Congratulations to our 2017 MOTA Award Recipients

MOTA Communication Award (The MOTA Communication Award is presented to a therapist who has creatively contributed to the profession through innovative, research, education, and/or practice, resulting in improved knowledge and service to the client and/or the public)

• The 2017 MOTA Communication Award was presented to Andrea Harrison for exceptional skills in the use of technology for communication and education innovations.

MOTA Scholarship Award (The MOTA scholarship Award is presented to a therapist who has completed a notable project pertinent to practice or theory development, including implementation an publication of results, incorporating evidence for the advancement of OT practice)

• The 2017 MOTA Scholarship Award was presented to Hannah Oldenberg for her commitment to fieldwork education through research of new models

MOTA Clinician of the Year (The MOTA Clinician of the Year is a person who has advanced the profession to serve its consumers by utilizing special skills and/or knowledge of practice, education, and/or administration)

• The MOTA Clinician of the Year for 2017 was Marlys Gapster-Sand for her professionalism, commitment and dedication to her OTA students and the faculty team.

Award of Appreciation (Awards of appreciation are given to persons who have contributed significantly to the occupational therapy profession). The following people have received the Award of Appreciation:

• Cory Bennett for his assistance with getting legislation passed to create a Minnesota Board of Occupational Therapy
• Cathy Brennan for her commitment to the ethical practice and advancement of the OT profession
• Stephanie de Sam Lazaro for her leadership in promoting evidence based practice in pediatrics
• Lauren Hoffmann for her leadership in promoting evidence based practice in pediatrics
• Beth Kessler for her exceptional contribution co-leading Mental Health SIG for the last five years
• Susan Newman for a career focused on empowering her clients
• Elizabeth Larson for her commitment to MOTA to provide quality continuing education to OT practitioners in the state of Minnesota
• Kelly Robertson for outstanding work in increasing MOTA membership and for MOTA website design and maintenance
• Karen Sames for her advocacy and experience with legislative issues and advocacy for the profession
• Jacqueline Wagner for her exceptional contribution co-leading Mental Health SIG for the last five years
• Peggy Brandenburg for her exceptional leadership throughout tremendous change within the organization.

Service Awards (Service awards are given to recognize exemplary and sustained service to the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association)

• Merri Vitse, Past President
• Ann Lund, Past VP of Professional Development
• Megan Gibson, Past Treasurer
• Gina Christensen, Past Secretay