Practitioner Awards
Each year during our fall conference, VOTA recognizes deserving OT practitioners for their outstanding contributions to our profession. Nominees must be VOTA members.
OT/OTA Award of Merit VOTA OT/OTA Award of Merit is the highest honor given by VOTA, aimed at recognizing practitioners who have made outstanding contributions to occupational therapy scholarship and practice. Recipients of this award should be a licensed OT/OTA in good standing with VOTA and one who has made a contribution to the profession in the areas of research, education, and/or professional practice. Nominations should describe their contribution to occupational therapy in one or more of the above categories through a letter of support and nomination form. For questions related to award nominations, please email president.vota@gmail.com | OTA/OT Partnership Award The OTA/OT Partnership Award recognizes an OTA and OT who have worked closely together to make a significant contribution to the profession in the areas of research, education, and/or professional practice. Nominees should be licensed and in good standing with VOTA. Nominations should describe how the partnership has contributed to the profession in one or more of the above categories through a letter of support and nomination form. For questions related to award nominations, please email president.vota@gmail.com. |
Award of Merit Nomination Deadline: August 22, 2025
2025 Practitioner Award Winners
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AWARD OF MERIT
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The Virginia Occupational Therapy Association proudly honors Dr. Amy Russell Yun with the 2025 OT Award of Merit, its highest distinction recognizing exceptional contributions to the profession. Dr. Russell Yun exemplifies excellence in education, scholarship, leadership, and community engagement. An active member of both VOTA and AOTA, she advances the profession through ongoing scholarship, presentations, and committee service, including her role on the VOTA Scope of Practice Committee. As an Assistant Professor in James Madison University’s MOT Program, Dr. Russell Yun integrates evidence-based, innovative approaches in teaching and practice, with clinical expertise in mental health and pediatrics. Her community collaborations and research in mindfulness, self-compassion, and co-occupations reflect her commitment to wellness and inclusion. A past recipient of JMU’s Distinguished Woman of the Year – Faculty Award, Dr. Russell Yun is celebrated for her mentorship, compassion, and visionary leadership in occupational therapy. |
AWARD OF MERIT Kathryn Skibek, OTD, OTR/L |
The Virginia Occupational Therapy Association proudly honors Dr. Kathryn Skibek with the 2025OT Award of Merit, recognizing her extraordinary leadership, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to advancing the profession. With more than four decades of service, Dr. Skibek has shaped generations of practitioners through her work as Program Director and Professor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Northern Virginia Community College. A long-standing member of VOTA and AOTA, she has presented extensively at state and national conferences, sharing innovative approaches to fieldwork education, supervision, and interprofessional collaboration. She was appointed by the Governor to the Virginia Board of Medicine’s Occupational Therapy Advisory Board for two separate terms and has recently been appointed to the OT Compact liaison rules committee. Dr. Skibek has been a steadfast advocate for professional excellence. Her leadership, mentorship, and passion for the field embody the very spirit of occupational therapy and leave a lasting legacy within the profession. |