Eighth residence hall slated

Oct. 21, 2004
By Heather Venema
News Editor

At this time last year, SAU’s Occupational Therapy program selected delegates to attend the National American Occupational Therapy Association Conference.  Little did they know that attending this conference would create a chain reaction of good fortune.

The national conference attracts students and professionals from around the world to learn OT information at state and national levels.  SAU attends the event every year and nominates one student to represent the OT student body, and an alternate that prepares to be the representative for next year.

In May, SAU's delegate, Moe Sullivan, and alternate, Anna Brandt, prepared for the event with six other students that choose to attend.  Every year the conference is held in a different state and this year SAU headed to Minneapolis.

"It was a great opportunity to network with fellow students and professionals while getting my name out for future opportunities,” said Sullivan. While at the conference, delegates communicate ideas from the student level to professionals, learn ways to raise money, promote the OT profession and attend keynote speakers for motivation.

Due to fundraising efforts by SOTA, the Student Occupational Therapy Association, the trip was kept at a low cost to those who attended.  SOTA holds events throughout the year to fund the OT program, like a car wash that was recently held at Wal-Mart.

Aside from lectures, the conference also hosts the annual Maddak awards.  Through the help of the OT Assistive Technology Lab, Christen Locandro and Professor Jon Turnquist received awards.  Assistive Technology is used to help people with physical limitations perform every day tasks.

Locandro received first place for making a device that aids those with spinal cord injuries to independently remove their gas cap. Turnquist received second place for his assistive technology device.

On September 18th, students from New York to Nebraska joined SAU's OT program on campus for a student conference.  SAU promoted the event at the national conference as a way to educate others while raising money for their program.

“It was nice to meet students from different OT programs and get their perspective on the profession,” said Sullivan.

The SAU OT program offers a compact graduate degree.  Students are able to obtain their masters and undergraduate degrees in five years.

In the next few weeks the OT program will be picking delegates to embark on the 2005 conference – hopefully the chain of good luck will keep flowing.  For more information on the OT program, contact Phyllis Wenthe at x6276.

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