MARIETTA, OHIO — Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is celebrating a significant milestone as the college recognizes the first graduating class of its Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program.
The inaugural cohort represents an important achievement for WSCO and the region, with nine students completing the program this summer and becoming the first graduates of the newly established program. The inaugural graduating class includes Jason Lyall, Katie Franklin, Kayleigh Oxford, Shakira Bartlett, Jaidyn Giboney, Harley Leopold, Chantel Brown, Grace Bobo, and Sarah Morris.
Throughout their time at WSCO, the students developed the knowledge, technical skills and hands-on experience needed to pursue careers as occupational therapy assistants and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
The milestone comes at an important time for the profession, as there is a high demand for occupational therapy assistants in southeastern Ohio. By preparing qualified graduates locally, WSCO’s OTA program is helping address workforce needs while creating opportunities for students to build rewarding careers close to home.
The milestone comes as WSCO’s OTA program recently received official accreditation for seven years, representing a top-tier accreditation and recognizing the strength and quality of the academic program. The accreditation signifies that the program has established a robust curriculum designed to prepare students to become competent and successful entry-level occupational therapy practitioners.
For OTA Program Director Dr. Chad Schneider, the graduation of the inaugural cohort represents the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and collaboration. The students received positive feedback during their fieldwork rotations, with several graduates even receiving employment offers from the facilities where they completed their fieldwork experiences.
“It means everything to me that these nine students graduated from our program,” said Dr. Schneider. “I know that we prepared them well.”
The students’ success during fieldwork experiences reflects both the preparation they received through the program and the professionalism they demonstrated in real-world healthcare settings. Their experiences allowed them to apply their classroom knowledge, develop their clinical skills and serve patients and communities.
Building a new academic program presented challenges, but it also created opportunities for students, faculty and staff to grow together. Over the past two years, the inaugural cohort and program faculty developed a strong sense of community as they worked toward the shared goal of preparing students for successful careers in occupational therapy.
“The journey has been harrowing and wonderful,” Dr. Schneider said. “Building a new academic program is tiring and stressful, however, watching students walk across the stage to receive their degrees in a new program for the first time is exhilarating and rewarding.”
The program’s accreditation and first graduating class also represent an important investment in the future of the occupational therapy profession and the communities WSCO serves. By preparing qualified occupational therapy assistants for the workforce, the program provides students with opportunities to build meaningful careers while helping meet the needs of healthcare providers and their patients throughout the region.
For Dr. Schneider, one of the most rewarding aspects of establishing the program has been watching students develop into confident, capable professionals. The program has not only prepared students for careers but also provided them with opportunities to serve their communities and build a future they can be proud of.
“We became a family these past two years, supporting each other to achieve our goals,” Dr. Schneider said. “There is nothing better than feeling that we have shaped these people into competent professionals and provided them with opportunities to serve their communities, as well as providing them with a career they can be proud of and that will improve their living.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Schneider hopes the program will continue to provide students with opportunities to pursue rewarding careers and create lasting positive changes for themselves, their families and their communities.
“My hope is that the program will continue to provide students with amazing careers and change the socioeconomic trajectory of themselves and their families,” Dr. Schneider said.
The success of the inaugural cohort and the program’s accreditation would not have been possible without the support of the WSCO community. Faculty, staff and administrators across the college played an important role in helping establish and grow the new academic program.
“That support from everyone at WSCO, from administrators to faculty to the staff has been incredible,” Dr. Schneider said. “It makes WSCO a great place to work.”
As WSCO celebrates its first Occupational Therapy Assistant graduates and the program’s seven-year accreditation, the inaugural cohort leaves a lasting mark on the program and establishes a strong foundation for future students who will pursue careers centered on helping others participate in the activities that give their lives meaning.
The college congratulates the inaugural Occupational Therapy Assistant graduating class and looks forward to seeing the impact these graduates will make in the occupational therapy profession and throughout the communities they serve.
