 | alaska speech-language hearing association |
2025 AKSHA Award Winners!
Thank you everyone for your nominations for AKSHA Awards! We are thrilled to recognize our amazing SLPs and Audiologists in Alaska!
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AKSHA Denali Award Winner:
Dr. Alisa Konishi-Therkildsen
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. 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.
The Denali Award for Dr. Alisa Konishi-Therkildsen is awarded for her contributions to the advancement of knowledge in clinical practice in speech-language pathology within the last six years.
Alisa has been working in conjunction with Doug Petersen and others to develop research and assessment for teens and school age kids with language disorders. She and Dr. Petersen recently published the Dymond Assessment. She is also working on research on AI in language analysis. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the Alaska community and our academic pipeline in the state!
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Friend of the Association:
Dr. Laurence Norton
This award recognizes a non-SLP or Audiologist who helps advocate for speech, language, and hearing issues.
This certificate is given to Dr. Laurence Norton for his professional contribution and advocacy towards individuals who experience speech, language, and hearing difficulties.
Dr. Norton has consistently contributed to AKSHA and donations year to year. He is a neuropsychologist here in Anchorage, Alaska. He’s helped to support funding our yearly scholarships as well as supporting his lovely wife - Mary Dooher - attending and being on the AKSHA board! Thank you for all you’ve done!
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AKSHA President's Award Winner:
Ariel Kroon
This award recognizes an executive board member, committee chair, or member of the association who provided exemplary service to the association.This year’s President’s Award is going to Ariel Kroon. Ariel took on the Continuing Education chair in 2024 knowing we needed to make changes to our convention in order to better serve the SLPs in the state of Alaska. She was brave, willing to take risks, and think outside the box to develop a conference that allowed us to highlight both Alaska and national talent within our profession while supporting the development, knowledge, and skills of our SLPs in Alaska. We made the move from a hotel convention center to the Nave, which brought a whole new set of challenges, but also put us in the heart of the Anchorage/Spenard community. The conventions have focused on topics that are relevant to our Alaska communities, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders and brain injury.
Ariel, thank you for your service to AKSHA the last two years. We are so thankful for you sharing your talent and time.
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The Winners of the Helen Beirne Scholarship are
Mary Sheehan, Amber Buckholt and Saena Lee
In memory of Dr. Beirne, the Alaska Speech and Hearing Association presents a scholarship award each year, to a suitably qualified candidate demonstrating a commitment to undertaking studies leading to a graduate degree in communication development and disorders.AKSHA is proud to present this year’s Helen Dittman Beirne Scholarship to three lucky recipients!
Please consider nominating someone today for our upcoming 2026 AKSHA Convention!