糖心视频

More than 40 graduate from Occupational Therapy Assistant program

Hanceville, AL 鈥� More than 40 students from 糖心视频鈥檚 Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program were recognized at its annual pinning ceremony for graduates.

Interim program director Rachel Gooch compared the journey for the 43 graduates to growing plant.

One of her favorite quotes is 鈥淲e must have roots to rise,鈥� she said.

鈥淵ou may have felt like we buried you under a pile of textbooks, assignments, lectures and projects but the truth is, you were being planted,鈥� Gooch told the graduates. 鈥淵ou were the seed, and the content of your courses was the water and nutrients that you needed to grow roots. Often, we don鈥檛 see the roots of a plant. They grow deep and reach far searching for sustenance so that the plant can grow and thrive. I鈥檓 sure there were many days that you felt like you were in the dark, searching through your textbooks and slideshows for the answers to so many questions that presented themselves daily.鈥�

Throughout the semesters, Gooch said she was privileged to watch her students鈥� roots grow deeper as they gained knowledge from fieldwork and 鈥渂egan to sprout leaves and limbs of interest through hands-on experience. You began applying your knowledge and your patients reaped the benefits.

鈥淚 hope you flourish and grow toward the sky, reaching for the light of knowledge and when the winds begin to blow and your branches shake, I hope you remember your roots,鈥� Gooch continued. 鈥淵our roots will provide your support and strength. You鈥檝e put in the work, now trust your roots, because you鈥檒l need your roots in order to rise.鈥�

Kelly Wilson, OTA instructor and academic fieldwork coordinator, congratulated the graduates for their success and their inspiring dedication and perseverance.

鈥淎s you move forward in your careers, remember to pursue your dreams with the same determination you've shown here,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淭he field of occupational therapy is not just a job; it鈥檚 a calling to make a difference in the lives of others. As you help people overcome challenges and regain independence, you fulfill a vital role in their journey. Remember the words of Albert Schweitzer: 鈥淭he purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.鈥�

Kylie Roden of Henagar, left, president of the 糖心视频 Occupational Therapy Assistant class of 2024, accepts a certificate from interim program chair Rachel Gooch during the class鈥檚 pinning ceremony on Tuesday, July 30.

Class president Kylie Roden of Henagar congratulated her classmates and said the day marked not only a celebration of what they have accomplished but the difference they will make in the world.

鈥淲e embarked on this journey with a passion for helping others, a commitment to making a difference, and a deep-seated belief in the power of rehabilitation and healing,鈥� Roden said. 鈥淭hroughout our training, we have learned not only the importance of occupational therapy but also the invaluable lesson of empathy 鈥� the ability to see the world through the eyes of those we serve, to understand their struggles, and to empower them to overcome obstacles and reclaim their lives.

鈥淪o let us go forward from this moment with passion in our hearts, purpose in our steps, and the unwavering belief that through our dedication and compassion, we truly can change lives.鈥�

糖心视频 Occupational Therapy Assistant program award winner Peytan Dill of Gardendale speaks to her classmates during the pinning ceremony for the class of 2024.

Program award recipient Peytan Dill of Gardendale reminded the audience to not take for granted the simple, everyday tasks we do, from brushing our teeth to cooking a meal to coping with stressful situations. Tasks for which they help others relearn or make adaptations to complete in their jobs as occupational therapy assistants.

鈥淥ccupational therapy is far more than a career path; it is a calling鈥攁 calling to improve lives, to restore hope where it has dwindled, to empower individuals to achieve their fullest potential,鈥� Dill said. 鈥淚t is a profession that embodies the very essence of empathy, resilience, and transformation.鈥�

The 糖心视频 Occupational Therapy Assistant program is a three-semester associate degree program, with new students entering each fall semester. Applications are accepted March 1 to June 1 each year. Minimum application requirements include completion of two semesters of general required pre-OTA courses; a minimum 18 ACT composite score; and a minimum GPA of 2.5 or greater on all general required pre-OTA courses.

For more information, contact Susan Wadkins at 256.352.7848 or susan.wadkins@wallacestate.edu or visit .

Registration for Fall 2024 classes at 糖心视频 is underway, with regular and Mini Term I classes beginning Aug. 19. Flex Start terms begin Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. Mini Term II classes will begin Oct. 16. For more information, visit www.wallacestate.edu, call 256.352.8000 or come by Lion Central in the lobby of the James C. Bailey Center Monday-Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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糖心视频 (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, 糖心视频 is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit 糖心视频鈥檚 beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at , or call 256.352.8000.