alaska speech-language hearing association

           AKSHA Awards

New! AKSHA Aurora Borealis: Outstanding School Clinician

The Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is the spectacular light display seen around the North Pole. This award recognizes an outstanding speech-language pathologist, speech-language pathology assistant, audiologist, or educator of the deaf/HOH who consistently demonstrates outstanding clinical, advocacy, or leadership skills in the public school system. This award may recognize general clinical work or a specific, recent clinical achievement.

New! AKSHA Alpenglow: Outstanding Clinician in Clinics, Hospitals, or Private Practice

The Alpenglow is that stunning orange-purple glow that paints snowy mountaintops at sunrise and sunset, which seems especially profound and inspiring on the mountains of Alaska. This award recognizes an outstanding speech-language pathologist, speech-language pathology assistant, audiologist, or educator of the deaf/HOH in a clinic, hospital, or private practice who consistently demonstrates outstanding clinical, advocacy, and/or leadership skills. This award may recognize general clinical work or a specific, recent clinical achievement.

New! AKSHA Chinook: Professional Advocate for Speech, Language, and Hearing in Alaska

The Chinook Salmon, otherwise known as the King Salmon, is the largest and most valuable species of salmon in Alaska. This award honors our personal “chinook” who has contributed to the advancement of the visibility, viability, or vitality of our professions. Potential nominees include legislators, philanthropists, or any public figure who has shown outstanding advocacy for our professions.

Denali Award: Recent Clinical Achievement by an Audiologist and/or SLP

Denali rises head-and-shoulders above the rest as North America’s highest mountain. The Denali Award is for demonstrated contributions to the advancement of knowledge in clinical practice in audiology or speech-language pathology within the last six years. That individual will be named for the 2016 State Clinical Achievement Award Winner for ASHA. For example, projects may include a new treatment technique, innovative urban service delivery program, new clinical research, a training video addressing an unmet need, a multicultural parent training program, a unique hospital program, or a successful state legislative initiative.

Previous award winners: Ellen Brigham and Mary Dooher.

Note: The Denali Award is not a general lifetime award, nor is it for general accomplishments over a six-year period. Nominations must be framed on a single, specific, well-defined achievement in order to meet award eligibility.

Friend of the Association

This award recognizes a non-SLP/Aud who helps advocate for speech, language, and hearing issues.

Previous winners include: Vonne Mason, Clayton Holland, Jennifer Schroeder, Renee Estelle, Don Enoch, Kelli Creglow, and Kris Kempf. 

Procedure for nomination of AKSHA awards

Any member of AKSHA may submit a nomination for AKSHA awards. All nominees for AKSHA awards must be members of AKSHA. Nominations should not be made known to the nominee prior to election

All submissions will be reviewed and determined by a majority vote of the executive board. The nominations for AKSHA recognition may also be submitted next year for ASHA awards.

Download and submit completed award nomination forms today! Send directly to AKSHA Awards subcommittee, P.O. Box 111993, Anchorage, AK 99511 or email to aksha907@gmail.com by September 15th, 2024! Electronic submission is encouraged. 

Link: 2024 AKSHA Award Nomination Form.docx

See SCHOLARSHIP tab at top left of page for Dr. Helen Dittman Beirne Scholarship information.