Past meets present Endowed scholarship fund honors alumna’s career and supports future pediatric occupational therapy practitioners.
The Erhardts: Edward (son), Brett (grandson), Rhoda, Avery (great-granddaughter), Colin (grandson), Laurie (daughter-in-law) and Lillian (granddaughter-in-law) celebrate Rhoda’s 88th birthday in Maplewood, Minn, March 14, 2020.
As a high school student looking toward the future, Rhoda P. Erhardt ’54 BS OT saw marriage and children. But first, she was heading to college. The only problem? She didn’t know what to study. The results of an aptitude test prompted a guidance counselor to suggest occupational therapy. She thought Erhardt’s wide variety of interests would be well suited to a field that
draws on topics in human development, psychology, design and more. Although Erhardt hadn’t previously heard of occupational therapy, it turned out to be the perfect fit. Erhardt ultimately spent a fulfilling and pioneering career as an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics. “I feel so grateful that I stumbled into a profession that has been interesting, inspiring and rewarding,” Erhardt says.
Winter 2021
UIC APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCES MAGAZINE
13
