2023-2024 Scholars
Kelsey Cox
Hi! My name is Kelsey Cox! I am a first-gen undergrad junior studying in Elementary Education. I was born and raised in sunny St. George, Utah, and moved here to Salt Lake City to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher! Like many, I knew I wanted to be a teacher due to the positive influence that teachers have had in my life. Teachers play such an essential role in the lives of children, and we have so many opportunities to engage students in their education and inspire them to share their gifts with the world; I am excited to be that person for my future students! I grew up as the youngest child in a large family of nine kids, so I have known chaos my whole life. I have a burning passion for all things art and creation. Even though I don't always make good with my time, I try as much as I can to fill it with creative projects such as painting, poetry, crocheting, and wire-wrapping. I am a very curious and explorative person, so I love to jump on to any new opportunities or projects that come my way, which is why I am so excited to work with my team on this Get REAL program!
Katy Grieb
Hi, I'm Katy Grieb! I am a second-year Master of Occupational Therapy Student. I am from Colorado and love skiing, mountain biking, skateboarding, camping, and hiking with my dog. I have always enjoyed working with children, as my past experiences include teaching adaptive skiing, providing respite care for children with disabilities, and being an assistant teacher at a bilingual preschool. I plan to work as a pediatric OT and am especially interested in working in schools. I am excited to learn more about Montessori and how people from different professions can work together to implement these ideas into therapy and special education.
Amy Kenney
My name is Amy Kenney, and I am a second-year student in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Utah. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition Education from Weber State University where I was a student-athlete and member of the women's soccer team. I am passionate about viewing health from a holistic lens, and that is part of what has drawn me to pursue a career in occupational therapy. Prior to beginning graduate school at the U, I worked in Applied Behavior Analysis therapy as a Registered Behavior Technician. I absolutely loved getting to work with children one on one and found the work to be both challenging and fulfilling. While I am keeping an open mind to potential settings and populations I may work with in the future as an OT, I have a strong interest in working in pediatrics. I am incredibly excited for this opportunity to learn more about Montessori education and be part of a multidisciplinary team to work towards enhancing educational opportunities for children.
David Landeen
My name is David Landeen. I grew up in Utah, received my undergraduate degree in the field of video production, and have worked 10 years in that field. I am currently a 3rd year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Utah. Along with running marathons and doing homework, I love spending time with my wife and 4 daughters. My oldest daughter has Down syndrome and autism; she is a big reason why I chose the field of physical therapy and want to work in pediatrics after graduation. When she started going to school, we struggled to find her an inclusion program in a typical classroom that would also offer her the one-on-one education and therapy that she needs. We eventually found a really good school and she is doing amazing. I hope to grow in my knowledge about inclusion in the classroom through the Get REAL program so I can help educate families about finding classrooms that will include everyone.
McKenzie M.
Hi, my name is McKenzie. I recently graduated from the University of Utah with my Bachelors in Kinesiology and am currently studying to get my Master’s in Special Education with an emphasis in Adapted Physical Education. Go Utes! I initially fell in love with working with students with disabilities in an adapted dance classes at Tanner Dance two years ago, and I have been expanding my experience working in adapted arts and athletics ever since. My goal is to empower students through physical activity and help them achieve their goals!
Mekenzie Olsen
My name is Mekenzie Olsen. I graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii and am currently a second year Occupational Therapy Student at the University of Utah. I had my first child last November and currently love to go hiking, swimming, play games, dance, paint, and play pickle ball. I previously have spent time working with children who have autism and loved the ability to find fun and creative solutions to help them develop skills they can use throughout their life. I am looking forward towards being a part of this program to gain an understanding of Montessori learning and how I can utilize it throughout future treatment as a pediatric occupational therapist.
Alyssa Otteson
Hello! My name is Alyssa Otteson. I was born and raised in northern Utah, where I have learned to love many outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, and camping. I graduated from Utah State with a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders. I am a second-year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Utah. Upon graduating, I hope to take what I have learned through this program and apply it to areas of individual communication where future students may benefit.
Anna Pomares
Hi, my name is Anna Pomares! I am a second-year graduate student studying Speech-Language Pathology here at the U. I grew up in Calgary, Canada and completed my bachelor's degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders at BYU. When I'm not studying, I'm busy learning to play the cello and hiking with my adorable puppy! I believe in the power of education to change lives at any stage. Every person deserves an education suited to their individual strengths with the freedom and motivation to explore! Through this program, I hope to learn more about how to make that a reality for as many of my future clients as possible.
Reagan Probst
Hi! My name is Reagan Probst. I was born and raised in Orem, UT and attended BYU for my bachelor’s in psychology. I’m currently at the University of Utah as a second-year OT student and will graduate in the fall of 2024. I was drawn to OT because of its holistic approach to healthcare, and I was likewise drawn to the Montessori Method because it takes a holistic approach to education. I was raised in a family of educators (parents + grandparents!) and have always been taught the importance and value of the pursuit of knowledge. I’m excited to be able to combine two of my loves, OT and education, to become a more knowledgeable and holistic clinician! When not studying, I love playing pickleball, going on hikes, cooking, hanging out with friends, and shopping!
Emma Valentine
Hi, my name is Emma Valentine. I grew up in Illinois and moved to Utah when I was 16. I completed my undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University in communication sciences and disorders, and I am so excited to be completing my master's degree in speech-language pathology here at the U. I find great fulfillment in helping others learn to communicate, and when I graduate, I want to work with the pediatric population in a school-based setting. I am looking forward to learning about the Montessori model and applying its principles to my future practice and interactions with students. I am also excited to learn about working in multidisciplinary teams.
Juliana Van Hook
Hi! My name is Juliana Van Hook and I'm in my third year at the U. I am majoring in Spanish and minoring in Disability Studies, and after I graduate, I plan to attend OT school. I have danced at Tanner Dance throughout most of my life and I am now an assistant in the LEADD program, which teaches adults with disabilities valuable life skills through dance, music, theater, and visual art. Through my involvement in each of the programs at Tanner Dance, I have witnessed the incredible effect that forming connections through the arts has on students. I want to continue to share my love of dance and the arts with others for the rest of my life, and I am excited to learn teaching strategies in an inclusive Montessori classroom. Outside of school, I work as a medical assistant at Intermountain and volunteer at the National Ability Center. In my free time, I love to bike, play the piano, watch movies, pet my cats, and spend time with my family.
Tabitha Whitmore
My name is Tabitha Whitmore, and I am a second year Master’s student in speech-language pathology. I am from Massachusetts and came out to Utah for school. I got my Bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Science with a minor in Disability Studies at the University of Utah. I love Utah and all of the outdoor activities that I can do here, so I decided to stay at the U for my Master's degree. I enjoy hiking, reading, camping, pickleball, and skiing. I am very excited about this program and learning more about the Montessori teaching philosophy!