Thank you to our recipient who has generously donated their time and talents and has demonstrated outstanding devotion to CFOT in its mission to support current and future generations of occupational therapy practitioners!

2026 Scholarship Awards

• Ascend’s Future OT Leaders Scholarship 
  Alexis Shohet, San Jose State University
   
• Michele Berro Scholarship (in memory of Mary Ann Epstein)
  Sharareh Sherry Younesi, University of Southern California
   
• Frank J. Biehl Scholarship
  Irah Huguley, California State University Dominguez Hills
   
• Ardith Breton Scholarship
  Danielle Tatsuno, San Jose State University
   
• CFOT In Memoriam Scholarship
  Conrad Balderas, Loma Linda University
   
• Linda Florey Scholarship
  Briana Brown, San Jose State University
   
• Maureen Cunningham Herwood Scholarship
  James Bymaster, San Jose State University
   
• Evelyn Jaffe Scholarship
  Caroline Chung, University of Southern California
   
• Susan Knox-Hirsch Scholarship
  Tori Sickmeier, San Jose State University
   
• Janice Matsutsuyu Scholarship
  Ana Do, Azusa Pacific University
  Minoo Ghanbarzadeh, Stanbridge University
   
• Jaynee Taguchi Meyer Scholarship
  Twila-Skye Tran, San Jose State University
   
• Margaret (Meg) Mitani Moss & Gaylord E. Moss Scholarship
  Tanny Tani, San Jose State University
   
• Chuck Strauch Scholarship
  Alexis Wells, San Jose State University
   
• Lisa Test Scholarship
  Trinity Mecham, University of Southern California
   
• Wilma West Scholarship
  Sofia Solano, California State University Dominguez Hills
   
• Dorothy (Dottie) Wilson Scholarship
  Payton Fox, University of Southern California

2026 Traineeship Awards

• Ada Boone Hoerl Traineeship 
  Miriam Fisher, Sacramento City College
   
• CFOT Traineeship
  Evan Anthony Greco, Santa Ana College
  Lexi Ramirez, Platt College
   
• Maureen Cunningham Herwood Traineeship
  Dina Nerio, American Career College
   
• Janice Matsutsuyu Traineeship
  Alma Casillas, CBD College
   
• Jaynee Taguchi Meyer Traineeship
  Cesar Macias, Grossmont College

2026 Research Awards

• Annie Baltazar Mori, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA & Kelly Auld-Wight, OTD, OTR/L
  Developing and Pilot-Testing a Caregiver-Informed Outcome Framework for Pediatric OT-Ayers Sensory Integration
  Keck Graduate Institute
  Funding provided by the Maureen Cunningham Herwood Research Grant and the CFOT General Research Fund
   
• Megan Chang, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
  Advancing Sensory Processing Assessment and Psychophysiological Measurement in Occupational Therapy: Cross-Cultural Validation and Autonomic Response to Sensory Input
  San Jose State University
  Funding provided by the CFOT Legacy Circle Fund, the Margaret (Meg) Mitani & Gaylord E. Moss Research Grant, and the CFOT General Research Fund
   
• Anna Do, OTD, OTR/L
  Exploring an Innovative Adaptive Dance Protocol for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury: A Mixed Methods Study
  Azusa Pacific University
  Funding provided by the Lisa Test Research Grant and the CFOT General Research Fund
   
• Sahar Ghahramani, OT Student
  Behind the Scenes: Unravelling the Barriers and Facilitators to Autism Informed Clinical Dental Care
  University of Southern California
  Funding provided by the Julie Shaperman Research Grant in Memory of Dr. Martin Shaperman and the CFOT General Research Fund
   
• Alanna Humphrey, OT Student
  Evaluating the Effects of an Occupational Therapy-Led Sleep Hygiene Intervention on Sleep Outcomes in Adults Post-Stroke
  Keck Graduate Institute
  Funding provided by the Luis Arabit Research Grant in Memory of Marialuz Arabit and the CFOT General Research Fund
   
• Eric Hwang, PhD, OTR/L & Jennifer Taosuvanna, OTD, OTR/L
  Achieving Self-Prescribed Lifestyle Goals Through Occupational Therapy Telehealth: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
  California State University Dominguez Hills
  Funding provided by the CFOT General Research Fund 
   
• Yu (Tony) Tang, OTD, OTR/L
  Cultural Adaptation of the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire Version 3.0 (SEQ-3.0) into Mandarin Chinese and Evaluation of Service Utilization and Needs Across Cultures
  University of Southern California
  Funding provided by the Dorothy (Dottie) Wilson Research Grant
   
• Jennifer Taosuvanna, OTD, OTR/L
  Affirming Healthcare and Support for Sexual and Gender Expansive (SGE, i.e. LGBTQ+) Older Adults
  California State University Dominguez Hills
  Funding provided by the Christine Wietlisbach Research Grant

2026 Seed Money Awards

• Nora Allata, OT Student & Samruddhi Ghaisas, OTD, OTR/L
  Sensory-Informed Space for Outpatient Pediatric Setting
  University of Southern California
   
• Luis Arabit, OTD, OTR/L
  Participation in a Catholic Pilgrimage as an Occupational Pursuit and its Impact on Spiritual Well-Being: A Pre-Post Quantitative Study
  San Jose State University
   
• Madison Avery, Amber Prado, & Peri Hernandez, OT Students
  The Lived Experiences of Caregiver Implementation of Sensory Diet
  Dominican University of California
   
• Ashlyn Avila, Ashley Butler, Hannah Cortez, Chico Florez, Evelyn Gutierrez, Gabriella MacLellan, & George Pakpahan, OT Students
  A Health and Wellness Program for Community-Dwelling Women
  Loma Linda University
   
• Anna Bebekh, OT Student
  Healthy Development Community Clinic Parent Lounge
  San Jose State University
   
• Melanie Broback, OT Student
  Occupational Engagement and Social Wellness Program for Older Adults
  San Jose State University
   
• Julianna Capetillo, Isabel Castro, Natalie Lazureanu, Megan Hom, Emely Montalvo, Nadine Alys Vista, & Sandy Alagala, OT Students
  Piloting the Occupational Therapy Lifestyle Medicine Checklist in an Outpatient Stroke Clinic
  Loma Linda University 
   
• Jowy Cenat, OT Student
  Reducing Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice in Outpatient Pediatric Therapy: A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Initiative
  University of Southern California
   
• Kaya Cowles, Rallavi Sruthi Kolli, & Nidia Kiessya-Desrosiers, OT Students, Vanessa Yanez, PhD, OTR/L, & Fida Salamah, DrOT, OTR/L
  Digital Influence on Postpartum Anxiety and Occupational Performance
  Keck Graduate Institute
   
• Alyssa Dharmawan, OT Student
  Fatherhood as an Occupation: An Occupational Therapy Student-Led Summer Program for Fathers and Father Figures
  University of Southern California
   
• Yadira Domenicucci & Joan Le, OT Students
  Development and Clinical Integration of Customized 3D-Printed Upper Extremity Orthotics and Adaptive Devices within Keck Medicine of USC
  University of Southern California
   
• Tommy Antwan Ellerbe, OT Student
  The ROOTS Framework: A Trauma-Informed Outdoor Occupational Therapy Program to Support Regulation and Participation in Military-Connected Youth
  Southern California University of Health Sciences
   
• Elena Frink & Kelly Gibbons, OT Students
  Correlates of Sensory Processing Patterns and Sleep Disturbances in Musicians
  San Jose State University
   
• Jia Charlize Javate, OT Student & Baily Zubel, OTD, OTR/L
  A Feeding Intervention for Children with ASD and Their Caregivers
  University of Southern California
   
• Christina Kwon, OT Student
  Sensory Integration Based Handwriting Training Resource for School-Based Occupational Therapists and Educators Working in Elementary Schools
  University of Southern California
   
• Christina Le, Michelle Huynh, Harold Ho, & Amy Morrison, OT Students
  Occupational Therapy in the Outdoors: Parents’ Perspectives
  San Jose State University
   
• Danielle Yee Litt, OT Student
  Neighbors in Nature
  San Jose State University
   
• Megan Mayer, Emma Adams-Long, Jane Jung, Kelsey Pablo, Michelle Hong, & Yolymar Lopez, OT Students
  Sleep Challenges and Supports of Students at a Health Sciences University
  Loma Linda University 
   
• Brenna Mellish, OT Student
  Promoting Balance in Student-Athletes Through Occupational Therapy
  Keck Graduate Institute
   
• Nathan Miller, Malia Haines, & Taylor Sunga, OT Students
  Perceptions of Ethical Generative AI Integration in Occupational Therapy Education
  Keck Graduate Institute
   
• Jacqueline Orendain-Garcia, OT Student
  Empower Wellness: Building Health Through Occupational Therapy
  Loma Linda University 
   
• Natalie Perkins, PP-OTD, MBA, MEd, OTR/L, FIIE, FAOTA
  Memory Cup Collective Café
  University of the Pacific
   
• Catherine Picard, OT Student
  Implementing a Standardized Outcome Measurement Process Using ABAS-3 in an Adult Day Program for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  University of Southern California
   
• Hope Liezelle Sanchez, OT Student
  Occupational Therapy Meets Taiko: Movement, Music and Meaning
  San Jose State University
   
• Katie Roghi, OT Student, Kimberly Madsen, RD, & Kitsum Li, OTD, OTR/L
  Facilitating Nutrition Self-Management for Adults with Chronic Conditions: An Occupation-Based Program
  Dominican University of California
   
• Savannah Runge, OT Student, Julianna Gutiérrez, OTD, OTR/L, & Erna Blanche, PhD, OTR/L
  All Stars: Arts and Athletics Enrichment Program
  University of Southern California
   
• Kendall Schemmer & Jasmine Ou, OT Students, & Janet Gunter, OTD, OTR/L
  Parent Education Program to Address the Occupational Needs of Caregivers of Children with Feeding Challenges
  University of Southern California
   
• Johnny Villafuerte, OT Student
  Teaching with the Senses: Training Educators to Create Sensory Spaces
  Loma Linda University