Alumni
Hands of Change
Hands of Change is the Alumni Association of San Jose State University Department of Occupational Therapy. Its mission is to provide a bridge between its members and the department, promote a sense of unity, and provide opportunities for networking and mentoring while acting as a resource to enhance knowledge and growth.
Purposes of the Alumni Association
Provide guidance and support to the members
Serve as a resource to its members
Networking
Provide mentoring to students of SJSU's Department of Occupational Therapy
Visit and keep track of friends and faculty
Promote ongoing communication with the SJSU's Department of Occupational Therapy
Support the department
Support curriculum revision
Support research
Provide recognition of significant events and people
Goals of the Alumni Association
To maintain an updated database
To establish membership dues and donations
To hold Alumni Reception events at the annual OTAC Conference
To develop an alumni contact list
To raise funds for scholarships to students
To raise funds for Department upgrading
To receive funds/support from vendors
Donate
If you believe that San Jose State University and the Occupational Therapy Department contributed to, or were instrumental in your professional development and ultimate financial success, please help us now with a generous financial contribution. There is no more important time to give than now and there is no more important investment you could be making in your profession than to give back to the school and program of which you can be proud. Consider making a gift to the department in honor today.
2024 Alumni Donation Letter Request [pdf]
Give online now to the OT Department
Have more questions? Contact the Alumni Association at 408-924-3070.
Recognition of the Amazing Donors to the SJSU Occupational Therapy Department
The faculty, staff and students of the Department of Occupational Therapy at San Jose State University wish to thank and recognize all of our esteemed alumni and donor friends who have contributed over the past year! We are grateful for your support and commitment. Your donations directly enrich and impact our department’s innovative programs of excellence in education, research and practice in occupational therapy and has been instrumental in continuing the academic excellence that is the San Jose State University Occupational Therapy Department.
Our Endowed “Diamond” Donors:
These donors have made a large endowed donation to support the OT department on an ongoing basis – this provides continuous support!
- Mary Booth created the Mary Booth Scholarships [pdf]
- Dr. Donald and Mrs. Donna Friedrich created the Wynn Schultz-Krohn Scholarships [pdf]
- Bonita Kraft created the Bonita Kraft Scholarship [pdf]
- Susan Robertson created the Occupational Therapy Professional Development Fund and in the process of funding the Susan Robertson Endowed Chair position.
List of Endowed Scholarships:
2024
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Emily Canigula, Samantha Kretchmer Morgan Kam, Kathy Nguyen, Ariel Appel, Alyssa
Yu, Jennifer Rootes
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Julia Dariychuk
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Kimberly Ancheta, Sondra Stilwell, Sydney Hanzalik, Samantha Woo, Brianna Katsuda,
Skyler Trezona, Samantha Parisi, May Tsao
2023
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Micheal Benson, April Cano, Cecily Colgate, Julia Dariychuk, Chloe Deleissegues,
Sergio Dominguez, Sydney Hanzalik, Ariana Jimenez, Mary Modisette, Scott Nelson, Ngoc
Nguyen, Sammi Parisi, Dayana Rangel, Sarah Staten
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Emily Randall
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Lili McNenny, Emily Boykin, Nicole Orr, Thao Pham, Kiana Shibata, Ciara Stewart
2022
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Nicole Apodaca, Emily Boykin, Elana Candiotti-Pacheco, Anna Dayley, Kellie Fineman,
Mayumi Haskell, Brian Kim, Nicole Orr, Nihada Sahmanovic, Kiana Shibata, Ciara Stewart,
Hope Weseloh, Tiffany Wong, Lauren Worley, and Angela Yeon
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Eden Wong
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Krista Conn, Sienna Kuykendall, Ryan McBride, and Maria Wong
2021
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Dariana Chow, Stephanie Basauldo, Katlyn Bach, Elizabeth Sims, Heather Hamamura,
Marisa Vinson, Karisa Joe, Ariel Leasure, Gabrielle Thompson, Daisy Ochoa, Jordan
Rich, Patricia Buenviaje, Elana Candiotti-Pacheco, and Annie Duong
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Cindy Cheung
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Carey Faber, Jo Kweon, Devyn Shum, and Nicole Apodaca
2020
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Katie Baker, Briana Bartram, Stephanie Basualdo, Lisa Bullard, Daeriana Chow, Alexandra
Cramer, Matthew Horwinski, Karisa Joe, Alyssa Jung, Ariel Leasure, Nhatrang Nguyen,
Julian Park, Kristin Ramos, Gabrielle Thompson, Marisa Vinson, Ana Zepeda
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: David Pufki
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Kelly Bellemore, Ana Martinez Flores, and Madelyn Penman
2019
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Michelle Agbayani, Gabriella Bellemonte, Aimee Castro, Adrienne Dahlmeier, Paige
Dunlop, Madeline Horn, Cathy Li, Melissa Magdangal, Jessica Perez, Sophia Singh, Mimi
Stroud, Diana Villasenor, Vanessa Weaver, Erica Yee, Kelly Bellemore, Alyssa Jung,
Elaine Lau, Cameron McCallister, and Deborah Yun
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Bailey Fator and Claire Mueller
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Millie Book, Kimiko McNeill, Serina Murphy, and Monica Ondriezek
2018
Mary Booth Endowed Scholarship: Neda Abootorabi, Sarah Alexander, Lisa Benjamin, Madeline Bauer, Kacie Conn, Kaylene
De Bord, Kathryn Dudley, Darla Gary, Hallie Hicks, Casey Honath, Brianca Hutchins,
Mollie Jow, Erin Kastelz, Regina Kim, Sarah Kwee, Drucilla Potts, and Valeria Velasquez
Bonita Kraft Endowed Scholarship: Rachel Bishop
Wynn Schultz-Krohn Endowed Scholarship: Caitlin McAvoy and Erin Lubniewski
Testimonials of Student Scholarships
Jo Kweon, MSOT Class of 2021
I am so honored and appreciative to be a recipient of the Wynn Schultz-Krohn Scholarship this year. It is a privilege to be recognized as a student, scholar, and OT in this way. After my clinical fieldwork this year, I hope to work as an OT with a focus in hippotherapy, physical disabilities, and sexuality. This scholarship will especially assist me through housing, meals and tuition during the remainder of this year. Thank you for supporting me with this scholarship! I am very grateful.
Carey Faber
I consider myself a trailblazer. In the spring of 2020, I was one of the first students to study abroad in Finland through the San José State University MSOT program. I chose to do this because I wanted to try something that had not been done before and also because I wanted to observe the OT profession in another country. I was so inspired by my time in Finland that I came up with an idea for a pilot study to conduct in the future. I wish to contribute to OT research and promote the profession on a national and international level. Right now, as I prepare for my first internship I am determined to, as we used to say in lifeguarding to be “a sponge” and soak in all the knowledge I can. Your generosity has helped my financial burden as I pursue a career in OT, and it also motivates me to keep moving upwards and onwards towards the licensure exam. I hope to emulate your kindness and financially assist OT students in the future.
Nicole Apodaca
I chose to pursue occupational therapy because I believe in the impact and power of using occupation as a means of therapy. This scholarship supports my educational endeavors of becoming an occupational therapist. I look forward to my career in this field.
Devyn Shum, MSOT Cohort 2022
Offering aid to those in your community reflects the beauty of humanity and this generosity has strengthened my academic and professional development. I will carry this selflessness throughout my professional career and personal life and hope someday I may support future students in pursuit of making our world healthier and happier. Thank you and I wish this message brings joy to your lives; just as this scholarship has brought happiness to mine.
2024/25 Donors
We would also like to recognize each designated donor level from alums and supporters this year (2022/23).
Diamond Donors with a donation of over $500
The Crowell Family Foundation c/o Deborah W. Crowell
Dr. Donald and Mrs. Donna Friedrich
Ms. Lecticia Guerrero
Ms. Gloria Hsu
Mr. Steven Leung and Ms. Grace Wong-Leung
Lela A. Llorens, PhD
Heidi McHugh Pendleton, PhD
Ms. Helen Wang
Gold Donors with a donation of $300 to $499
Mr. Dwight and Mrs. June Lubich
Alice Ng
Silver Donors with a donation of $200 to $299
Celeste Atkins
Gwen Dunning Dorn
Mr. and Ms. David and Susan Schwartz
Bronze Donors with a donation of $150 to $199
Mr. Aleksandr Evstigneev
Lesley Paige
Cara Shinagawa
Past Donors
Alumni Highlight
Alumni in the News
- Congratulations to Lecturer Alison George, graduate of SJSU with a masters of science degree from the OT Dept., who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recently held 2024 Occupational Therapy Association of California Conference in Pasadena, CA, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the profession!
- Alumna Dr. Susan Robertson received the 2020 OTAC Award of Appreciation for long standing support to the profession! This is a great honor to see our very generous alum receive this award!
In Memoriam
Remembering and Honoring Lorraine Williams Pedretti
Class of 1964
On November 12, 2024, the Occupational Therapy profession has lost one of its legendary
pillars, Lorraine Williams Pedretti, a 1964 graduate of then San José State College.
Emeritus Professor Pedretti was a beloved SJSU OT Department faculty member from 1968-1994
and was the San Jose State University OT Distinguished Alumna of the Year for 2004.
We were fortunate to have such a stellar OT in our department history.
Lorraine pioneered publication of quality educational resources aimed at developing cutting-edge practice skills for occupational therapy with persons who have physical disabilities. She demonstrated influential leadership through the creation of one of the first (now 9th edition) and most highly regarded national/international textbooks devoted to occupational therapy for persons with physical disabilities – Pedretti’s Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction. Lorraine was also among the first to develop and publish cutting-edge educational resources including study-guides and multi-media self-paced learning modules thus improving the lives of those with physical disabilities through skilled OT.
She was nominated by Dr. Heidi Pendleton [pdf] for consideration to be one of the 100 most Influential people in Occupational Therapy's 100-year history and was selected and honored at the centennial Celebration at the AOTA Conference in Philadelphia 2017.
Remembering and Honoring Dr. Alice Kibele, SJSU
Class of 1965 (BS), 1986 (MS)
We also lost a dear former faculty and 1997 Distinguished Alumna this year (2024),
Dr. Alice Kibele, who made tremendous contributions to the profession and community
with her expertise in pediatric occupational therapy. She authored many articles and
given numerous professional presentations in her lifetime.
Remembering and Honoring Lois Marie Barber, OTR, FAOTA, SJSU
Class of 1952 by Dr. Heidi M. Pendleton
In late November 2022, the profession of Occupational Therapy lost a wonderful leader.
Lois Marie Barber, a 1952 graduate of then San Jose State College was the San Jose
State University OT Distinguished Alumna of the Year [pdf] for 2000. We were fortunate to have such a stellar OT in our department history.
Master OT practitioner, kind and patient teacher and mentor to hundreds, inventor,
entrepreneur, craftswoman, environmentalist, advocate for justice, philanthropist,
dog lover and rescuer, whale and dolphin watcher from her beautiful home overlooking
the Pacific in Shell Beach - Lois was an exemplar of living a life full of meaningful
occupation. Lois died after a brief illness surrounded by her many lifelong friends
and loving neighbors. I only wish that you all could have known her!
It was an honor to nominate Lois for consideration for the 100 Most Influential Occupational Therapy Leaders [pdf] of the last 100 Years. Though she eschewed drawing attention to herself she eventually relented and even expressed “it was kind of nice to be recognized”! Lois was unanimously selected and was honored at the Centennial Celebration at the AOTA Conference in Philadelphia 2017.
(Broad Street Pump Award from Physicians for Social Responsibility - one of Lois's award for her environmental and peace activism featured in OT Week article [pdf] from December 17, 1992 and prs.org)
Remembering Susan J. Harris
Susan J. Harris, an esteemed colleague and SJSU Alum, passed away on January 20, 2020.
For those who have not heard of Sue Harris, she was one of the first OTs to start
an OT company and it grew into an amazing company. She was a big advocate for OTs
having a voice in the political arena and always supported the OTACPAC. She was also
named the 2008 SJSU OT Dept. Distinguished Alumni and was one of our Diamond Level
Donors. And in 2018 at the OTAC Conference, Susan Harris was the honoree for the Lifetime
Achievement Award. Here's Susan J. Harris Obituary.
Keep in Touch!
Let us know how you are doing and Keep in Touch [pdf].
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with the latest news, accolades and events at our department!
