserved or underrepresented populations in the state of New Jersey or with an international healthcare organization that provides speech-language, audiology and/or hearing aid services, development of educational programs, and/or other service-oriented activities. The volunteer or service activities must be outside the usual scope of the person’s employment. The person must have been be involved in the program for at least two years within the last five years.  Membership in NJSHA for the past five years is required to be considered for this award.

This award recognizes an innovative, ongoing idea or strategy in effect for two or more years. It could be:

• Providing – unique or innovative services to individuals with speech, language and/or hearing or balance disorders
• Providing intervention for an underserved population
• Advancing the practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology
• Promoting these professions and/or increasing public awareness

Exclusions: A program cannot be nominated by the current program’s director, a current clinical service provider in that program or if the director was a past recipient of the Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award based on his/her accomplishments as the director of the program.

The award recognizes a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who has exhibited exemplary dedication, skills and knowledge in a clinical setting and may be awarded to a professional up to five years post initial certification/licensure. Nominee must have been a NJSHA member for three years, including the award year, have one to five years of clinical experience, post initial certification/licensure have completed ongoing professional development, and demonstrated leadership potential.

This award recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who has made contributions to the field and to NJSHA for at least 20 years. The awardee must have been a NJSHA member for 20 years, should have worked in at least two different settings and/or roles (e.g., clinical, administrative, academic, research and publication), served in a volunteer capacity with NJSHA (as board member, committee chair, served on multiple committees, etc.), and demonstrated a significant impact on others through his/her professional endeavors. In addition, the awardee will also demonstrate active pursuit of continuing (per NJ State licensing Law and ASHA/AAA CE programs; ACE Awards). This award is nominated by the board of directors but not necessarily annually.

The NJSHA Student Leadership award seeks to honor a NJSHA student member who demonstrates outstanding leadership skills through their volunteer efforts within our association. This person is recognized as a future NJSHA leader.

This award, nominated by the NJSHA Board of Directors, recognizes NJSHA members who have made a significant contribution through their voluntary effort to support the program and mission of NJSHA. Nominees must show leadership, creativity, cooperation and hard work while providing outstanding service to NJSHA members through work on a NJSHA committee, county association, NJSHA special project or through a separate, community project. Service and dedication must be shown in the fields of speech-language pathology or audiology, while inspiring others to volunteer.