What could be more gratifying than working to invest in new leaders, to foster innovation, and to steward the advancement of knowledge, tools, and techniques that help society?

 

With Psi Iota Xi as our partner, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation is able to work toward these goals each year.

 

The ASHFoundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation dedicated to innovation in communication sciences and disorders. Each year, we provide funding through various programs to help professionals launch their careers, engage in critical priorities of the field, leverage additional funding sources, and access mentoring and networking opportunities.

 

Psi Iota Xi members may be interested to learn that the ASHFoundation receives nearly 400 submissions annually to its various scholarship and research grant programs. From the total number of submissions received each year, only 10 percent of applicants and proposals will be funded due to insufficient resources. Psi Iota Xi's support is critical. We remain committed to bridging the gap between current support and priority needs that are so important to developing our field's innovative researchers, educators, clinicians, and future professionals. Psi Iota Xi's continuing generosity extends our reach to address the funding needs of some of our country's most promising scholars.

 

During the most recent cycle of funding, Laura Chapman, a speech-language and hearing sciences doctoral student in the communication sciences and disorders program at Ohio University, was the Psi Iota Xi scholarship recipient. Laura plans to continue research in aphasia to discover more effective ways to help individuals recovering from stroke communicate in daily situations. She is also committed to a career in academia as an educator working with undergraduate and graduate students. She expressed, "I hope to foster curiosity and creativity by utilizing adult learning processes in my classes, and by re-thinking the assessment of my students to focus just as much on the learning process as I do the outcomes of that process. By doing this, I believe that we can develop stronger clinicians, researchers, and human beings in general."

 

This talented student is just one of the many individuals Psi Iota Xi has funded over the years and she is part of a cohort of 2,002 individuals nationwide who have received funding over the life of the ASHFoundation. This lifetime of funding is directed at supporting innovators and sparking innovation to help individuals with problems in hearing, speech, language, or swallowing.

 

Our programs are sustained through the vital support of Psi Iota Xi, and we are sincerely grateful for the exceptional generosity and loyalty. Through your organization's participation with this national project partnership, you are shaping the future for the millions of children and adults who have speech, language, swallowing, or hearing disorders. We extend our appreciation for Psi Iota Xi's continued support and for consideration of future requests.

 

The ASHFoundation is dedicated to bringing forward-thinking solutions to individuals who face communication problems and to the clinicians who serve them. Psi Iota Xi is a partner helping us meet our mission. Support innovators. Spark innovation.

Mary Jane (nee McNabb) Huff, of West Lafayette, IN peacefully passed away on the afternoon of Thursday, March 31, 2016, with her daughter, Kathy Lafuse; her grandson, Brian Lafuse; and her prayer partner, Christopher Wood at her bedside. 
Mary Jane was born on August 3, 1920, in South Bend, IN to the late Delbert and Melinda McNabb and was one of seven siblings. She attended South Bend Central High School and loved to remind others that she was a student of and babysitter for the children of basketball legend, John Wooden. She attended Ball State University, where she graduated in 1942 with a B.A. degree in Education; afterwards, she began a teaching career in South Bend at the same South Bend Central HS. On April 18, 1943, Mary Jane married Richard (Dick) Huff of South Bend, who preceded her in death (October, 2013). When he returned in 1945 from his Navy service, they started a family that included four children.
Active in the community, Mary Jane was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in South Bend, Psi Iota Xi sorority, Women's Bible Studies at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, American Association of University Women and so many other volunteer activities. After she and Dick moved to Atlanta, GA, in 1971, Mary Jane continued in P.E.O. and became President of the Georgia State Chapter in 1982. She was also an active and experienced gardener and achieved the title of "Lifetime Georgia Master Gardener" before moving to Fairhope, AL, where she continued her philanthropic pursuits as well as her many hobbies. Mary Jane was active in the Presbyterian churches she and Dick attended during their more than 70 years of marriage. She was a lifelong leader and participant in Garden Clubs, Book Clubs, Bible studies and bridge games.
After moving to West Lafayette after her husband's death, Mary Jane enjoyed time with her daughter, Kathy; granddaughter, Elizabeth, and her family, who lovingly referred to her as "GiGi", short for Great Grandma; grandson, Brian. During her few years in the West Lafayette area, she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, time with friends, trips to various community events, and Purdue Women's basketball games. 
Mary Jane is survived by her son, Alan Huff (wife, Pam) of Eugene, OR; her daughter, Kathy Lafuse of West Lafayette, IN; her daughter, Jenifer McCoy (husband, Cary) of Columbus, GA; her son, Fred Huff of Atlanta, GA. She leaves many grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Cybil Huff and her children, Riley, Otis, and Madeline; Sean Huff (wife, Laurie) and their children, Isabella and Connor; Caroline Huff; Elizabeth Miller (husband, Andrew) and their children, Brigham, Tatum, Beckham, Tegan, and Tessa; Brian Lafuse; Chad McCoy (wife, Nicole) and their son, Davis; Cassidy Moody (husband, Christopher) and their son, Andrew; and Catie Miller (husband, Matthew).
Memorial contributions can be made to either the P.E.O. Sisterhood through Ruth Priest, 27846 Oakachoy Loop, Daphne, AL 36526, or to the Richard and Mary Jane Huff Scholarship through the Purdue Foundation, 403 W. Wood Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907.