Students at AudiologyNOW! had more events than ever to choose from thanks to a generous $40,000 gift to the Foundation from Starkey Laboratories. Events like the PhD Student Networking Breakfast and PhD Program Fair exposed students to future academic and career opportunities, while the SAA Reception allowed students to make new friends, meet SAA leadership and network with leaders in academia. Another type of “mixer,” Audiology Unplugged: Conversations with Audiologists You Want to Meet, gave students the opportunity to speak with top authors, scholars, and practitioners in an informal, approachable setting.

As the organization of, by, and for audiology students, SAA leadership sought input from chapters around the US as the future of the organization was discussed at the SAA Annual Business Meeting. As the meeting commenced, Ryan Bullock, the SAA representative to the Foundation and president-elect, expressed appreciation on behalf of the student organization when he addressed his peers:

The events held by the SAA at AudiologyNOW! provide students with many invaluable educational experiences. It is wonderful to know that we as students have such a great support system that will help to encourage and facilitate the growth of the SAA. We have much to look forward to in the years ahead of us...and we thank the Academy, the AAA Foundation and Starkey for all they've done to support the SAA and audiology students.

The AAA Foundation is delighted that the student events were such a success at AudiologyNOW! 2010 and also thanks Starkey for its dedicated support to the future of audiology.