Student Membership Competition

SAC’s Student Membership Competition celebrates university and college programs across Canada with the highest percentage of students registered as SAC student associates.

Launched to encourage early professional engagement, the competition challenged programs in speech-language pathology, audiology, and communicative health assistant studies to foster a strong connection to SAC and the broader communication health community. Being a student member of SAC demonstrates a clear commitment to lifelong learning, professional excellence, and actively championing the visibility and advancement of our professions.

2025-26 Competition Winners

Congratulations to the programs that achieved the highest student membership registration in their respective categories:

Audiology Programs*

University of British Columbia 77%
*As there are only audiology programs that are under 100 students, we have one category for audiology programs.

These programs demonstrated exemplary student engagement and leadership within SAC, setting a powerful standard for professional involvement early in training. Their collective commitment highlights the vital role SAC membership plays in guiding students from early training to becoming confident, future leaders in the field.

Congratulations to all participating programs and to every student member whose engagement contributed to this year’s competition’s success.

Historical List of SAC Award Winners

(Formerly Lifetime Achievement Award and Eve Kassirer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement; name change effective 2019)

2024: Maria Scaringi, MS, SLP (C), Reg CASLPO, RRP, CCC-SLP, CCLCP™, CI, ICCCP(F)
2023: Kim Lawlor
2021: M. Kathleen Pichora-Fuller
2020: Patricia L. Cleave, PhD, S-LP(C)

2016: Gillian Barnes, MA, S-LP(C)
2018: Lynne Brewster, PhD, L.S.L.S., Cert. AVT.

2023: Sandrine Umunoza

2022: Maureen Penko, M.Sc. Reg. S-LP
2020: Diane Dacquay, RSLP, S-LP(C); Kathleen Kennedy, RSLP, S-LP(C)
2019: Janine Verge, AuD, Aud(C)
2018: Aravind Namasivayam PhD, S-LP(C)
2016: Kelli deVries, M.Sc., S-LP(C)

2023: Audette Sylvestre, Mélissa Di Sante, Catherine Julien, Caroline Bouchard, Vincent Martel-Sauvageau, Jean Leblond
2022: Janis Oram Cardy PhD, S-LP(C), MHSc, Reg. CASLPO; Olivia Daub, PhD, S-LP; BJ Cunnigham PhD, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO
2021: Jennifer C Wong, MHSc, S-LP(C) Reg. CASLPO
2020: Daniela K. O'Neill, Taylor J. Deglint, Ashley McKinnon, Angela Nyhout and Julianne Scott
2019: Mathieu Hotton, Ph.D.; François Bergeron Ph.D
2018: Susan Rvachew, PhD, S-LP(C); Phaedra Royle, PhD; Laura M. Gonnerman, PhD; Brigitte Stanké, PhD, M.O.A., M.Sc.Math.; Alexandra Marquis, PhD; Alexandre Herbay, PhD candidate

2024: Jana Leggett, MHSc.

2022: Andrea Little

2016: Catriona Steele, PhD, S-LP(C)
2018: Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C)

2000: Debbie Shugar
2001: Walter B. Green

2004: Mdme. Germaine Huot

2014: The Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children; Virginia Martin, S-LP, M.Sc., MA; Colleen Braun-Janzen, MA, S-LP(C)

2014: Using 1000 Hz Tympanometry in Hearing Screening of Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
2016: The Motor Speech Research Study

2014: ALS Team, The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre 
2016: ISAND
2018: Centre for Autism Services Alberta

(Formerly Distinguished Service Award; name change effective with 1998 award)

2016: The Elks of Canada
2014: Stephen and Carol Goff

2014: Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute — University Health Network

2014: Clayton Fisher (Audiology - University of Western Ontario)
2015: Selena Vermey (Audiology - University of British Columbia)
2016: Janet Kim, M.Sc. (Audiology - Western University)
2017: Katharine Davies, BA, MA, M.Sc. Candidate (S-LP - University of British Columbia)
2018: Eleanor Campbell, BA, M.Sc. candidate

2015: Barbara Jane Cunningham, M.Sc., SLP(C), Reg. CASLPO
2016: Elaine Kwok
2017: Michelle Phoenix, M.H.Sc., Reg.CASLPO, PhD Candidate

2017: Kelsey Andison, M.Sc., RAUD, RHIP, Aud(C), Jessica Clarke, M.Sc., R.SLP, S-LP(C)
2018: Allison Ames, MSc, R.SLP, S-LP(C); Lewis Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C)
2019: Martine Schlagintweit, Aud(C); Peter T. Cahill, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO; Jessica Davidson, M.Sc.(A), S-LP(C)
2020: Jessica Niemela, M. Sc., Aud(C); Brianne Senior, M.Sc., RSLP, S-LP(C)
2021: Allison V Robbins, M.Sc., Aud(C); Marissa Woods, BA, MSc, RSLP, S-LP(C); Samaneh (Anna) Yekta, M.Sc, Aud(C)

2018

  • Kegan R. Stephen, audiology program, Dalhousie University
  • Katherine Morin, BMT, MTA, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
  • Megan George, S-LP program, McGill University
  • Andrew McCormick, audiology program, Western University
  • Ayesha L. M. Johnson, S-LP program, Western University
  • Andrea Lau, M.Sc., S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO, S-LP program, University of Alberta
  • Jaime Meunier, audiology program, University of British Columbia
  • Helena Burrows, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
  • Valérie Caza, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
  • Valérie Coulombe, S-LP program, Université Laval
  • Francis L'Africain, audiology program, Université de Montréal
  • Karina Girard Laprise, audiology program, University of Ottawa
  • Jenna Tremblay-Leger, S-LP program, University of Ottawa
  • Maréva Savary, S-LP program, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
  • Jenna Haji, S-LP program, University of Toronto

2017

  • Elspeth MacLachlan, audiology program, Dalhousie University
  • Jenna MacDonald, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
  • Danielle Huot, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
  • Cléo Guillemette, S-LP program, Université Laval
  • Evan Kennedy, S-LP program, McGill University
  • Kelsey McLaughlin, S-LP program, University of Alberta
  • Chelsey Michaud, audiology program, University of British Columbia
  • Jessie Lee, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
  • Patricia Darche, audiology program, Université de Montréal
  • Maryse Meunier, S-LP program, Université de Montréal
  • Emilia Colagrosso, audiology program, Université d'Ottawa
  • Marie Bellavance-Courtemanche, S-LP program, Université d'Ottawa
  • Amy Verschuuren, S-LP program, University of Toronto
  • Darcy Ellen Rick, audiology program, Western University
  • Kerry Hollingsworth, S-LP program, Western University

2016

  • Keith (Kate) Baldoz, audiology program, Dalhousie University
  • Janine Fitzpatrick, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
  • Charlotte Guillet, S-LP program, McGill University
  • Sarah Danielsen, S-LP program, University of Alberta
  • Stephanie Renaas, audiology program, University of British Columbia
  • Megan Morrison, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
  • Maxine Bélanger, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
  • Kristina Findlay, S-LP program, Université Laval
  • Alexis Pinsonnault-Skvarenina, audiology program, Université de Montréal
  • Jordon Thompson, audiology program, University of Ottawa
  • Alissa Azzimmaturo, S-LP program, University of Ottawa
  • Karine Bureau, S-LP program, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
  • Ashley Sirko, S-LP program, University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Toner, audiology program, Western University
  • Emily Dueck, S-LP program, Western University

2015

  • Laura Hart, Dalhousie University, Aud.
  • Melissa Mulherin, Dalhousie University, S-LP
  • Michelle Brouillette, Université Laurentienne, S-LP
  • Marilyne Joyal, Université Laval, S-LP
  • Suzanne (Suzy) Read, McGill University, S-LP
  • Sarah Benetti, University of Alberta, S-LP
  • Myron Huen, University of British Columbia, Aud.
  • Katrina Kwan, University of British Columbia, S-LP
  • Stéphanie Vachon, Université de Montréal, S-LP
  • Christelle Gagnon, Université d'Ottawa, Aud.
  • Céline Baracho, Université d'Ottawa, S-LP
  • Amélie Labeaume, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, S-LP
  • Krista Howarth, University of Toronto, S-LP
  • Victoria (Tori) Stone, Western University, Aud.
  • Jocelyn Hayes, Western University, S-LP

2014

  • Sarah E. Wilson, Dalhousie University, Aud.
  • Heather Elizabeth Beckingham, Dalhousie University, S-LP
  • Emma Wells, McGill University, S-LP
  • Julia Esch, University of Alberta, S-LP
  • Gillian Taylor, University of British Columbia, Aud.
  • Shanu Kotwal, University of British Columbia, S-LP
  • Nancy Langlois, Université Laval, S-LP
  • Julie Roy, Université de Montréal, Aud.
  • Marie-Claude Sansregret, Université de Montréal, S-LP
  • Isabelle Mineault-Guitard, University of Ottawa, Aud.
  • Brittany Mendes, University of Ottawa, S-LP
  • Leanne Dall, University of Toronto, S-LP
  • Michael Vekasi, University of Western Ontario, Aud.
  • Alisha Vaz, University of Western Ontario, S-LP

Questions?