Community Service

Our chapter of NSSLHA is dedicated to making a difference in our local community.  Throughout the year, NSSLHA members take part in a variety of service activities and events.  Our community service ranges from bi-weekly events to annual celebrations.  Our organization is a great way to promote awareness of our field and these events expose our members to a variety of novel and rewarding experiences.

Bi-Weekly Events

Cards for Raul

Raul Madrid is a 53-year old man who has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy with quadriplegia.  Although he is unable to talk, he understands everything said to him.  He communicates with a voice output communication device activated with his elbows.  He uses his right foot to answer questions: foot up is "yes" and foot down is "no".  Raul is very social; he loves people and is a friend to everyone.  He paints using a specially adapted paintbrush for his toes.  With his special eye for color and design, he makes cards for the enjoyment of others.  Raul's signature is visible on the back of the card, which is his trademark for his art business, Toe-Mark Productions.  With the money made from card sales, Raul's speech therapist, Jennifer Burk, will engineer his home so he can communicate better and turn on his television, radio and other appliances.

Questions about our Community Service events? Contact our Vice President of Activities, Jessica Olivas at: jesoli@nmsu.edu.

Annual Events

L.I.F.E

The first ever Learning Is For Everyone (L.I.F.E) 5K Run/1 Mile Walk and Book-drive took place this year on October 30, 2011.  The College of Education, in conjunction with five student organizations: Counseling Masters Student Association, Dance Society, Kinesiology Club, National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, and the School Psychology Graduate Student Organization, organized and promoted the event.  Half of all proceeds were given to the Children's Reading Foundation of Las Cruces.  The event not only sponsored the 5K run/1 mile walk and book-drive, various booths were set up around O'Donnell Hall, providing children with various crafts, a reading corner, and hoola hoop contests, not to mention the sale of baked goods, pancakes, and hot drinks.  One of the most anticipated events, the Thriller Flash mob, was a hit.  The College of Education hopes to re-create the event, making it an annual tradition.