Bright Horizons Ahead in 2025

Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a great start. Whether you are applying to start graduate school this fall, graduating with your doctorate this spring, or anywhere in between, the national SAA is here to support you on your academic journey with multiple resources and opportunities.

For those of you who are not graduating this year, I highly encourage you to visit the AAA Foundation Grants and Scholarships web page. Check out the seven different scholarships that are available for students due to the generosity of our sponsors and the AAA Foundation. The universal scholarship application makes it easy to apply to multiple scholarships at one time. Double check the requirements of each individual scholarship before you submit your application. These will be updated on the AAA Foundation website as well as the online application. The call for applications will open on Monday, January 27; be on the lookout for more information as the date approaches. Additionally, for those of you involved in research, there are numerous research grants and awards listed on the above web page as well. Visit the Research Grants and Awards web page for more information about specific grants and awards.

With AAA 2025+HearTECH Expo only two months away, I hope you have taken advantage of the early bird registration rate for national SAA members, booked your hotel and travel, and are looking forward to four days of learning, catching up with friends, and meeting new friends in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you are not already signed up to attend the SAA Conference on Wednesday, March 26, consider purchasing your ticket to attend today. (Registration is separate.) The national SAA Programs Committee has dedicated many hours of their time to put together an amazing student-focused conference. Additionally, we will be hosting the annual SAA Mix and Mingle following the SAA Conference, which is open to all students in addition to those attending the SAA Conference. Generously sponsored by Starkey, both the SAA Conference and SAA Mix and Mingle are great opportunities to meet students from across the country, so I hope to see you there! Lastly, as I previously mentioned, the AAA Foundation continues to support students by providing various scholarships and grants for students each year. Consider purchasing a ticket to attend the AAA Foundation Happy Hour on Wednesday evening for an opportunity to network with audiologists and other students and to support the Foundation, so they can keep providing scholarships for years to come.

Finally, if you are interested in becoming more involved in your future profession, why not start this year? Visit our volunteer webpage to learn more about the volunteer opportunities that are available.

Between scholarships, virtual and in-person educational events, and volunteer opportunities, national SAA has a bright year ahead. I hope to see you all in person or online in 2025!

Lindee Alvarez
2024-2025 National SAA President