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Former Happy Valley High School graduate and Carter County native Jessica Lenden-Holt has been honored with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Award for Clinical Excellence for the state of Tennessee. The award was presented during ASHA’s national convention held in Seattle, Washington, this past weekend.

In addition to this prestigious national recognition, Lenden-Holt also received the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (TAASLP) Distinguished Service Award in September 2024, underscoring her impact in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology.

Lenden-Holt serves as the Chief Clinical Officer for Sidekick Therapy Partners, where she oversees clinical policy, therapeutic services, and leadership for more than 160 therapists across Tennessee and North Carolina. Her leadership extends to school districts, teletherapy, and outpatient clinic settings.

Beyond her professional role, Lenden-Holt is actively engaged in advocacy and community service. She is the President-Elect and former Vice President of Legislative Affairs for TAASLP, Chair of the Philanthropy Board for the East Tennessee State University College of Health Sciences, and Co-Founder of Dream Team Adapted Sports, which offers free athletic camps to children with disabilities in the region.

A standout academic achiever, Lenden-Holt was the 2001 valedictorian at Happy Valley High School. She earned dual honors degrees from the University of Tennessee in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and Spanish, and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis on bilingualism and multicultural studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Throughout her career, Lenden-Holt has conducted more than 100 presentations and trainings on topics including interdisciplinary clinical practice, ethics, multicultural issues, bilingualism, evidence-based practices, and healthcare advocacy. Her dedication to improving access to healthcare services has made a significant impact statewide.

Lenden-Holt’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including:

• Leadership Tennessee NEXT Program Member
• Hall of Fame Inductee (2023) for the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences at ETSU
• ASHA Innovator Award (2023)
• 40 Under 40 Award – University of Tennessee Knoxville (2023)
• 40 Under 40 Award – Business Journal of the Tri-Cities (2022)
• Hometown Hero Award – Elizabethton, TN (2018)

Lenden-Holt’s passion for interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare, education, and community involvement continues to leave a lasting mark in her field and her local community.