St. Scholastica graduate recognized for excellence in fieldwork education

The Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) recently recognized an esteemed alumna from The College of St. Scholastica for her excellence as a fieldwork educator. Jenny (Falck) Zerr ’05 (MA ’06), a graduate of the College’s Occupational Therapy program, received the Mentorship and Education Award at the association’s annual awards ceremony held in St. Cloud on Oct. 4, 2025. This award recognizes occupational therapy practitioners who demonstrate exceptional dedication to educating and mentoring the next generation of OT professionals.

Zerr was nominated by one of the students she works with, an individual who has faced challenges in passing her licensing examination. The nomination highlighted Zerr’s commitment to supporting students through difficult moments in their educational journey: “Jenny was one of my fieldwork educators and is now a coworker. I have watched her mentor me, a student after me, and she is already talking about working with future occupational therapists. She not only leads with confidence and patience, but also with openness to new ideas and possibilities for meaningful collaboration.”

“Jenny was and still is integral to my learning as I struggle to pass my NBCOT exam,” the nominator continued. “She is the first person to remind me of my worth as an OT and the knowledge I bring to the clinic despite this last hurdle. I get to work alongside her and still learn from the sidelines, so concepts and OT practice stay fresh in my mind. I don’t know if I’d still have the confidence to keep trying if it wasn’t for her and my coworkers cheering me on, helping me see my value and reminding me that test scores don’t make the therapist; the passion and knowledge of the field does.”

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have studied occupational therapy at St. Scholastica,” Zerr shared. “One of my most influential experiences was the hands-on learning in the on-campus clinic. I had the opportunity to work with three pediatric clients on my weekly caseload and received excellent support from our clinical supervisor. She helped me write goals, create treatment plans, and encouraged my creativity in developing activities that were functional and fun for the kids, all while supporting their independence in daily activities. Over the years, I have supervised nearly 30 fieldwork students. I truly enjoy teaching and providing hands-on opportunities to help students develop skills, build confidence, and expand their professional toolboxes. Working with fieldwork students keeps me on my toes and constantly feeds my passion for this field.”

As a fieldwork educator, Zerr plays a vital role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice, helping students develop the skills, confidence, and professional judgment needed to succeed as occupational therapists. Her dedication to student success, particularly her willingness to support students facing academic challenges, exemplifies the Benedictine values of hospitality, stewardship, and love of learning, all of which are central to a St. Scholastica education.