FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2023

Media Contact:  Susan Hancock
Abshire Public Relations
912.844.9549
pr@abshirepr.com

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Speech and Hearing Center has named Georgia Southern University student, Alayna Cassidy as the recipient of the 2023 Annie F. Oliver Volunteer of the Year award. Miss Cassidy is from Oglethorpe County, Georgia and will graduate from Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program and a minor in Child and Family Development. She hopes to practice speech language pathology in a hospital setting with survivors of stroke or traumatic brain injury, those with dementia and other neurogenic communication disorders.

She has volunteered with Savannah Speech & Hearing Center since 2022, committing over 225 hours with their stroke and TBI survivor support group; Sound Start, their early intervention, auditory/verbal therapy program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing; in community hearing screenings; and in administrative work.

The Annie F. Oliver Volunteer of the Year award has been given on an annual basis since 1978, celebrating extraordinary dedication and service supporting the mission of Savannah Speech & Hearing Center in providing access to comprehensive speech, hearing, language and other therapeutic services that empower and transform lives.

ABOUT SAVANNAH SPEECH AND HEARING:
Since 1954, Savannah Speech and Hearing has been committed to providing comprehensive speech, hearing, language and other therapeutic services that empower and transform the lives of both children and adults, regardless of financial abilities. SSHC offers a wide range of programs including Sound Start, our early intervention auditory/verbal program for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as well as audiology, speech, pediatric occupational therapy, hearing aids, cochlear implants, informational resources, a stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors’ support group and other specialized programs. SSHC speech-language pathologists and audiologists are certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), their occupational therapists are certified by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and all are licensed by the Georgia State Professional Licensing Board. For more information, visit www.speechandhearingsav.org or call 912.355.4601.