Class of 2025 Recognition Ceremony

The Department of Occupational Therapy Education held its annual recognition ceremony for graduating students on May 16, 2025, in Battenfeld Auditorium on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kansas.

Dory Sabata, Ph.D., department chair, welcomed guests from the stage before Abiodun Akinwuntan, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Professions, provided opening remarks.

Mallory Drake delivered this year's graduation address and was followed by Natalie Scott in leading the recognition of graduates and presenting them for hooding on stage.

See photos on the department's Facebook page. More photos from graduation.

The following students and faculty were honored with special recognition.

Andy Thompson Student Award
Established in memory of a graduate of our program, this award recognizes a student with an interest in serving individuals with traumatic brain injury or psychiatric disabilities.

• 2025 recipient: Alexis Chambers

Barbara Reber Umlauf Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association who has participated in both volunteer and work experiences and has a competitive grade point average.

• Katherine Lacy
• Grace O'Grady
• Haley Ulowetz

Elizabeth Collins Award
Established to recognize a graduating student who demonstrates academic excellence, professionalism, leadership in the field of occupational therapy and effective interpersonal skills.

• Nida’ Al Worikat
• Abriel Jarrett
• Mikayla Quinn

Frank Gurtler Award
Established to honor the graduating student who has been the most supportive to classmates during their educational experience.

• Mikayla Quinn

Jane Underwood Award
Established to honor a graduating occupational therapy student who demonstrates a strong commitment to holistic practice and depicts qualities of an artful practitioner.

• Abriel Jarrett
• Daisy Valeo
• Jessica Williams

Kitty Reed Scholarship
This award was established for academically deserving and outstanding occupational therapy students.

• Alexis Chambers
• Alyssa Guillen
• Abriel Jarrett
• Shalee Mog
• Paige Molstad
• Haley Ulowetz

LEND Trainee Award
The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program provides long-term, graduate level interdisciplinary training for students wanting to serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Through the year-long LEND program, trainees develop skill in leadership, research and practice.

• Grace O’Grady

Winnie Dunn Outstanding Researcher Award
Students must be nominated for this award by faculty in the department. Faculty nominations must highlight 1) the innovation of the research, 2) the potential impact for families and the profession, and 3) the efforts taken or planning to take to disseminate the findings.

• Jarrod Dusin

Bonnie Danley Fieldwork Educator of the Year
Established to give students an opportunity to recognize a fieldwork educator.

• Kayla Hamner, OTR/L, occupational therapist with Erickson Senior Living at Tallgrass Creek, and program manager for Sensory Enhanced Aquatics

Joyce Jones Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
Established to give students an opportunity to recognize a faculty member for their gift of teaching. This award is based on teaching commitment, educational development, personal interactions and communication skills.

• Denise Sangoi, OTD, OTR/L

Jennifer Tanquary Award
This award honors a student nominated by faculty who exemplifies a deep passion for the occupational therapy profession, demonstrates enthusiasm, genuine care, strong moral character and unwavering dedication to the department and community — qualities that reflect the values of Jennifer Tanquary.

• Nida’ Al Worikat
• Mikayla Quinn
• Daisy Valeo

Distinguished Capstone Project Award
This award recognizes a student in KU's entry-level doctoral program in occupational therapy whose doctoral capstone experience has demonstrated the most significant and lasting impact at their site.

• Caroline Shearer for "Accessible Art: Employee Trainings for Inclusive Leisure Participation"
• Mikayla Quinn for "Supporting Growth and Sustainability of Sensory Enhanced Aquatics Through Peer-Mentorship"
• Paige Molstad for "Leveraging Telehealth to Address Social Determinants of Health"

Occupational Therapy Education 2023 Networking & Professional Development Event

In connection with Alumni Reunion Weekend, the Department of Occupational Therapy Education held an open house, keynote presentation, student posters and a reception on October 6, 2023, on the campus of KU Medical Center. See photos on Facebook.

Five individuals were recognized with the department's Community Impact Award:

• Angela Abel, OTR/L
  Founder, JaySTART Clinic and KU alumnus
• Andy Wu, Ph.D.
  KU alumnus and former faculty member in the program
• Kelli Ott, OTD
  KU alumna and former faculty member in the program
• Laurie Steen, OTD
  KU alumna and current faculty member in the program
• Makenna Snyder, OTD
  KU alumna and current doctoral student in therapeutic science

The Community Impact Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional volunteerism and service, and those who make significant contributions to improving the lives of others and their communities. This year's award recipients recognized those who have had a significant influence on the success of the JaySTART Clinic. Angela Abel ‘12 was honored for her impact while a student. In 2011, she advocated for occupational therapy student involvement with a free clinic.  This clinic has expanded and evolved and continued for over a decade. Today it is a thriving interprofessional clinic at KU Medical Center that works to address the barriers to health care access in the local area by providing services to meet the needs of underserved patient populations.

Additionally, Catana Brown Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, was the keynote speaker at this year's event. Her presentation was titled "Less Talking and More Doing: Things We Can Do to Promote Occupational Therapy's Distinct Value." In it, she discussed the persistent perception in the occupational therapy profession that others don't know what we do. This belief can undermine our efforts to promote occupational therapy and what we can do so that others understand our contributions to health and well-being.