CDF NEWS

Communication Disorders Foundation of Virginia

Spring 2008 News

CDF Welcomes New Board Members
CDF is proud to announce the addition of Rebecca Rehm and Jane C. Hilton to its Board of Trustees.

    Rebecca Rehm is a Clinical Instructor in the University of Virginia Communication Disorders program. A Charlottesville native, she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in speech-language pathology at James Madison University (JMU). Prior to returning to Charlottesville, she served a wide variety of pediatric clients during her six years at Children’s Hospital in Richmond, VA. Her professional interests include clinical supervision, childhood apraxia and phonological disorders, and treatment of voice and fluency disorders.

    Jane C. Hilton received both her PhD in Clinical Research—Speech-Language Pathology, and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, from James Madison University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia. Dr. Hilton served as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist for Rockingham Memorial Hospital Home Health in Harrisonburg. Prior to that she was the Speech-Language Pathologist for the Parent and Child Education Program also in Harrisonburg. She has an impressive list of research and scholarship accomplishments, including Principal Investigator and Director of Communication and Autism Specialty Services. Since August 2007 she has provided clinical supervision of master’s degree candidates in the University of Virginia, Communication Disorders Program, Speech-Language Hearing Clinic. Dr. Hilton was president of SHAV from 2006-2007.

Verbalina Has a New Home

Verbalina, CDF’s traveling ambassador, has a new home at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville after spending a year at Old Dominion University. Verbalina has been a part of CDF’s fundraising efforts since she was first put up for adoption at a SHAV silent auction six years ago. She was adopted by CDF board member, Peggy Agee, who named her and brought her to Longwood University. The following year, Verbalina returned for the SHAV silent auction to raise money for student scholarships. Over the last six years she has lived in several of the University programs and at other sites around Virginia, each time returning to SHAV to continue her quest to raise dollars for students in CSDS. To date, Verbalina has raised close to $1000!

Verbalina’s ODU family put together a picture book to document highlights of her year there. Anyone with pictures or stories of Verbalina's past sojourns is invited to send them to Jessica Norton at UVA to be included in Verbalina’s album.

CDF Auction Thanks

This year’s auction was a big success. Thanks to the wonderful gift donations and the assistance of some very hard working people, we raised $5,200.

    At least seven exhibitors generously donated items and gift certificates to our cause. A big thank you to Biocoustics, Oticon, SuperDuper, Starky, Social Skills Builder, Susan Wallace, and Great Ideas for Teaching.

    We had six universities participate by donating a basket or specialty item for which there was a lot of furious, high bidding going on. Thank you to Hampton, JMU, Longwood, ODU, Radford, and UVA.

    A wonderful selection of other items went on the auction block, including framed photographs and posters; therapy publications and materials; gift certificates including one for round of golf for 4 at a country club in northern Virginia; specialty baskets with wine, spa, "therapy items" and Easter themes; hand-crafted baskets; knitted scarves; jewelry; a TV; Bose stereo system; and an iPOD.

    Our "One Romantic Night" basket (filled with crystal wine glasses, wine, napkins, chocolate, romantic music CD) was awarded to Anna Sullivan from Waynesboro. Anna’s name was drawn from among those who gave a monetary donation before and during the auction.

    We would like to extend a special thank you to auctioneer, Shields Jones from the Fredericksburg area, who has donated his talents to CDF for a number of years. Thanks go out to one of our graduate scholarship recipients, Kendall Carwile of ODU, who, along with student Khededra Lewis helped throughout the auction; and to students Sarah Dechristoforo and Ashley Miller who helped with set-up.

    Thanks to MaryAnn Wyatt and the folks at Fairfax County Public Schools for their challenge to other schools and clinics. They put together a large plastic bin with everything you can think of that a speech and/or hearing professional would need—from pens to aspirin to gift cards to “spirits” --in honor of SHAV’s 50th anniversary. The only other place to meet their challenge was the UVA Speech Language Hearing Center whose rolling cart contained more than 50 great items.

    There were a number of other non-CDF persons who stopped by to help and while we don’t have all their names, we did want to acknowledge their invaluable assistance. Special thanks also goes to the SHAV management firm - and Dianne, Suzy, and Sandy for assuring that we had access to the rooms on time and other "moral support". Also to SHAV and Scott Rankins, for providing the cash bar and great food to attract attendees!

Brenda Seal Receives Martha Mullins-Callender Award

    In 1989, CDF established the Martha Mullins-Callender Award. This award is presented to an individual currently working in the field of communication disorders who is an exemplar of Martha's belief in the ability of an individual to overcome all obstacles to ensure that the services we deliver, the profession we represent, and the professional organization that serves us (our "products") flourish in the marketplace.

    This year the award was presented to Brenda Chafin Seal, Ph.D. Brenda earned her B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Appalachian State University in 1972 and her M.A. in Speech Pathology in 1975. Her first position was at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton; she was hired as an "oral" teacher of second graders but learned quickly that some of the children were reliant on sign language to communicate, and those same children began teaching her sign language. Two years later, she was hired by Nancy O'Hare, acting Department Head of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Madison College, as a part-time instructor of sign language.

    Brenda's roles at JMU have included Supervisor of the Hearing-Impaired Preschool, Supervisor and Director of the Speech and Hearing Clinic, and ultimately, after receiving her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 1992 Brenda received tenure and full professorship at JMU.

    In nominating Dr. Seal, her colleagues praised her for her leadership and her passion and dedication to her profession. In outlining her many achievements, including receiving “Teacher of the Year” and “Distinguished Faculty” awards, as well as recognition as an ASHA Fellow, one of the highest awards of achievement in the field of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Carol Dudding wrote: “Her year of advocacy for children and adults with hearing impairment has been outstanding to countless families who have directed benefited from her teaching, expertise and compassion.”

    Claire Jacobson, AuD, CCC-A and current SHAV President, called Seal “the perfect example of a champion to our profession. She is tireless in her dedication and devotion to making the world a better place for all individuals, including those with hearing loss and communication disorders.”

    Jane Hilton, Ph.D. and new CDF board member, said Seal is “an ambassador for the profession” and “an exceptional colleague” adding that Seal’s mentorship while Hilton was working to become the first person to receive a Ph.D. in speech pathology from JMU was invaluable. “My diploma should read “Ph.D. courtesy of Brenda C. Seal.”

    Brenda reported that the Martha Mullins Callender award is the most "personal" award she could ever receive, holding the memory of Martha as a magnanimous leader of SHAV, a wonderful colleague whose dedication to her profession, students, clients, colleagues, family and friends knew no boundaries.

    Pat T. Dewey, President of CDF, presented Dr. Seal with a plaque and a personalized gift that was presented at the annual conference in early March.

Dollars for Service Donors

Thank you to the following individuals who made a donation to our Dollars for Service campaign since the last newsletter:

Beahm, Lillian Beasley & Michael W.
Bregstone, Andrea P.
Brittain, Gwen F.
Goodman, Debbi (in honor of Cathy Snyders’ work with Operation Smile)
Keith, Stephen C.
Narburgh, David H.
Nicely, James E.
Rassi, Judith A.
St. John, Valerie H.
Stack, Janet
Stoudt, Ralph J., Jr.
Wampler, Nancy

Scholarship Deadline Approaching

    Each year CDF awards the David H. Narburgh Scholarship ($2,500) and the CDF Scholarship ($1,000) to current or rising master's or doctoral degree students in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology enrolled in one of the following universities in Virginia: Hampton University, James Madison University, Longwood University, Old Dominion University, Radford University, or the University of Virginia.

    These scholarships are designed to recognize students who demonstrate outstanding clinical potential. For application requirements and additional information, students should contact the program director at their school or Mani Aguilar, CDF Scholarship Committee, at 434-924-4613.

    In addition, CDF awards the Henry C. Hecker High School Scholarship to a high school senior who is hearing impaired, who has a B average, and who is pursuing education beyond high school (vocational, college, etc.). This award is $1,000. Qualified students may apply for this award by requesting an application from Janet Stack at jw8n@virginia.edu.

    Students applying to either scholarship can download the required forms from the CDF website www.cdf-virginia.org/Student_Scholarships.html

    Completed applications are due by May 1, 2008.