TOTA Award Categories

Texas OT and Texas OTA of the Year (2 awards)

This person displays professionalism, leadership, and service to the profession at the district and state level. This person has at least five years of experience in the field of OT, contributes above and beyond his/her typical job responsibilities, and demonstrates sustained membership in professional organizations including TOTA. This person demonstrates exceptional contributions to the profession with consideration of the following criteria: provides fieldwork supervision, supports capstone projects, contributes works to professional journals, and/or articles, volunteers in his/her community to further OT awareness, membership in additional professional associations, additional certifications (CHT, NDT, etc.) and demonstrates advocacy in the profession. 

Roster of Merit

Members of TOTA who, through their sustained service and leadership, have made exemplary contributions, minimum of fifteen years, in two or more of the following areas (other areas not listed will be given consideration also): a) Service & Leadership to TOTA and the profession: having served on a committee, task force, board committee and elected positions in district, state or national associations; b) Practice - education, research, fieldwork supervision, community service; therapeutics; c) Communication - through innovative teaching; written publication, presentations, seminars or workshops. The CV should document the nominee’s sustained contribution to, including but not limited to: occupational therapy practice, education, research, leadership in service to TOTA, community and professional organizations to the advancement of occupational therapy practice. 

Distinguished Service Award

This award is given to an individual or group, occupational therapist/occupational therapy assistant or non-OT, who has provided notable contributions to the development, growth, or promotion of the occupational therapy profession or the state association. Additional considerations will be given to those who have provided scholarly contributions and volunteer organizational leadership to TOTA. The nominator should include a statement defining the nature of the service to the profession or TOTA.

Letter of Appreciation

An individual or group that has made a significant contribution to TOTA or the profession of OT in a special area through the use of special talents or that goes beyond those of normal professional duties or responsibilities. (Can be given to individuals or groups, members of TOTA or not; both OT practitioners and non-OTs) A written statement should state the contribution of the individual to the association or profession of occupational therapy.

Award for Clinical Excellence

This award is given to an individual, clinic, facility, research group or district, which has demonstrated a short-term innovative or exceptional activity in clinical occupational therapy. The nominator should provide a written description of the nominee’s act of excellence

Clinical Fieldwork Educator of the Year OT/OTA Award (2 awards)

This award is given to an occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant who demonstrates exceptional contributions in some or all of the following areas: a) development and/or revision of a facility’s fieldwork program; b) exhibits expertise in student supervision; c) trains student supervisors; d) contributes to the profession through in-service education and/or publications. This clinician demonstrates professional leadership by participating in local and state organizations and encourages professional behaviors in others.

Honorary Life Member

This award is given to an occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant who has demonstrated significant and notable contributions to the profession throughout his/her career and has reached the age of retirement or limited professional duty. This person has also provided exceptional contributions to TOTA as evidenced by (but not limited to): service on committees, holding offices with TOTA, and service on task forces. The nominator should provide a written statement of this person’s contributions to the profession and TOTA throughout their professional career. 

OTA/OT Collaboration Award

Awarded to an OT and an OTA who have worked together in a collaborative effort to make significant contributions to the profession of occupational therapy. These areas include research, practice, and education, as well as presentations and publications. Both of the nominees must be an active member of TOTA.  A written statement should describe their achievements together.

Interdisciplinary Team Award

Recognition of a team of interdisciplinary professionals, which includes an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, who have made significant contributions in some or all of the following areas: a) participation in community projects that affect the lives of persons served by the profession; b) participation in patient advocacy activities; c) involvement in legislative activities to improve the quality of life of persons served by the profession; d) participation in joint research efforts; e) participation in a non-traditional program. A written statement with specific examples should describe the achievements of the team. 

OT/OTA Academic Educator of the Year Award (2 awards)

This award is given to recognize a faculty member in an occupational therapy program, either occupational therapy and/or occupational therapy assistant program, who has made outstanding contributions to academic education in the following areas: a) innovative teaching skills to advance teaching and learning and serve as a role model; b) substantial contributions to the profession in the form of presentations, publications, and research; c) engagement in community service through membership and leadership on state or local OT boards and community organizations as relevant. The nominee also needs to demonstrate professional responsibility by maintaining TOTA membership (participation in additional professional organizations will also be considered).

OT/OTA Student Leadership Award (2 awards)

Recognition of a student member of TOTA who has made outstanding contributions and has shown leadership and service in the following areas a) active involvement in a leadership capacity in a university/college-based occupational therapy student organization, local or state professional organizations related to occupational therapy and/or the persons served by the OT profession; b) participation in community projects that positively affects the lives of persons served by the OT profession (beyond those required by their OT/OTA degree program); c) participation as an advocate for the profession or the persons served by the profession. A written statement should describe the specific achievements of the person.

Horizon Award

This award is given to an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant who has been in the profession for less than five years and has been recognized by his/her peers for contributions to the profession. This individual demonstrates exceptional contributions in some or all of the following areas: a) participation in community projects that positively affect the lives of persons served by our profession; b) active involvement in a leadership capacity in local or state professional organizations related to occupational therapy and/or the persons served by the profession; c) participation as an advocate for the profession or the persons served by the profession. The nominator should provide at least one peer letter of recognition.