Lafayette, IN - In a recent ceremony, the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) awarded its Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) Student Excellence Award scholarship on one of its most outstanding residential students.
The annual scholarship provides $1,000 to a winning student based on clinical skills, academic standing, demonstrated commitment to professional organizations and an essay on professionalism. This year's winner was Michelle Pollihan.
Pollihan is a third-year student at ASHS. She holds a perfect GPA, has performed professionally at numerous and varied clinical externship sites, and has also participated in Rotary Club missions to Mexico to perform audiological evaluations for Spanish-speaking children and adults. She is a student member of several professional organizations, including NAFDA and AAA, and has also offered presentations on professional topics throughout her academic career.
"Academically, Ms. Pollihan is an excellent student, but she stands out even more because of her positive attitude, professional behaviors, and motivation to get involved in service and leadership activities," said Dr. Tabitha Buck, ASHS Audiology Chair. "She will be an outstanding Doctor of Audiology and an active professional, representing audiology well in all of her endeavors."
ASHS Graduates Honored with Professional Leadership Awards
During March graduation exercises at ASHS, Joan Marttila, Au.D., and Mary McDaniel, Au.D., both received AFA Professional Leadership Awards. These awards honor graduating distance education students. Winners are recognized for their positive attitude and strong work ethic throughout their Au.D. program, their involvement in professional activities to promote the profession and patient care, and their dedication to public service.
Dr. Marttila was recognized for her leadership in ensuring that assistive devices are provided for Iowa school students, her work with the Iowa EHDI Advisory Committee, her contributions to the profession via authoring articles, and in particular for serving as principal author for the Knowledge is Power program to teach students about their hearing loss.
Dr. McDaniel was honored for efforts to protect the hearing of industrial workers in the state of Washington, her national contributions as an officer and member of the National Hearing Conservation Association, and her collaborative work with OSHA and CAOHC. McDaniel has owned her own hearing conservation company, Pacific Hearing Conservation, in Seattle, WA, since 1995.
The AFA is a non-profit foundation founded in 1989 to lead audiology's transition to a doctoring profession with the Au.D. as its unique designator.
Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Randy Danielsen, ASHS Dean; Melanie Kropp, audiology assistant to the chair; Dr. Rebekah Fallis Cunningham, assistant professor; Dr. Tabitha Parent Buck, chair of audiology; Michelle Pollihan, 3rd Year Au.D. student and Student Excellence Award scholarship recipient; Dr. Tom Rigo, associate professor; Dr. Henry Trahan, assistant professor; and Dr. Les Schmeltz, assistant professor.
Dr. Joan Marttila, left center, and Dr. Mary McDaniel, right center, were honored with AFA Professional Leadership Awards during a March graduation ceremony at ASHS. Pictured at far right is Dr. Nancy Green, ASHS adjunct faculty and AFA Advisory Council member, and, at far left, Dr. Les Schmeltz, ASHS assistant professor.
