Purpose: To provide a financial award to a Black occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant student exemplifying leadership and civic engagement in their community or school. Eligibility: 1. Full or part-time students attending an accredited or developing entry-level Florida state Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant program. 2. Successful completion of two semesters of an OT or OTA program with a 3.0 GPA or better. 3. Demonstrated commitment to leadership and service within the last two (2) years (both the prior and application years). Click the link below for additional eligibility requirements and application or contact SFBOTC for further information. |
Dr. Sandra Dunbar-Smalley (Sandee) Dr. Dunbar-Smalley is the VP of the Advent Health Leadership Institute and previous Provost at Advent Health University. She is also a private consultant for families and schools, dedicated to making a difference in people's lives. Dr. Dunbar-Smalley has shown leadership and service to her clients, her community, and the occupational therapy profession at-large. She has an extensive career as an occupational therapist, working in the hospital, home and other community settings. Dr. Dunbar-Smalley has written three occupational textbooks and numerous articles related to pediatric occupational therapy practice and leadership. She is the recipient of numerous academic and professional awards, including the Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association award. Her integrated knowledge of public administration and occupational therapy continue to help her mentor, consult, lead and advance the profession. |
Link to the Sandra Dunbar-Smalley Leadership Scholarship Application
Deadline for the 2024 application is Friday, December 13, 2024 by 11:59 PM EST
Winner will be announced during Black History Month (February 2025) via an in-person or virtual event
Scholarship Recipients
2023 Recipient: Kyrah Maduro
Kyrah Maduro is an occupational therapy student at Nova Southeastern University. She received the scholarship during her third year of her OTD program. Her interests in the field include pediatrics with a special interest in infant mental health and early intervention. She is also interested in mental health across an individual’s lifespan. | TESTIMONIAL
"I am grateful for the privilege to be selected as the 2024 Sandra Dunbar Scholarship recipient. Having met Dr. Dunbar at the AOTA 2024 conference, I am delighted to be honored of such. I intend to use my acquired skills to positively contribute to the profession of OT and to the South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus, acting as a mentee and mentor for rising occupational therapists as well as providing therapeutic services to a wide variety of client populations." (Kyrah Maduro, 5/20/24) |
2022 Recipient: André Johnson
André Johnson is an occupational therapy student at FAMU. He received the scholarship in 2022 while in his second year in the MOT program. André’s research interests include public policy, the impacts of technology on everyday life, mental health, social determinants of health, student empowerment, disabilities, pediatrics, obesity, and male mental well-being. | TESTIMONIAL "I am honored to be selected as the 2022 Sandra Dunbar Scholarship recipient. Dr. Sandra Dunbar-Smalley's presence and impact as a leader in the field of occupational therapy and nationally is well known. Dr. Dunbar has had a tremendous impact on my leadership journey, as her Leadership Development keynote at the Florida Occupational Therapy Association’s leadership development program in 2017 left a lasting impact on me. To now be the recipient of the South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (SFBOTC) leadership scholarship in her name is a dream come true. This award will help ease the financial costs of earning my occupational therapy degree and help pay for my attendance at an occupational therapy professional conference. I will continue my work for SFBOTC, while continuing to open new doors and provide mentorship for the next generation of occupational therapists & occupational therapy assistants from around the world." (André Johnson, 2/3/23) |
2021 Recipient: Connie Awuku-Darkoh
Connie Awuku-Darkoh is an occupational therapy student at FAMU. She received the scholarship in 2021 while in her second year in the MOT program. Connie is interested in working with clients with concussions and spinal cord injuries, including student-athletes. | TESTIMONIAL "I am honored to be selected as the 2021 Sandra Dunbar Scholarship recipient. Dr. Sandra Dunbar-Smalley's presence and impact as a leader in the world of occupational therapy is remarkable, and it is a privilege to be recognized for this scholarship. This award will help ease the financial costs of earning my occupational therapy degree. I hope in the future to work with adults with cognitive and physical injuries while using my leadership skills to open new doors for the next generation of black occupational therapists from around the world." (Connie Awuku-Darkoh, 1/5/22) |
2020 Recipient: Adriana Foster
Adriana Foster is an occupational therapy student at Jacksonville University (JU) OTD program. She received the scholarship in 2020 while in her second year of school at JU. Her interests include outpatient pediatric, community practice, and diversity. Adriana’s professional goals include becoming a leader in her profession by opening a community center focused on adolescents with disabilities. | TESTIMONIAL "I am honored to be a recipient of the Sandra Dunbar scholarship. This award will help ease the burden of fees associated with attaining my degree. It is bringing me one step closer to achieving my goals of becoming an Occupational Therapist so that I can increase the percentage of minority practitioners within the workforce. I hope that I can continue to serve as a leader in the community to uplift the standards set by those before me." (Adriana Foster, 12/17/20) |
2019 Recipient: Esther (Shade) Ojo, OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Esther Ojo is currently practicing in the area of pediatric home health and outpatient orthopedics. She received the scholarship in 2019 while she was a student at Nova Southeastern University (Tampa Campus). Her interests include neurological disorders, early intervention, diversity, and mentorship. Dr. Ojo professional goals include becoming a leader in her profession and opening a pro-bono clinic/program. | TESTIMONIAL "It is a privilege to have been a recipient of the Sandra Dunbar scholarship. It is an honor to be thought in the likes of such a graceful leader. I am forever grateful for all the guidance and mentorship Dr. Dunbar and the entire SFBOTC leadership staff have shown me. This scholarship allowed me to buy books and other lab supplies necessary for my OTD program." (Esther "Shade" Ojo, 6/5/20) |
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2018 Recipient: Jessica Henry, OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Jessica Henry is an occupational therapist practicing in orthopedics. She is the first recipient of the Sandra Barker Dunbar Leadership Scholarship in 2018. A graduate of Nova Southeastern University's occupational therapy doctorate program in Tampa, Fl., Jessica's interests include hand therapy, community involvement, advocacy, diversity, and inclusion. Her professional goals include becoming a certified hand therapist, a fieldwork educator, and possibly exploring academia at a local university. | TESTIMONIAL “It was an honor to be the first recipient of the Sandra Barker Dunbar Leadership Scholarship and I am incredibly thankful for the organization’s continuous support. Dr. Dunbar is one of my inspirations and she was that influential person to introduce me to the organization during my first year at Nova Southeastern University in Tampa, FL. With this award I was able to mediate some of my tuition and book expenses, which allowed me to engage in professional development opportunities and additional continuing education.” (Jessica Henry 5/05/2020) |
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South Florida Black Occupational Therapy Caucus is a 501(c)3 public charities non-profit organization