LEWISTON – The Master of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College has announced the 2006 graduating class. They are Jane Bureau, Katie Jewett, Lesli Chambers, Kirsten Coulter, Staci Drapeau, Heidi Begin, Amy Mathieu, Susan Lake Windley, Trisha Turgeon and Jason Tebbetts.

“The 10 graduates in this exceptional class are the first to have fully participated in presenting their research at USM’s annual Thinking Matters’ symposium,” said Dr. Roxie Black, program director.

“These students also went above and beyond their service learning objectives by participating in programs at Maison Marcotte and Androscoggin Head Start,” she said. They also pioneered a new service program geared to assisting Somali girls in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy of the American Occupational Therapy Association. It is an entry-level graduate program that can be completed in two years on a full-time basis, or three to four years part-time.

The association recently granted reaccredidation to the program for a 10-year period. It is longest time for reaccredidation granted, reserved for those programs meeting their highest standards. In addition, 95 percent of the graduates have passed the national board certification exam, compared to a national average of 83 percent (over the last five years).

Applications for 2006 fall admission to the program are being accepted. Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) at a regionally accredited college or university.

For students who have not yet attended college, the “Jump Start” program is an option. It enables students to complete their undergraduate and graduate education at USM/L-A in five years.

Anyone interested in more information is encouraged to visit the Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/ot/ or contact MOT administrative assistant Luisa Scott at 753-6523 or lscott@usm.maine.edu.

Copy the Story Link