Occupational Therapy student Lauren Crowder’s love for helping older people grew from her relationship with her grandmother.
“I saw firsthand the importance of skilled, caring, and trustworthy health care professionals as she aged and needed increasing support,” she said. “I quickly realized I had a passion for supporting aging individuals to continue to maintain their independence and participation in important daily tasks.”
Crowder has been awarded a one-time, $3,000 scholarship from the Professional Network on Aging, a community organization dedicated to assisting the geriatric population in Memphis. In addition to the scholarship, Crowder was also given a one-year membership to the organization. She is the third OT student from UTHSC to receive the scholarship in three years.
As a recipient of the scholarship, she will work to further the organization’s mission to educate the public on issues related to aging and offer assistance to the geriatric population.
Crowder will graduate in the spring. She became interested in occupational therapy when she was a nanny of twin girls, who were receiving OT services. “I was fascinated with the techniques and skills they were learning and began researching more about the field,” she said. “I fell in love with occupational therapy’s holistic approach and focus on teaching functional skills to help people participate in the things they find most meaningful.”