Occupational therapy program celebrates first commencement
Forty-eight students earned a place in Hanover College history as the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program’s first graduates. Hanover’s OTD program celebrated its inaugural commencement, Thursday, Dec. 18, in Collier Arena.
Photo Gallery / Commencement Program
Hanover President Lake Lambert opened the ceremony with welcoming remarks to members of the graduating class, their families, friends, and other guests in attendance.
“This is a solemn assembly with fancy robes and important words,” said Lambert. “But more importantly, it is a celebration — a celebration of what you have accomplished in the past and, even more, a celebration of all that is yet ahead for you to do and accomplish.
Danielle Teschke OTD ’25 was the featured speaker, delivering the Class of 2025’s student address during the ceremony.
“You have worked so hard to get to this moment,” said Teschke, a native of Harrison Township, Mich. “We were the very first cohort of this doctoral program. We didn’t just complete the course work, we helped create the roadmap for every class that comes after us.”
The address was followed by the presentation of student academic and leadership awards, traditional doctoral hooding and conferral of degrees to each student.
Gayla Aguilar, Hanover’s OTD program director, recognized award-winning members of the graduating class, saluting excellence in academics, professionalism, leadership and spirit.
Academic awards were presented to Teschke, Sel Adehe OTD ’25, Sam Colby OTD ’25, Cait Dolenski ’22 OTD ’25, Melinda Ritchie OTD ’25, Sierra Searle OTD ’25 and Jenna VanDuyne OTD ’25.
Colby and Searle each earned the program’s Academic Excellence Award, signifying the highest level of academic achievement in Hanover’s program. Colby is a native of Bryan, Texas, and Searle resides in Lincoln, Calif.
Ritchie and VanDuyne received the Professionalism and Leadership Award, presented in recognition of professionalism, leadership and integrity. Ritchie lives in Louisville, Ky., while VanDuyne hails from Richmond, Ind.
Teschke and Adehe, a Grove City, Ohio, native, were presented with the Spirit of Hanover OTD Award. The honor represents the embodiment of the culture of Hanover’s program — collaborative, compassionate and dedicated to making “Where hybrid feels like home” more than a motto.
Dolenski, from Noblesville, Ind., received the Double Panther Award. This special recognition honors a student who has earned a bachelor’s degree and doctoral degree from Hanover. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 2022.
Carey Adams, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the candidates and Lambert conferred degrees to each student. Kerry Volansky, associate provost for graduate studies, served as reader and the hooding of each graduate was conducted by Aguilar and Sharon Wright, director of admission.
Mark Hays ’77, president of the Alumni Leadership Council, welcomed members of the class to the Hanover College Alumni Association.
“Remember the words of [performer] Tori Amos,” said Hays. “‘Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it.’ You will be the ones to help your patients uncover that courage within themselves.”
Rev. Catherine Y.E. Knott, Ball Family Chaplain, opened the ceremony with an invocation and closed the proceedings with the benediction.
Marshals for commencement activities included Stephanie Bachman, director of student affairs, Dean Jacks, associate professor, and Thais Petrocelli, director of fieldwork education.
