ILOTA Awards

Please review the information below for a complete list of the awards and past recipients. Awards noted below with an asterisk (*) are for ILOTA members only. The 2022 winners are listed below in bold. Congratulations to all of our past award winners!

The 2023 awards nomination window is now open! All nominations must be submitted by the deadline of July 31, 2023. Note that there are FIVE NEW AWARDS to consider in 2023. See the new award names and descriptions below. For a complete summary chart of all awards, including the description/purpose, eligibility, and criteria for each award, please access the PDF document here. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Thank you!

Nominations Form

• Active employment as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant for at least 30 years.
• Active ILOTA member for at least 25 years.
• Served on the ILOTA Executive and/or Full Board for at least 10 years. Consideration may also be given to individuals who have made significant contributions to ILOTA in other ways such as frequent conference presentations or articles published in The Communique.
• Demonstrated exceptional service to the field of occupational therapy through advocacy, community engagement, scholarship, education, and/or clinical practice

More than one award may be issued in any given year.

• Ruth Hadra, OTR
• Beatrice Wade, OTR
• Fred Sammons, OTR
• Barbara Loomis, OTR
• 2017 – Catherine Brady, OTR, Kathryn Melin Eberhardt, MAEd, COTA/L, ROH & Melanie Ellexson, OTR
• 2019 – Mae Brandon, OTR & Nancy Richman, OTR
• 2020 – Clem Carder, COTA/L, LMT, CKTI & Gail Fisher, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
• 2021 - Elizabeth Cada, OTR/L

Description of Award: Recognizes an individual, group, or organization that demonstrates support and advocacy for the advancement of occupational therapy in the State of Illinois. (Maximum of three awarded yearly.)

• 1980 – Senator John D’Arco & Saul Morse
• 1981 – Edward Lis, MD & Dianne Kolzow
• 1984 – Charles Chevillon
• 1990 – Paschal Panio, MD & Wendy Meltzer
• 1992 – Subash Shah, MD
• 1994 – Catherin Meyer, MD
• 1995 – Janet Hogan
• 1997 – Elizabeth Coulson
• 1999 – Michelle Henderson
• 2001 – Elizabeth Coulson
• 2018 – Louis Fogg
• 2021 - Maureen Mulhall
• 2022 - Jenny Kray and Aaron Paramore

Description of Award: Honors a member of ILOTA who has shaped the course of occupational therapy in the State of Illinois. Honors a member of ILOTA who has made a comprehensive and sustained contribution to the growth and development of occupational therapy in the State of Illinois. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

• 1980 – Beatrice Wade, OTR
• 1982 – Marian Gilpin, OTR
• 1983 – Margaret Hollowell, OTR
• 1984 – Lynette Barnes, OTR
• 1988 – Fred Sammons, OTR
• 1989 – Eva McCormick, OTR
• 1990 – Sarah Skinner, OTR
• 2001 – Patrick Bloom, OTR
• 2003 – Deanna Sava, OTR
• 2006 – Christine Helfrich, PhD., OTR, FAOTA
• 2010 – Elizabeth Wittbrodt, OTR
• 2012 – Kim Bryze, OTD, OTR
• 2013 – Ruth Bixby, OTR
• 2014 – Mary Lou Ross, OTR
• 2019 – Nancy Richman, OTR
• 2020 – Linda Olson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
• 2021 - Leslie Roundtree, DHS, MBA, OTR/L

Description of Award: To recognize individuals on the ILOTA Board who have made outstanding contributions toward facilitating board business, and advancing the practice of occupational therapy in the State of Illinois. (Maximum of three awarded yearly.)

• 1980 – Pamela Silverman – OTR
• 1981 – Marilyn Karim, OTR
• 1982 – Claudia Papke, OTR
• 1983 – Carolyn Yoss, OTR
• 1984 – Gail Fisher, OTR & Kathryn Melin Eberhardt, COTA
• 1985 – Barbara Townsend, OTR
• 1986 – Nancy Richman, OTR
• 1987 – Debbie Walens, OTR
• 1989 – Katie Chrystal-Piazzi, OTR & Carolyn Yoss, OTR
• 1990 – Karen Gableson, OTR
• 1991 – Clementine Carder, COTA
• 1992 – Mary Andree Darnall, OTR & Elaine Novak, OTR
• 1993 – Linda Moran, OTR
• 1997 – Paula Jo Belice, OTR, Letty Sargant, OTR, & Ruth Ann Watkins, OTR
• 1998 – Coralie Glantz, OTR
• 2001 – Mae Brandon, OTR & Letty Sargant, OTR
• 2006 – Laura Obara, OTR & Alma Tan Torres PhD, OTR
• 2007 – Rachel Galant, OTR, Angelica Barraza, OTR, Veronica Llerena, OTS, Carrie Nutter, OTR, & Judith Abelenda, OTR
• 2008 – Kathryn Melin Eberhardt, MAEd, COTA/L, ROH
• 2009 – Monika Robinson, OTR
• 2011 – Carolyn Calamia, OTR
• 2014 – Peggy Nelson, OTR
• 2019 – Lisa Mahaffey, OTR
• 2021 - Janet Adcox, OTR/L, C/NDT, CSRS, CKTP; Lisa Iffland, OTR/L
• 2022 - Molly Bathje, PhD, MS, OTR/L and ILOTA Leadership Development Program (LDP) Committee (John Dudzik, DHS, OTR/L; Catherine Killian, OTD, MEd, OTR/L; Lisa Mahaffey, PHD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Nadia Marasti, MOT, OTR/L; Abigail Swidergal, MS, COTA/L, CKTP; and, Laura VanPuymbrouck, PhD, OTR/L)

Description of Award: Recognizes an occupational therapy assistant who has made significant contributions which impact ILOTA and advance occupational therapy in the State of Illinois. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

• 1980 – Maureen Massart-Reardon, COTA
• 1981 – Kathleen Peter, COTA
• 1982 – Robin Jones, COTA
• 1983 – Betty Czekala, COTA & Kathleen Moylan, COTA
• 1984 – Kathryn Melin Eberhardt, COTA
• 1985 – Frances Lewis, COTA
• 1986 – Cheryle Palahnuik, COTA
• 1987 – Christine Casey, COTA
• 1989 – Sue Lynn Hansen, COTA
• 1990 – Peter Blazina, COTA
• 1991 – Clementine Carder, COTA
• 1992 – Patrica Heath, COTA
• 1995 – Jennifer Young, COTA
• 1997 – Michelle Zurisk, COTA
• 1998 – Mary Jo Boehm, COTA
• 1999 – Kate Parent, COTA
• 2001 – Kim Packwood Navarro, COTA
• 2004 – Mark Stojakovich, COTA
• 2006 – Jeanne Rehr, BA COTA 
• 2011 – Peggy Smutny, COTA
• 2020 – Abigail Swidergal, MS, COTA/L, CKTP & Joni Kamstra, COTA
• 2021 - Ray Cendejas, COTA/L

Description of Award: Recognizes an occupational therapist who has made significant contributions which impact ILOTA and advance occupational therapy in Illinois. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.) 

• 1980 – Lillian Parent, OTR
• 1981 – Barbara Loomis, OTR
• 1982 – Elizabeth Cada, OTR
• 1983 – Norma Howat, OTR
• 1984 – Shirley Esenther, OTR
• 1985 – Beverly Myers, OTR
• 1986 – Velma Reichenbach, OTR
• 1987 – Cynthia Hughes, OTR
• 1988 – Florence Goold, OTR
• 1989 – Barbara Townsend, OTR
• 1990 – Shari Intagliata, OTR
• 1991 – Peggy Sabol, OTR
• 1992 – Nancy Richman, OTR
• 1993 – Batia Levy, OTR
• 1995 – Kimberly Bryze, OTR & Elizabeth Wittbrodt, OTR
• 1997 – Catherine Brady, OTR
• 1998 – Coralie Glantz, OTR
• 2003 – Cynthia Carr, OTR
• 2006 – Mary Michaelsen, OTR
• 2007 – Terry Giese, OTR
• 2009 – Lisa Mahaffey, OTR
• 2012 – Cheryl Huber Lee, OTR
• 2013 – Bev Meyers, OTR
• 2015 – Molly Bathje, OTR & Susanne Higgins, OTR
• 2017 – Katharine Preissner, OTR
• 2019 – Caren Schranz, OTR & Steven Taylor, OTR
• 2020 – Kelsey Watters, OTR/L
• 2021 - John Dudzik, DHS, OTR/L
• 2022 - Ashley Stoffel, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Description of Award: Recognizes members of ILOTA or non-members, who have made outstanding contributions toward increasing the public’s awareness and understanding of the value of occupational therapy. Expands awareness of the profession to potential future occupational therapy practitioners. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

• 1980 – Barbara Loar, OTR
• 1981 – Jeff Blackman & Mark Des Jardins
• 1982 – K. B. Hudgens, OTR
• 1983 – Licensure Committee: Beth Cada, Robin Jones, Jessica Presperin, Sue Cummins, and Norma Arras
• 1985 – Terri Giese, OTR, Terrie Nolinske, OTR
• 1987 – Mae Brandon, OTR
• 1989 – Maggie Montejano, OTR
• 1993 – Archives Committee
• 1997 – Nancy Richman, OTR
• 1998 – Katherine Burson, OTR
• 1999 – Peggy McRoberts, OTR
• 2000 – Barbara G. Fox, OTR
• 2001 – Kim Marshall, OTR; Elizabeth Cada, OTR; Students: Erin Forbes, Sunny Harries, Kelly Keserich, Carolyn Krusinowski, Elaine Naranjo, Nathan Rieder, Renee Rossetti, & Cheryl Widstrand
• 2002 – Deanie Loconte
• 2003 – Clementine Carder, COTA/L
• 2007 – Laura Obara, OTR & Rhonda Schleis, OTR
• 2010 – Nancy Daly
• 2020 – Laura Van Pumbyrouck, PhD, OTR/L
• 2021 - Claudia Cirrincione, OTD, OTR/L

• leadership and excellence in academic or clinical performance. 
• exceptional ability to promote occupational therapy through their activities. 

Provides an incentive for occupational therapy students to contribute to the profession at the student level of professional preparation. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

• 2014 – Justin Kaspryk (Midwestern University)
• 2016 – Nadia Marasti (Midwestern University)
• 2017 – Marlena Mosbacher (Rush University) & Ryan Walsh (University of Illinois at Chicago)
• 2019 – Morgan Stasell (Rush University)
• 2021 - Rolando Jara (University of Illinois at Chicago)
• 2022 - Ariana Carrillo-Ortega (Midwestern University)

• leadership and excellence in academic or clinical performance. 
• exceptional ability to promote occupational therapy through their activities. 

To provide an incentive for occupational therapy assistant students to contribute to the profession at the student level of professional preparation. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

• 2019 – Krecia Sweeney (McHenry County College)

Description of Award: Promotes the collaborative model of practitioners  (OTA / OT) in the advancement of the occupational therapy profession in Illinois. Recognizes exemplary collaborative intraprofessional partnerships. (Maximum of two awarded yearly.)

Description of Award: Recognizes efforts demonstrating significant contributions to the ILOTA Strategic Plan by an occupational therapy practitioner in the first five years of their career. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

Description of Award: Recognizes promotion of occupational therapy practice, payment for occupational therapy, or disability rights in the political arena. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

Description of Award: Recognizes an occupational therapy practitioner (clinician, supervisor, educator, or researcher) who has demonstrated outstanding mentorship of a student, colleague, or employee in a sustained partnership in practice, academic, or research contexts, wherein mutual respect, guidance, and knowledge is shared. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

Description of Award: Recognizes an occupational therapy practitioner whose efforts improve the provision of occupational therapy services in Illinois. (Maximum of one awarded yearly.)

Nominations Form