The UOTA Eunice Chen Mentorship Award
Purpose: To provide recognition to an occupational therapy professional who has demonstrated excellence in mentorship related to the profession of Occupational Therapy in the state of Utah.
Eunice Chen, past-President of the UOTA from 1987-1991, passed away on February 5, 2022 at 10:40 pm after battling cancer for two decades. Shortly before her passing, the UOTA Executive Board approved the Eunice Chen Mentorship Award. Brenda K. Lyman, UOTA President, visited Eunice at Huntsman Cancer Center and informed her that an award had been developed in her name, with Eunice as the 1st recipient for 2022. Eunice was a selfless individual, always thinking of others. Mentoring was part of her nature. Eunice was a consistent UOTA member over the years and continued serving in volunteer capacities on the Annual Conference Committee through 2022. Eunice was the first OT in Utah to be awarded a fellow award (FAOTA) by the AOTA. It was during Eunice’s presidency that the first program for occupational therapy at the Salt Lake Community College was developed. Late January 2022, around 40 persons (primarily UOTA members) wrote tributes to Eunice thanking her for friendship and mentorship in their lives. It is with overwhelming support from all that Eunice should receive the UOTA Mentorship Award and that this award be named after her.
2022 Recipient: Eunice Chen