Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) updates
The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) flourished last fall!
The Student Occupational Therapy Association has three main purposes: (1) to broaden campus and community knowledge of the occupational therapy profession, (2) to unify students and increase their knowledge of occupational therapy and related fields, and (3) to be active in national issues impacting the occupational therapy profession.
Students participated in several campus and community events last semester, including:
- Representing OT and SOTA at the UND Student Involvement Fair, Homecoming parade, and Women for Philanthropy events
- Supporting Special Olympics athletes at their fall football tournament
- Volunteering at the Point Paradise Pumpkin Patch event and Valley 4000 Halloween Party
- Supporting the Arc Upper Valley by participating in the UND Nonprofit Student Leadership Association fundraising event “Flock Party” by “Flocking” the UND PT Club
- Supporting the 8th Annual Community Pajama Drive (donated 56 pairs!)
Students also took in opportunities to increase their knowledge and understanding of topics related to occupational therapy by participating in three in-service events:
- A community member with cerebral palsy and his family member came to share first-hand experiences of living with a disability and supporting a family member with a disability.
- A practicing occupational therapist came in to speak about craniosacral therapy and owning her own practice.
- The chairperson of the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC) presented on what the organization does for the profession of occupational therapy and how students and professionals can advocate for the profession and support AOTPAC. Students from the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program at Northland Community and Technical College also joined us for this event!
Along with participating in the above events, SOTA members participated in social and fundraising events. Through the students’ active efforts, SOTA was able to donate $750 to a family to help with the cost of a piece of equipment needed to assist a child in participating in her occupations! Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts this fall semester. We could not have contributed as much to this family without your help.
The students in SOTA put in a great deal of time and hard work and their efforts during the fall semester contributed to them achieving the three purposes of SOTA!
For more information about SOTA, of if you have questions, please email Sara Anderson at sara.a.anderson@und.edu or Cherie Graves at cherie.graves@und.edu.
Happy New Year!
