OT students give back

(Left to right) Samantha Singler, OT ’10; Courtney Zeller, recreational therapist, Arizona State Hospital; Scott Stambaugh, occupational therapist, Arizona State Hospital; Sheri Gaugler, recreational therapist, Arizona State Hospital; Deborah Yellen, certified OT assistant, Arizona State Hospital; Mindy Waszak, OT ’10; and Darla Hergenroether, OT ’10. All Arizona State Hospital staff members work in the Adult Civil Behavioral Health Facility.

Over the past year, 26 students from ATSU’S Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) occupational therapy (OT) class of 2010 raised approximately $700 to give back to the community. The students, members of the Student Occupational Therapist Association (SOTA), held various fundraisers which allowed them to donate gifts to local organizations. One of the larger gifts donated by the group was a Nintendo Wii to Arizona State Hospital.

“At the end of the year, as a class, we came up with a list of places of where to donate and what to donate,” said Darla Hergenroether, OT ’10. “We thought the Wii would be a good idea because it is an activity that the patients could have fun doing while providing therapeutic and learning components. It was important to give back to the hospital because they all do such an amazing job and often get overlooked because it is a state-run organization with limited funding.”

The students raised the money by selling raffle tickets, holding lunch fundraisers, and collecting donations. Aside from the Wii, additional proceeds provided toys to the Mesa Child Crisis Center and food to local families in need.