2025 VOTA Award Winners
Alexa Williams, Old Dominion University | Alexa Williams is a student at Old Dominion University and exemplifies excellence, leadership, and compassion. As President of the Student Occupational Therapy Association at Old Dominion University, she has fostered student engagement, professional growth, and advocacy within the OT community. As a dedicated scholar-athlete and former NCAA Division I rower, she continues to lead and inspire others through her commitment to teamwork and service—whether coaching, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, or representing Team USA at the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships in Italy. Her passion for helping others achieve independence and meaningful participation in daily life reflects the very heart of occupational therapy. |
OT GRADUATE STUDENT AWARD
OTA GraduateSTUDENT AWARD Katie Williamson, South University Richmond | Katie Williamson is a student at South University Richmond and embodies compassion, curiosity, and commitment. Her journey toward the profession began while caring for a child with a brachial plexus injury—an experience that opened her eyes to the transformative power of therapy and the importance of meaningful, client-centered care. As a dedicated student and advocate, she actively engages in learning, professional development, and community building, including her participation in the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association conference. With a passion and interest in working with children and a goal of supporting families through early intervention and school-based practice, Katie Williamson represents the next generation of occupational therapy assistants who lead with empathy, purpose, and heart. |
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BARBARA HOWARD WINNER Denisha Megginson, Old Dominion University | Denisha Megginson is a student at Old Dominion University and exemplifies Barbara Howard’s enduring commitment to excellence, compassion, and lifelong learning. Guided by a deep belief in the power of meaningful occupation, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership, empathy, and advocacy throughout her academic journey. As the founding president of ODU’s Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) and serving as the Professional Development Chair for the Student Occupational Therapy Association, she has worked to advance equity, representation, and professional growth within the field. Her dedication to community engagement—through outreach to local schools, mentorship initiatives, and inclusive advocacy—reflects her passion for empowering others to live with dignity and purpose. With future goals that include advancing diversity in the profession and educating the next generation of therapists, Denisha Megginson carries forward Barbara Howard’s legacy of service, excellence, and humanity in occupational therapy. |
2025 AOTF Award Winners
Lauryn Schiffrin, Virginia Commonwealth University | Lauryn Schiffrin is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning her OTD. She exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and compassion in all that she does. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Development in three years with a 4.0 GPA, and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to scholarship and service. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom—through her work as an Artistic and Publicity Director for her dance company and her organization of highly successful campus fundraising initiatives. At VCU, she continues to apply her strengths in communication, collaboration, and mentorship, planning to serve as a Teaching Assistant for Gross Anatomy and supporting admissions and recruitment efforts. As one faculty member shared, she “possesses a tremendous amount of soft skills that are difficult to teach” and “works to make people feel comfortable in their environment in an effortless manner.” Lauryn Schiffrin truly embodies the values of the AOTF—advancing knowledge, leadership, and human connection in occupational therapy. |
