Wallace State Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Graduates Class of 2026

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program celebrated the graduation more than two dozen students during a special pinning ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

“Today, the pins you receive represent much more than the completion of a program,” said Rachel Gooch, director of the OTA program. “They represent your commitment, your growth, and your readiness to carry the values of occupational therapy into the lives of the people you serve.”

Gooch described the Class of 2026 as “helpers.”

“You are a group of compassionate and selfless individuals who are willing to set aside your own needs to improve the lives of others,” Gooch said. “Throughout this program, I have watched you encourage classmates, advocate for clients, serve your community, and demonstrate genuine concern for the well-being of those around you.”

She encouraged them to take that compassion with them as they begin work in the field.

“Continue to be curious. Continue to advocate. Continue to listen before you act. Continue to treat every client as a whole person rather than a diagnosis. Most importantly, continue to lead with the compassion and kindness that have defined this class,” Gooch said.

Clinical Coordinator Kelly Wilson called the class one of the most energetic she has encountered and echoed Gooch’s assessment of their compassion. Wilson recounted how she experienced their compassion and energy firsthand shortly after foot surgery.

“I heard a commotion on my front porch. I looked out the window expecting maybe a food delivery or a basket of goodies. But instead, there were what seemed like an entire truckload of OTA students standing on my front porch,” Wilson said. “That moment reminded me that while I spend my days teaching you, sometimes you teach me, too. You reminded me that kindness matters, showing up matters, and the relationships we build extend far beyond the classroom. I will never forget that surprise.”

Class president Samantha Arbet of Cullman said the class became a community.

“I see study groups that turned into lifelong friendships,” Arbet said. “I see group chats that somehow became therapy sessions. I see karaoke nights, Room 302 vent sessions, or nap sessions, depending on the day, and lunch tables where friendships were formed and grown. I see Psychology lab groups, or ‘trauma dumps’ as we called them, in which we got to see the vulnerable sides of each other and truly learn therapeutic use of self by navigating those vulnerable sides together at times.”

Arbet said what makes them special is that despite their varied experiences, they each were drawn to a common purpose.

“We come from different backgrounds, different seasons of life and different experiences. Yet we all answered the same calling – to help people return to the occupations that give their lives meaning,” Arbet said. “Our patients won’t remember every textbook definition we learned. They’ll remember how we made them feel. They’ll remember the therapist who believed in them when they couldn’t believe in themselves. They’ll remember our patience, our compassion, our encouragement, and the hope we offered during some of the hardest moments of their lives.”

Members of the Wallace State Occupational Therapy Class of 2026 include:

Addison: Lauryn Cunningham

Andalusia: Ashlyn Kilpatrick

Arab: Allison Ryan

Bessemer: Shyera Westbrook

Blountsville: Lydia Madison Chappell

Cleveland: Josie Hawkins

Cullman: Samantha Arbet, Ella Claire Beard, Lanie Cornelius, Natalie Lawley, Mcklellah Mason, Samantha Muse, Gracie Roberts

Double Springs: Jessie Lindsey

Flat Rock: Lillian Chappelear

Florence: Krista Loya

Fort Payne: Annlee Tate, Kaylie-Nicole Morin

Geraldine: Katie Heath

Hayden: Kalee Sanders

Huntsville: Stefanie Price

Jacksonville: Cameron Coulter

Monroeville: Cara Qualls

Montgomery: Miriam Head

Rainsville: Marisa Hiett

Anchorage, Alaska: Bethany Patterson

Stockton, California: Jessica Harrison

Ohatchee, Florida: Lily Thompson

Chicago, Illinois: Emani Smith

The Occupational Therapy Assistant program accepts applications for admission annually from March 1 to June 1 for fall entry. For more information, visit wallacestate.edu/health, call 256.352.7848, or email danielle.caldwell@wallacestate.edu.

Fall 2026 classes will begin Aug. 17, with registration for Regular and Mini Term I open through Aug. 21. Mini Term II classes will begin Oct. 14. Contact Lion Central at 256.352.8236 or come by the Hanceville or Oneonta campus centers. Current and incoming students may schedule an advising session with the Center for Student Success at www.wallacestate.edu/advising.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.