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Whitmer ('18) Earns Masters in Record Time
Megan Whitmer ('18) Earns Masters in OT in Accelerated Program
Only four and a half years after graduating from Rosary, Megan Whitmer (‘18) has earned her Masters of Occupational Therapy, passed her national boards, and is a working Occupational Therapist.
While a senior at Rosary, Megan applied for and was accepted into Concordia University of Wisconsin’s Accelerated Masters of Occupational Therapy program due to her high GPA and ACT score. At Concordia, she maintained her spot on the Guaranteed Track in the Accelerated OT program by earning a high GPA and earning above a grade B in all of her Anatomy & Physiology and other program-related classes. Upon completion of the program, she was one of 29 applicants accepted into the Masters of Occupational Therapy program.
She received her Bachelor’s of Rehabilitation Science (BSRS) in December 2021 (three years) and then, after the rigorous program and two 12-week clinical internships —starting and finishing graduate school amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic— she received her Masters of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) in November 2022. Therefore, due to her success in the accelerated program, she successfully completed the program in 4.5 years instead of 6.5 years.
Megan is the first in her graduating high school class (‘18) to earn a Masters degree, and one of the few across the country to be able to receive a Masters degree in such a short amount of time.
While a senior at Rosary, Megan applied for and was accepted into Concordia University of Wisconsin’s Accelerated Masters of Occupational Therapy program due to her high GPA and ACT score. At Concordia, she maintained her spot on the Guaranteed Track in the Accelerated OT program by earning a high GPA and earning above a grade B in all of her Anatomy & Physiology and other program-related classes. Upon completion of the program, she was one of 29 applicants accepted into the Masters of Occupational Therapy program.
She received her Bachelor’s of Rehabilitation Science (BSRS) in December 2021 (three years) and then, after the rigorous program and two 12-week clinical internships —starting and finishing graduate school amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic— she received her Masters of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) in November 2022. Therefore, due to her success in the accelerated program, she successfully completed the program in 4.5 years instead of 6.5 years.
Megan is the first in her graduating high school class (‘18) to earn a Masters degree, and one of the few across the country to be able to receive a Masters degree in such a short amount of time.
Shortly after her November 2022 graduation, Megan successfully passed her National Boards of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and received her Illinois state licensure, making her a 22-year-old OTR/L (Occupational Therapist, registered and licensed).
She has accepted a position with Northwestern Illinois Association, a special education cooperative, to work as an OTR/L with children with special needs.
“Her journey was not easy,” her classmate Lauren said. “She was always up late at the library studying and spending the majority of the 4.5 years working on her school work in addition to keeping her faith in God, being employed throughout her time at college, and spending time with her loved ones.”
At Rosary, Megan was a KAIROS leader, on the Honor Roll, in the Art Honor Society, and in the 14th District Congressional Art Show. She was also a golfer and a scholar-athlete, earning golf medals and an MVP award.
She has accepted a position with Northwestern Illinois Association, a special education cooperative, to work as an OTR/L with children with special needs.
“Her journey was not easy,” her classmate Lauren said. “She was always up late at the library studying and spending the majority of the 4.5 years working on her school work in addition to keeping her faith in God, being employed throughout her time at college, and spending time with her loved ones.”
At Rosary, Megan was a KAIROS leader, on the Honor Roll, in the Art Honor Society, and in the 14th District Congressional Art Show. She was also a golfer and a scholar-athlete, earning golf medals and an MVP award.
“I know Rosary prepared her well for her journey to where she is today,” Lauren said.
Rosary High School
Rosary High School is a Catholic, college-prep high school for young women sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. Rosary creates a sisterhood of truth, faith and strength.
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