Carla Wilhite, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA - It is an honor to nominate Carla Wilhite for the the Marjorie Ball Award of Merit, the highest award for an OT in Colorado. Although Carla has only been a part of our Colorado community for a few years, she has already made an extraordinary contribution to the profession and to our future practitioners in our state. Many people may not be aware that Carla stepped up to the challenge of taking on the leadership position of program director for the Colorado Mesa University Occupational Therapy Program in the middle of it's formation, when the future of the program was potentially in jeopardy after losing the original program director. Carla pulled a team together and all I can say is that she got the job done, and with excellence! The Mesa program is the only OT Master's level program left in our state, offering an affordable, innovative, and excellent training program alternative that also meets a need for providing a rural practice experience and opportunities for students on the Western Slope. Carla and the faculty immediately connected with OTAC and Students from CMU have been very active the last few years in OTAC events and with student representation to the OTAC board. You will see from Carla's vitae that she has been involved in state association leadership positions (including president) in Wyoming and New Mexico before joining us in Colorado and we are grateful for her support of our state association and mission!

The breadth of Carla's volunteer, research, publications, community service, continuing education, teaching, and leadership service and accomplishments alone are above and beyond the qualifications needed for her to merit this award. But Carla is much more than the sum of her accomplishments. Carla is a difference maker, an inspiration, a person who welcomes, cares for, encourages and fosters the best in all those who have the privilege of working with her. I have had the opportunity to witness Carla in action the last 3 years and I am so grateful for the support and inspiration she has been to me personally.

And, to so many others. Please read these testimonies from CMU students and faculty in support of Carla's nomination for this award. And thank you Carla, for sharing yourself with all of us and inspiring and mentoring the next generation of OT practitioners!

"Simply put, Dr. Wilhite is a natural born leader. Her authenticity, charisma, and commitment to Occupational Therapy are a few of the many attributes that make her inspiring. She is someone that believes in standing up for what you believe in and puts words into actions. She has paved the way for students and leaders alike and will have an everlasting legacy that I am forever grateful to have encountered. With this, I whole heartedly believe that she is more than deserving of receiving the Marjorie Bell Award of Merit from OTAC."

"I cannot express enough gratitude or recognition towards how much you have taught and supported me throughout these last two semesters at Colorado Mesa University. Not only are you an outstanding professor that is exceptionally intelligent, has a exuberant personality, and uses creative and constructive ideas for learning, but you have been truly an inspirational professor to me for my future goal of becoming a clinician. I admire how much you care for us as students in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program, and how tremendously dedicated you are to helping us follow along in your footsteps as an occupational therapist. I want to highlight too with how patient you are as a professor, and I highly respect educators like you who recognize that each student learns at their own learning styles and rates. The supportive and caring environment you have cultivated in the classroom has made it simple and effortless to approach you not only regarding academic concerns, but with personal matters too. I am tremendously grateful to have gotten to know you as an educator, mentor, and friend."

"Carla has been so inspiring during my time in the program. In every class she demonstrates her wisdom in the field sharing the vast experiences she has had. She seems to always have an experience to tie our content to real world applications. Furthermore, she has been consistently supportive of our success as a cohort and for me as an individual. Every time I have gone to her for guidance she has shown compassion in encouraging me with critical feedback and useful tools to progress my education. She has consistently demonstrated the traits of leadership in her role as the director of our program."

"Carla has been an integral part of creating a program that will assist with meeting the occupational needs of the Western Slope, an area that experiences decreased access to health care services. Her commitment to the occupational therapy profession is evident in everything she does. She has been a role model and inspiration to countless students, who in turn continue to lead and shape occupational therapy practice and education."

Past Recipients of the Majorie Ball Award of Merit

2024 - Carla Wilhite

2023 - Kathy Schleifer

2022 - Amanda Hoffman

2021 - Valerie Kline

2020 - Bailey LeBoeuf Johnson

2019 - Lucy Bosio

2018 - Patty Stutz-Tanenbaum

2017 - Terri Cassidy 

2016 - Suzanne Holm

2015 - Audrey Aguilar

2014 - Karen Atler

2013 - Pat McKenna

2009 - Janice Hinds

2008 - Susan Woodmansee

2007 - Terry Hawkins

2006 - Becky Robler

2005 - Susan Zekert

2004 - Lucy Jane Miller

2003 - Dottie Davis

2002 - Pam DiPasquale-Lehnerz

2001 - Anita Bundy

2000 - Wanda Mayberry

1999 - Cynthia Cano

1998 - Lois Hickman
1997 - Anne Fisher

1996 - Rosalie Lewin

1995 - Constance Mullens

1993 - Wanda Mayberry
1992 - Patrice O'Reilly

1991 - Joanie McMullen

1990 - Barbara Strewler

1989 - Susan Johnson
1988 - Karen Spencer

1987 - Mary Hillary

1986 - Bill Lofton

1985 - Agatha Jackson

1981 - Pat Christ

1980 - Bobbie Smith

1978 - Doris Shriver

1976 - Wanda Mayberry

1975 - Ann Grady

1971 - Ellie Gilfoyle

1969 - Chloe Nelson

1968 - Alberta Harrah

2024 Agatha Jackson OTA Award of Excellence Recipient

 Sherry Laidley, COTA/L, CDP - Sherry is a COTA with over 17 years of experience in skilled nursing, LTC, memory care and outpatient mobile therapy. Sherry loves helping people improve their safety, ease of daily life skills, and overall quality of life! She has treated all ages, diagnosis, conditions, but especially passionate about working with clients with Dementias/Alzheimer’s. Sherry is an amazing advocate for her clients. She has advocated for her clients with their insurance companies to get needed services and necessary equipment. Sherry loves working with the geriatric population to find ways to incorporate what they love into treatment. That can be gardening, music, animals, cooking, and many more. She loves to keep her interventions fun and motivating. Her clients absolutely love it! Sherry also has been a clinical fieldwork instructor and mentor for new COTAs entering the profession. Her upbeat and positive personality motivates both new therapists and clients. My favorite things about Sherry is how creative she is in her treatment and her compassion and rapport she builds with clients, caregivers, and families.