AOTA Student Conclave – Recap
This year, the 2nd annual AOTA Student Conclave was held in suburban Chicago (Wheeling). With approximately 600 OT and OTA students in attendance, it was more than a success! We had the opportunity to speak with students from across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. One of the best parts is to hear their stories about why they chose to go into the profession – they had an injury and required therapy at some point in their life; they have a relative with a debilitating disease and were inspired to help others; they want to help the elderly regain their independence…the list goes on and on.
Campus Managers Jill FitzGerald and Josh McMikle are ready to meet students at the AOTA Student Conclave!
Campus Managers Jill FitzGerald, Josh McMikle along with Directors of Operation Erik Painter and Angie Sylvan meet with students during exhibit hours.
As an AOTA National Partner, RehabCare was given the chance to present on a topic during one of the informational sessions. Angie Sylvan, OT and Director of Operations, and Erik Painter, OTA and Regional Director of Operations, were the presenters on "Wii-habilitation". Click here tofind additional information on RehabCare's "Wii" program.
We also participated in the student mock interviews and resume critiquing session. Many of the students raved about this and really appreciated the employers taking time out to give them tips on how to give a great interview and to polish their resumes.
Of course we did get a chance to enjoy some downtime! We took advantage of it and took a large group of students, including our Student Conclave Scholarship winner, Sara Jasin from Thomas Jefferson University, and Opportunity U student Carolyn Myers from the University of Southern Indiana, out for some Chicago-style pizza. It was great to talk with them one-on-one about what they planned to do after graduation and to hear their goals for the future.
I encourage any student (OT or PT) to attend your next Student Conclave! It is a great way to network, meet professionals from all over the country with different specialties and gain insight into your profession. Contact a Campus Relations Manager if you'd like to find out where the next event is being held!
