of Upstate Cerebral Palsy, announced his retirement on May 1, 2018. [For more on Tehan, see pg. 25] Edward B. Naidamast ’75, Burke, VA, retired Senior Intelligence Officer, swung through Utica to visit campus with Executive Director of Alumni Relations Mark Kovacs. (Photo 3) Edward J. Osredkar ’81, Herkimer, NY, has retired after 30 years with the New York State Department of TransportationRight-of-Way Mapping/Survey Department in Region 2, Utica, and Region 8, Poughkeepsie, NY. Lenore A. Steet ’81, New Hartford, NY, of Steet-Ponte Toyota, donated a new van to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at the St. Luke’s Campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System. The van will help Emergency Medical Services transport supplies and equipment to outreach and training/education programs in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties. (Photo 4) Raymond L. Philo ’81, Utica, NY, presented a ceremonial gift check for the amount of $3,400 to the Utica College Organization of Justice Studies, donated from the first-year royalties from his recently co-published book, The Corr of the American Criminal Justice System: Lessons & The Anatomy of an American Tragedy. Philo also helped lead an Organization of Justice Studies event in which 50 UC students traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the FBI National Academy and the Headquarters and Training Cen-
ter for the United States Secret Service. (Photo 5) Mary Ellen Durr ’83, Barneveld, NY, a high-school special education teacher at Poland Central School District, was nominated by her district as an Amazing Teacher for a series by the Utica Observer-Dispatch recognizing exemplary instructors in Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties. Dennis P. Moore ’83, Clinton, NY, was recently recognized by State Farm Insurance Companies for 30 years of service. His insurance sales agency is located in Herkimer, NY. Robert C. Munson ’85, Utica, NY, has been promoted to senior project manager at Charles A. Gaetano Construction. He has been with the company for 15 years. Yolanda G. Washington ’87, Navarre FL, has visited all seven continents with her daughter. They recently completed a trip to Antarctica. Dr. James C. Brown ’88, Clinton, NY, presented a ceremonial gift check for the amount of $3,400 to the Utica College Organization of Justice Studies, donated from the first year royalties from his recently co-published book, The Corr of the American Criminal Justice System: Lessons & The Anatomy of an American Tragedy. Brown also helped lead an Organization of Justice Studies event in which 50 graduate and undergraduate, ground, and online
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More Than Fun and Games: Jaime Spencer ’99 For years, Jaime Spencer was the only pediatric occupational therapist on staff in the large Levittown School District in Nassau County, New York. A typical day meant shuttling between the district’s 10 school buildings, working with dozens of elementary students and teachers. In an effort to help more teachers in less time, she began posting OT resources, like flashcards and game ideas, on a shared drive that everyone in the district could access. “The teachers loved it,” says Spencer ’99, who also holds a master’s in special education from Adelphi University. “I wanted to reach even more people.” In July 2014, Spencer started MissJaimeOT.com. Now, four years later, Spencer has earned more than 22,000 readers and 6,000 subscribers—mostly parents, teachers, and fellow OTs. Her most popular posts include creative game ideas that help kids improve motor skills in ways that feel like play. “That’s my favorite part about working with children,” she says. “You’re always hiding therapy in fun stuff. It may look like we’re playing a card game, but we’re working on hand dominance, visual tracking, and balance. There’s a method to the madness!” And though keeping up the blog and working fulltime at school isn’t always easy, Spencer is inspired by people who’ve benefitted from her efforts, many who reach out personally through her site. “We have seen tremendous growth from our son in just a few months,” writes one mom on Facebook. “We have Jaime to thank.”
