The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has earned the highest association industry honor, a 2014 Power of A Summit Award, for its diversity recruitment initiatives to ensure a more culturally competent workforce and respond to the growing and changing population with communication disorders. The Summit Award is given by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
ASAE honored ASHA’s Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP) and Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) programs for the results they have achieved in ensuring racial and ethnic recruitment and retention in the discipline of human communications sciences and disorders.
“Congratulations to ASHA for benefitting not just their own industry or profession, but society at large,” said Paul Pomerantz, CAE, CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and chair of the Power of A Awards Judging Committee. “This year, our committee had an exceptionally strong group of entries to consider, and it’s heartening to see so many organizations excelling in their work.”
The MSLP provides students from emerging majorities with opportunities to explore leadership within ASHA, increase their awareness of the association’s resources and its governance, and offers networking opportunities with association leaders. Since 1999, close to 500 students have participated in the MSLP, and the program has contributed to cultivating leaders in the Association and in the professions. The S.T.E.P. mentoring program connects students with experienced mentors in meaningful, one to one mentoring relationships; supports mentoring relationships through guided learning experiences and online resources, information, and inspiration; and facilitates the continued recruitment and retention of racial/ethnic minority students.
ASAE’s Power of A (association) Awards, the industry’s highest honor, recognize the association community’s valuable contributions on the local, national and global level. The Power of A Awards reward outstanding accomplishments of associations and industry professionals for their efforts to enrich lives, create a competitive workforce, prepare society for the future, drive innovation and make a better world.
