The Alyssa Sack Memorial Endowed Scholarship

If you google “character traits of an Occupational Therapist,” these words will pop up: communication skills, problem-solving, patience, empathy, flexibility, organizational skills, personal skills, and creativity. And, if you google “character traits of a student-athlete,” here’s what you’ll see: confidence, coachability, motivation, resiliency, work ethic, discipline, leadership, and optimism. Finally, if you google “character traits of a good mom,” the following attributes are listed: unconditional love, patience, good listener, clear expectations, fairness, stress management, good role model, and positive attitude.

Alyssa Sack embodied all those qualities and much more. A college student in her twenties, Alyssa was a student-athlete, an Occupational Therapist in training, and a new mom. She was also a loving daughter and sister, a dedicated friend, and a devoted Christian with a sunny outlook and contagious smile. She balanced lacrosse, OT school, and motherhood with fierce determination and grace. Despite weeks filled with 40 hours of OT classes, 20 hours of lacrosse practice, and 20-hour work shifts, she still found time to participate in group projects, be a leader on the lacrosse field, and positively impact so many she met along the way. It’s hard to imagine that a sleep-deprived mom of a newborn with little free time could accomplish so much—ultimately reaching her dream of becoming an OTR/L while raising her beautiful daughter, Abigail.

Although she never had the chance to practice, Alyssa was passionate about being an OT and didn’t view her obligations as obstacles. She rose to any challenge, no matter how tough. The recipient of this scholarship, which honors Alyssa’s many achievements, will exemplify the same determination and other qualities that made her so special: determination, discipline, kindness, balance, leadership, patience, flexibility, and positivity.

Alyssa’s parents established a scholarship in her memory to honor the compassionate person she was and the occupational therapy career she was so passionate about. By contributing to this scholarship, you help support future OT students who are overcoming obstacles on their path to graduation—empowering them to complete their program and go on to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.