DuBard School Recognizes Community Members at Speakeasy Event

At the 2015 DuBard School Speakeasy on Oct. 9, the DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi presented awards to three members of the community who have made a positive impact on the organization throughout the years.

DuBard School relies heavily on the generosity and support of individuals and organizations within our community. As a way to show gratitude to the many individuals who have made a positive impact on the DuBard School and its students, the DuBard School awards were developed in 2014. Three awards were presented at the event -- DuBard School for Language Disorders University Friend of the Year, Community Friend of the Year and Award of Distinction. The recipients were as follows:

DuBard School University Friend of the Year – Dr. Sheila Hendry, Instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi

For many years, Dr. Sheila Hendry has led the charge in coordinating university students teaching in the DuBard School classrooms. This unique partnership allows undergraduate university students studying biological sciences to get real life experience in a classroom with students who are eager to learn. Additionally, these lessons provide DuBard School students with lessons in various science-related topics such as ecosystems, weather, the human body, animals, and much more. Because of Dr. Hendry's leadership, DuBard School students and university students benefit tremendously in their learning environments.

DuBard School Community Friend of the Year – Sertoma Club of Hattiesburg

Sertoma Club of Hattiesburg is the epitome of Sertoma Inc.'s acronym, Service to Mankind. For more than 10 years, Sertoma Club of Hattiesburg has supported DuBard School through both fundraising and community awareness. To date, Sertoma has raised more than $210,000 for DuBard School and its services. Additionally, they hold an annual fundraiser each spring called the Sertoma Drawdown that promotes DuBard School's mission within the community while raising funds.

DuBard School Award of Distinction – Carolyn W. Felsher

Carolyn W. Felsher was more than a supporter of DuBard School, she was family. Carolyn was an early student of Dr. Etoile DuBard and a Southern Miss alumna of 1961 and 1971. As a speech-language pathologist, Carolyn touched many lives in her career, including students in Jones County Schools, Petal Schools, and at the DuBard School from 1989-2011. Throughout the years, Carolyn became a respected professional, cherished friend, and a person whom children knew they could count on to provide support and guidance through the struggles they faced with language disorders. Her generosity to children and to the school, and that of her husband, Col. Edwin Felsher, took on numerous forms. Unfortunately, Carolyn passed away in September, but her creative and positive spirit touched so many colleagues, children and their parents, that her legacy will be felt for years to come.