Eden Prairie, Minn.—April 28, 2006—The Starkey Hearing Foundation, a charitable organization known worldwide for giving the gift of hearing to children in need, presented its second annual Student Humanitarian Awards during the recent American Academy of Audiology's AudiologyNOW! Convention in Minneapolis in conjunction with the National Association of Future Doctors of Audiology (NAFDA).
Because the Starkey Hearing Foundation is dedicated to improving human life, its Student Humanitarian Awards recognize such service on the part of its student recipients. This year's award winners are Victoria Lee and Sara Mamo. Each can select and participate in any Starkey Hearing Foundation hearing mission trip worldwide in the coming year.
Ms. Lee has a Bachelor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is currently an Au.D. student at Northwestern University. She has completed extensive research in the health sciences and has been recognized for excellence in academic, professional, and civic circles. She is one of only 25 women selected to participate in Canada's Women in Engineering and Science program. Ms. Lee decided to become an audiologist because she feels she can make a direct contribution to a patient's quality of life through diverse approaches, ranging from technological to counseling strategies. She is especially interested in working with patient populations that are difficult to test. Victoria is a founding member of Northwestern University's NAFDA chapter.
According to Ms. Mamo, serving the world's audiologic needs is her future aspiration because the need is often overlooked. She states that "hearing is not a life or death situation, but to think that it is unimportant is an injustice to all those trapped in the solitude of silence." After completing her doctorate at the University of North Carolina, she hopes to work for a non-profit speech and hearing clinic because, much like the Starkey Hearing Foundation, she believes no one should be denied the chance to hear and communicate based on their economic standing. Sara is no stranger to volunteering abroad. Last summer, she worked at an orphanage in Peru helping more than 30 children in an after-school program. She says the experience reminded her that the value of giving is what's important in life.
William F. Austin, founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, commends the dedication to audiology and the service to others that this year's winners demonstrate. "Victoria and Sara exemplify what it means to make a difference in this world. Through their academic achievements and their humanitarian efforts, Victoria and Sara remind all of us what it means to make a commitment to improving daily life for those who need it most."
About the Starkey Hearing Foundation
Since 1973, Starkey has been committed to bringing the gift of hearing to children worldwide, regardless of location or life circumstance. Since 2000, the Starkey Hearing Foundation has provided nearly 150,000 hearing aids to those in need around the world through its international hearing mission program and its domestic program, Hear Now. Visit www.sotheworldmayhear.org to learn more.
