Students honored with scholarship, program awards
A.D. Williams OT Research Award
Ashley Cardona, 3rd year
“My first endeavor was working as a student representative for the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), where I developed the Authors and Issues discussion points based on that month’s selected article and helped facilitate discussions with authors. I also am a research assistant, supporting several faculty members on projects related to elder abuse, ADL/IADL assessments, social isolation and inflammatory bowel diseases. These opportunities have helped me stay current with emerging literature, while also strengthening my ability to engage in meaningful dialogue with members of the OT community. As a dual-degree student pursuing both her OTD and Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences, this scholarship will support my development and continued research beyond graduation."
A.D. Williams OT Fieldwork Award
Sydney Hilovksy, 3rd Year
“I’m from Roanoke, Virginia. I completed my Level II fieldwork rotations at Sheltering Arms Institute, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and at Ivy Rehab for Kids, an outpatient pediatric clinic. Although these experiences were very different from one another, each taught me valuable lessons about myself, the field of occupational therapy and what I hope to find in a future workplace. Throughout both placements, I could truly feel myself shifting from an OT student into a confident and competent emerging practitioner. These experiences strengthened my passion for OT, and I’m incredibly excited to enter a field that I know I’m meant to be in. Receiving this scholarship has meaningfully supported my goals, especially as I continue advancing my education and preparing for my future career as an occupational therapist.”
A.D. Williams OT Leadership Award
Marina Li, 2nd Year
“As a career changer with diverse work experience in public relations, higher educatio, and events management, in addition to OT, I am always looking for ways to hone a variety of skills. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the VCU OT Department in meaningful ways. Through my time serving as a teaching assistant for the gross anatomy course, admissions and recruitment assistant and co-chair of the PTE Journal Club, I had the opportunity to sharpen the leadership skills that will help me become a well-rounded clinician in the future. I am excited for my upcoming fieldwork rotations and capstone project that blends OT with my passion for travel. I am beyond grateful for the support the department is providing me to lessen the burden while I focus on my studies.”
A.D. Williams OT Service Award
Samantha Donaire, 2nd Year
"As a future occupational therapist, I understand the vast intersections of life that affect people. I am an able-bodied Costa Rican-Honduran American. My strongest identity markers come from my resilience with having a learning disability, survivorship and being a first-generation student. Unintentionally, I have lived my life using a strength-based approach. My experiences have created a sense of empathy and perspective that drives my desire to support others. This passion in working with people has led me to this profession and to serving as the Class of 2027 chair for the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity and as a 2025-2026 intern for the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association. My career goals are centered on helping underrepresented communities across the globe. I intend to pursue a Ph.D. to support humanitarian efforts in bringing health care professions like cccupational therapy to areas of need. Thank you for supporting my endeavors as a student, practitioner and human being. Pura vida."
Gudger-Garris Award
The Gudger-Garris Award started as a bequest from Lucille Gudger, whose daughter, Cynthia Gudger-Garris, was a member of the Class of 1972. The award is given to students in good academic standing that present with Gudger-Garris’ innovation and pride in the profession.
Jenny-Gil Adiao, 1st year
“As a first-generation Filipino-American and the first within my family to pursue a graduate degree, I am ecstatic to serve the community as a future occupational therapist. While I’m keen on working with older adults, I look forward to learning aplenty in my time here at VCU so that I can become an occupational therapist who serves individuals across the lifespan – and one that is equipped to give back to those that are interested in this path of service. I’m very grateful and appreciative of how this scholarship will support my pursuit of growing into the occupational therapist I have every intention of being.”
Shea Soliman Alfonso, 1st year
“Growing up in a Filipino household, I was taught that caring for others is not just a responsibility, but a part of your identity. This part of my upbringing shaped values that align with the roots of occupational therapy: compassion, empathy and connection. I am truly honored to be a Grudger-Garris Award recipient, which recognizes my dedication and commitment to the OT profession. The support from this scholarship will alleviate some financial stress, which will give me the opportunity to focus more intentionally on building my clinical skills and knowledge to better serve others with competence and compassion. I’m so excited and grateful to be part of a profession that supports and allows me to serve in ways that feel authentic and align with my core values.”
Jayla Henderson, 2nd year
“From a young age, I’ve been passionate about serving underrepresented communities and helping bridge the gap between quality health care and the individuals who need it most. This commitment led me to pursue occupational therapy, a field that allows me to treat the whole person and work directly with patients to improve their daily lives. In addition to my OTD program, I am earning a Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences, with research focused on traumatic brain injury and health care disparities in underserved populations. This scholarship will support my continued education and help me gain the knowledge and tools needed to advance equitable health care, improve patient outcomes and contribute meaningful research that addresses systemic barriers. I am grateful for the opportunity and truly appreciative of your consideration.”
Prince Hopson, 2nd year
“Originally from Hopewell, Virginia, and a proud James Madison University undergraduate alum, I am incredibly honored to receive the Gudger-Garris Scholarship Award. This support will not only ease the financial strain of my graduate studies but also allow me to continue pursuing my passions in burn rehabilitation, body image recovery and advancing occupational therapy’s role in sex, intimacy and holistic psychosocial wellness. I am deeply grateful for this award and for the generosity of those who make opportunities like this possible. Thank you for believing in my journey and the future I hope to build as an occupational therapist.
Haley Krol, 2nd year
“During my time in the program, I experienced the loss of my father, and I stepped into a caregiving role for my younger siblings, which transformed my understanding of resilience, responsibility and the power of meaningful occupation in shaping identity. I’m particularly interested in how individuals rebuild identity following trauma, loss, or major life transitions. This scholarship will support me as I continue developing my doctoral capstone, a book that blends personal narrative and occupational therapy principles to help individuals reclaim identity through occupation after trauma and life change. I am honored to receive an award that reflects innovation and pride in our profession, and I hope to carry those values forward in my future practice.”
Sharona Osborne, 1st year
"I am a first-generation college student raised in a non-traditional Caribbean-American home. I grew up in the Hampton Roads area, and studied Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the College of William and Mary. I am so thankful for receiving the Grudger-Garris Award, an award that recognizes my academic performance and helps alleviate some of the financial load required to pursue this degree. With this scholarship, I can focus my time here on developing my clinical skills, taking advantage of the research and field opportunities offered by this program, and becoming a well-rounded clinician."
Domenica Pusic, 3rd year
“I’m honored to have received the Gudger-Garris Scholarship Award to help me accomplish my goal of becoming a skilled and trusted occupational therapist. My journey through diverse clinical observations, fieldwork, work experiences in various health care settings and other educational opportunities has shaped my commitment to bringing the full meaning of occupational therapy into inpatient care. I’m grateful for this opportunity and the support it provides in advancing my professional growth. In my future career, I look forward to demonstrating how OT can restore dignity, reduce caregiver burden and promote independence across every stage of life – all while embodying empathy, adaptability and advocacy. This scholarship will also help me strengthen my clinical skills, pursue specialized training such as LSVT BIG, expand OT awareness in my community and move toward my goal of becoming a fieldwork educator.”
A.D. Williams Scholarship
A.D. Williams Scholarships, previously known as Commonwealth of Virginia Scholarships, are awarded to students with high academic and professional potential, who are from diverse backgrounds and Virginia residents.
Isabelle Fortiz, 2nd year
“I am a dual-enrolled OTD and Ph.D. student. I am incredibly grateful to receive this scholarship, as it will meaningfully support my academic and professional goals. As I begin preparing for my capstone and dissertation, I’m exploring potential areas of research focused on traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery in veterans. I aspire to work with service members and veterans in the future to give back to a population that has continually sacrificed for us. In this non-traditional occupational therapy pathway, my goal is to commission as a military officer and occupational therapist, supporting the mental, physical and emotional health of those who serve. In addition to clinical practice, I hope to return to academia to teach and mentor the next generation of occupational therapists. This scholarship brings me one step closer to achieving these goals, and I am truly honored to be selected.”
Heather Fraser, 2nd year
“I’m from Chesapeake, Virginia, and I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in communication from Old Dominion University. Being a part of the VCU OTD program has been incredibly rewarding, and I have experienced a great amount of professional and personal growth within myself over the past two years. I am passionate about serving others and look forward to continuing to challenge myself throughout this program so that I can best support my future clients. I’m grateful to receive this scholarship as it will help ease some of the financial demands associated with graduate school and allow me to dedicate more of my time to my studies as I work toward my goal of becoming a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist. I appreciate my professors and classmates for supporting and encouraging me throughout my learning, and I feel very fortunate to have been selected for this award.”
Tosha Norris, 2nd year
“I’m grateful to accept the A.D. Williams Scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year! As a dual-degree student in both the OTD and Health Related Sciences Ph.D. programs, I dedicate a lot of time and effort toward my coursework. This scholarship takes a real weight off my shoulders and lets me focus more on growing as a student and professional. I want to thank the VCU OTD faculty for being such supportive mentors. Their guidance has helped me realize just how many possibilities there are in occupational therapy and how much I enjoy them all. With Level II fieldwork coming up this summer, I’m looking forward to learning even more and figuring out what excites me most in the field. I’m also eager to get started on my capstone research and, later, my dissertation on Barth Syndrome and related feeding challenges. I hope to identify interventions to support individuals and their families facing this rare condition. This scholarship is helping me get closer to my goal of improving individuals' quality of life by supporting meaningful participation and keeping the needs of clients and families at the center of care.”
Chelsea Rodi, 3rd year
“I’m a third-year student with a strong passion for pediatrics. During my Level II fieldwork, I developed a growing interest in sensory integration therapy and its powerful impact on a child’s functional abilities. As I complete my final semester, I plan to continue working toward the CLASI Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration to further strengthen my clinical skills and knowledge. I am honored to be a recipient of the A.D. Williams Scholarship Award. This support will ease my financial burden and allow me to focus on my professional growth as I prepare to begin my career.”
Morgan Sbraccia, 3rd year
“I recently completed my two three-month fieldwork rotations. I had the privilege to obtain experience in an outpatient pediatric clinic as well as an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. I actively serve as the VOTA student liaison, assisting with fostering the connections between students and the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association. In the spring, I will be completing my capstone project focused on the impact occupational therapy interventions have on young adults who grew up within the foster care system. After graduation, I aim to work in pediatrics or adult neurorehabilitation, while also advocating for the expansion of occupational therapy services within the foster care system.”
Lauryn Schiffrin, 2nd year
“My primary OT interests include pediatric populations, neuroscience and scientific research in the field of occupational therapy. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship. This financial contribution to my education allows me to not only continue in the OTD program, but it also allows me to pursue dual Ph.D.-OTD degrees despite the additional financial commitments. I am passionate about research and hope to contribute to the field of occupational therapy through pediatric and neuroscience research, and this financial assistance allows me to continue working towards those goals with reduced financial stress.”
Alyssa Tsui, 3rd year
“I’m incredibly honored to be a recipient of the Gudger-Garris Scholarship Award. As a first-generation student, this scholarship will help relieve some of the financial burden that comes with pursuing an advanced degree. In addition to being a full time student, I am a research assistant with the Sensorimotor Performance and Rehabilitation Engineering (SPRE) Lab and a rollator repair technician with Richmond Aging and Engaging. These roles fuel my passion for research and my commitment to improving lives in our local community. This support will allow me to focus more on my studies, research involvement, and community service as I work toward becoming an impactful clinician in my last semester of my OT education.”
Elizabeth Handley, 2nd year
“I’m a caregiver and second-year student with interests in pediatrics, neuroscience and adaptive technology. I was motivated to pursue occupational therapy by a strong belief that engagement in meaningful communities and activities is crucial to childhood development and overall well being. I have over six years of experience working as an in-home caregiver for a girl with multiple disabilities, which has further strengthened my dedication to serving children with developmental disabilities by increasing their access to participation. This scholarship will help me advance as a future clinician by allowing me to spend more time engaged in academics and hands-on learning opportunities in the community.”
Kathryn Lawrence Dragas Award
Emily Taylor, 2nd year
“I’m from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and I’m honored to receive the Kathryn Lawrence Dragas Scholarship this year. Throughout my journey in the OTD program, I have been a dedicated full-time student, while also working in the Richmond community to cover my graduate school expenses as an out-of-state student. This award will give me the freedom to focus on growing as a student and future professional, while pursuing opportunities and experiences within the field that will enhance my abilities as a future pediatric occupational therapist. I am immensely grateful for the generosity of the Dragas family and their desire to help future occupational therapists, like myself, reach their fullest potential and blossom into successful practitioners. With the help of this award, I will be able to continue striving toward a career in pediatric occupational therapy.”
