This is one of a series of articles during April, Occupational Therapy Month
Davenport University hosted a pinning ceremony for 14 members of its Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program on April 26 at its W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus. The tradition marks students’ formal entry into the occupational therapy profession. The pin symbolizes professional identity, ethical responsibility and a commitment to patient care.
For Grace Boeve, pursuing a career in occupational therapy was more than an academic decision, it was personal.
“My best friend growing up had a rare genetic disease called ataxia telangiectasia,” said Boeve, now a second-year student and president of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) at Davenport University. “I saw the impact occupational therapy had in her life, and I thought, ‘I could be that person for someone.’ That changed everything for me.”
Boeve from Hudsonville, who completed her undergraduate degree in health studies at Siena College in New York, returned home to Michigan to pursue her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Davenport — drawn by the program’s hands-on learning, small cohort size, and a strong sense of community.
“From the beginning, I could tell this program was the right fit,” she said. “It’s streamlined and efficient, but still gives you so many fieldwork opportunities and close relationships with faculty.”
Fieldwork opportunities helped shape her perspective on the diverse applications of occupational therapy. From working at Camp Sunshine to placements at Pine Rest and HealthBridge, Boeve said each experience has added depth to her understanding of patient care.
“Having that exposure to different populations has really opened my eyes to all the things you can do with an OT degree,” she said.
Boeve credits the faculty at Davenport, many of whom are still practicing clinicians, with helping her grow both professionally and personally.
“Dr. Katerberg has been a huge influence,” she said. “She works in pediatrics, so I’ve had a lot of meetings with her. And our mentor program has been great. My mentor took the time to really get to know me not just as a student, but as a person.”
One of the experiences that stood out for Boeve was her role as SOTA president. Under her leadership, the student organization partnered with Once Upon a Room, a nonprofit that decorates hospital rooms for children during the holidays. Through a gift basket raffle fundraiser, Boeve and her classmates raised enough money to sponsor and fully decorate a patient’s room at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
“It was so cool to be able to give back in such a meaningful way,” she said. “That kind of community outreach is what drew me to SOTA in the first place.”
Now that she has graduated, Boeve says she feels confident thanks to the program’s unique approach to board exam preparation. After completing clinical fieldwork, students return for a dedicated week of board prep designed to help them navigate the licensing process with less stress.
“Knowing we’ll have that extra support makes a big difference,” she said. “It lowers the anxiety and helps us feel prepared.”
Boeve says she’s grateful for the experiences and relationships she’s built at Davenport.
“I’ve loved my time here,” she said. “It’s a program that not only prepares you academically, but also lifts you up with strong mentorship, community outreach, and meaningful fieldwork. I’m excited to see what’s next — for me and for the future OTs coming out of Davenport.”
For more information on Davenport University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program, visit davenport.edu/msot.
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