Alabama Occupational Therapy Association OT/OTA Practitioner Awards

OTA Scholarship Applications are NOW OPEN

We encourage you to nominate your peers for an ALOTA Practitioner Award, which are presented annually at the ALOTA Fall Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the dedicated professionals in our state who are making a meaningful impact every day. To submit a nomination, please complete the application for the relevant ALOTA Practitioner Award.

Elsie Holmes McKibbin Award

Honors an occupational therapist who has made considerable contributions to the body of knowledge of the profession. The award receives agency sponsorship to assist in the research expenses of the award recipient. The Elsie Holmes McKibbin Lecture (EHML) will be presented by the previous year’s recipient at the ALOTA Fall Conference.

Nominees for the EHML must have a minimum of ten (10) years experience. The recipient must have shared their knowledge through written and oral presentations. Nominees must be members of ALOTA.

Elsie Holmes McKibbin Award Nomination Form

Ann Cosby Service Award

Recognizes an advocate, member or non-member, who has made contributions to the advancement of occupational therapy and/or health care over a period of time.

Ann Cosby Service Award Nomination Form

OT Award of Excellence

Demonstrates excellence in professional skills through a range of experience and depth of knowledge in OT theory, practice and association involvement. The award recipient must have demonstrated excellence in professional skills through a range of experience and depth of knowledge in OT theory, practice and association involvement. All nominees must be members of the ALOTA and have a minimum of five years’ experience.

OT Award of Excellence Nomination Form

OTA Award of Excellence

Recognizes OTAs who have contributed to the education and professional development of the members of the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association, particularly fellow OTAs. The award recipient must have demonstrated excellence in professional skills through a range of experience and depth of knowledge in OT theory, practice and association involvement. All nominees must be members of ALOTA and have a minimum of five years’ experience.

OTA Award of Excellence Nomination Form

Student Scholarships Opportunities

OTA Scholarship is NOW Accepting Applications

Please note a change in the scholarship application process. ALOTA is now accepting alternative formats for scholarship application. Essay, Video Presentation, Infographic or Poster, Portfolio, Podcast or Audio Recording, Social Media Campaign, Website or Blog will now be accepted. Each of these formats allows you to showcase your skills and personality in unique ways beyond traditional writing, demonstrating creativity, communication abilities, and alignment with scholarship criteria effectively. Ensure to align your chosen format with the scholarship guidelines while highlighting your strengths and motivations clearly.

Marie Moore Lyles Scholarship

The Marie Moore Lyles Scholarship is in remembrance of Marie Moore Lyles, MS, OTR, FAOTA an occupational therapy trailblazer who was the founding program director of the occupational therapy program at Tuskegee University (formerly Tuskegee Institute).

The Marie Moore Lyles Scholarship recognizes occupational therapy students who engage in meaningful efforts to support justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and eliminate barriers to any minoritized, marginalized, or otherwise underrepresented population.

This $500 scholarship is available to an occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant student who best meets the following criteria as determined by the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association:

1. Member of the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association.
2. Student enrolled in an OT or OTA Educational Program in the State
of Alabama.
3. Demonstrated record of service that promotes justice, diversity,
equity, and inclusion.

To apply:

1.) Complete the scholarship application

2.) The Professional Development Assessment must be completed and emailed to [email protected] by your adviser or department chair. *Please note the Professional Development Assessment will not be accepted if received from a student email.

OT Student Scholarship

The Alabama Occupational Therapy Association provides two $500 scholarships to occupational therapy assistant students at the annual ALOTA Spring Conference and three $500 scholarships to occupational therapy students at the annual ALOTA Fall Conference & Retreat. Students must be an active ALOTA member, complete scholarship application, and have the Professional Development Assessment completed by the academic adviser or Department Chair to be considered for a student scholarship.

To apply:

1.) Complete the scholarship application

OTA Student Scholarship

OTA Student Scholarship is NOW Accepting Applications! OTA student scholarships are awarded in the Spring. OTA scholarship winners will be recognized during the 2025 Fall Conference and Retreat Awards Ceremony.

The Alabama Occupational Therapy Association offers two $500 scholarships to occupational therapy assistant students, which will be awarded in the Spring. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the 2024 ALOTA Fall Conference and Retreat.

To be considered for this scholarship:

1. Students must be active ALOTA members

2. Submit a completed S cholarship Application

3. Submit the Professional Development Assessment signed by an academic adviser or department chair.

The application deadline is February 28, 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the ALOTA Practitioner Awards or Student Scholarships please contact the ALOTA Awards Chair at [email protected].

See Previous Award Winners*

*History of awards has been compiled to the best of the board's ability. Should you see any errors, needs for addition, or be able to fill in years we are missing, please contact us at [email protected].