Capstone - Wingate University
Source: https://www.wingate.edu/academics/graduate/occupational-therapy/ot-academics/capstone
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Capstone - Wingate University
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Capstone
The capstone consists of two parts: the capstone experience and the capstone project. The capstone experience is a 14-week, 560-hour experience that takes place during the final semester of the program under the supervision of a faculty capstone mentor and a site-based mentor. The project is completed by the student to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained throughout the program and which will be of benefit to the capstone location.
At Wingate University, capstones are completely student selected and designed under the supervision of the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and faculty mentor. This allows the student to design a capstone experience and project that aligns with their passions or topics of interest.
All
Clinical Practice Skills
Program Development
All
Clinical Specialties
Community-Based
Pediatric
View the Capstone Archive
A Pediatric Feeding Program in a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Pediatric Clinic
Hannah Harris, OTDS; Kathryn Wright, OTR/L; Meredith Allen, OTD, OTR/L; Patricia Tomsic, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Read More
about A Pediatric Feeding Program in a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Pediatric Clinic
A Transitional Care Program for Residents and Their Families Transitioning to Supportive Care Services
Sydney Snyder, OTDS; Kendra Hunter, HCS; Wynnet Sinclair, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about A Transitional Care Program for Residents and Their Families Transitioning to Supportive Care Services
A Transitional Program: Hospital to Home for Families with Children who have Complex Medical Needs
Victoria Pitman, OTDS; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L; Shaketa Wright, LCSW
Read More
about A Transitional Program: Hospital to Home for Families with Children who have Complex Medical Needs
Addressing Health Literacy through Patient Education Guidelines: Upper Extremity Patients in Rural America
Savanah A. Perrini, OTDS; Samuel L. Pasour, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CEAS, IASTM; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about Addressing Health Literacy through Patient Education Guidelines: Upper Extremity Patients in Rural America
An Occupational Therapy Program to Address the Oral Health Disparity for Children with Disabilities
Marissa Holsonback, OTDS; Leslie Yuan Gazdeck, DDS, PLLC; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about An Occupational Therapy Program to Address the Oral Health Disparity for Children with Disabilities
Assistive Technology and the Pediatric Population: Increasing Occupational Participation
Ava Elasy, OTDS; Katie McGregor, MOT, OTR/L, ATP; Daniella Hauser, OTD, OTR/L, CSOT, LSVT
Read More
about Assistive Technology and the Pediatric Population: Increasing Occupational Participation
Bringing Calm to Chaos: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Firefighter Mental Health
Shae Lomas, OTDS; Marvin Murray; Patricia Tomsic, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Read More
about Bringing Calm to Chaos: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Firefighter Mental Health
Development and Enhancement of Therapeutic Practices, Equine Welfare, and Safety Within Equine-Assisted Services
Heather Barsukoff, OTDS; Stacey Caplan, OTD, OTR/L; Sarah Austin, CTRI
Read More
about Development and Enhancement of Therapeutic Practices, Equine Welfare, and Safety Within Equine-Assisted Services
Embrace Your Health: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Childhood Obesity
Hanna Osborn, OTDS; Lakesha Welch, Union County Area Club Director; Christine McConnell, DC, OTR/L
Read More
about Embrace Your Health: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Childhood Obesity
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2025 Student Recipient
Marissa Holsonback
This award is presented to the graduate who demonstrates outstanding critical thinking and servant leadership during their culminating capstone experience with the creation of an exemplary project with distinct value to their community site and the field of occupational therapy.
Outstanding Capstone site Mentor Award
2025 Mentor Recipient
Samuel Pasour from ECU Outpatient Rehabilitation
This award is presented to a mentor who provides exemplary guidance to a student throughout their capstone process, creates meaningful opportunities to further the student’s advanced learning, and strives to foster a collaborative, supportive environment to build a capstone project that is mutually beneficial to the community site and students’ learning.
2024
2023
2022
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2024 Student Recipient
Katelynn Bodin
Outstanding Capstone site Mentor Award
2024 Mentor Recipient
Andrea Maxwell from Wingate Elementary School
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2023 Student Recipient
Lyndsi Perez
Outstanding Capstone Site Mentor Award
2023 Mentor Recipient
Kayla Bryant from The Family OT
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2022 Student Recipient
Melanie Smith
Outstanding Capstone Site Mentor Award
2022 Mentor Recipient
Joy Simon from Mitey Riders
Published Capstones
As part of the final capstone course, students complete a manuscript that may be eligible for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Some of the capstone manuscripts that have been published are linked below.
Smith, M. N., & Douglas, R. R. (2022). The role of school-based occupational therapy practitioners in providing tier 1 services to enhance sensory processing and self-regulation strategies within the classroom. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 1-11.
Click here
.
Urban, T. M., & Douglas, R. R. (In Press). Occupational therapists’ role in sexual education for teens and young adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Kototello, M., Sithong, C., & Sinclair, W. (In Press). What motivates low-income older adults to age in their homes: A qualitative study. Home Healthcare Now.
The capstone experience greatly influenced my career path and helped me discover and connect with an area of OT that I am greatly passionate about and excited to learn more about. This environment really supported my learning, curiosity, and creativity, while providing the assistance and freedom I needed. I am so excited to continue working with Thrive and at peace that this is the perfect opportunity to support my growth as an OT and wellbeing as a person.
Rose W.
Class of 2023
This Doctoral Capstone Experiential helped me gain confidence in myself as a student, advocate, and future practitioner. Throughout OT school, I have struggled with self-doubt but the outcomes of this experiential and the feedback received from my site mentor, NCOTA leadership, and my faculty capstone advisor have helped me know that I am capable of achieving the goals that I set and making an impact.
Chelsea W.
Class of 2023
This capstone experience has certainly grown me professionally. I feel more confident in my skills initiating group discussions, presenting information, developing rapport, conducting a needs assessment, time management, professional communication, and much more. During this experience I have learned how I work best, how to set objectives and achieve them, how OT can be implemented within a community setting, and gained a new understanding of the quality of work I can achieve as an occupational therapy practitioner.
Lyndsi P.
Class of 2023
Questions?
Dr. Melissa Sweetman
(704) 233-8972
OTD@wingate.edu
Free OT Clinic
ot.clinic@wingate.edu
Skip To Main Content
Capstone
The capstone consists of two parts: the capstone experience and the capstone project. The capstone experience is a 14-week, 560-hour experience that takes place during the final semester of the program under the supervision of a faculty capstone mentor and a site-based mentor. The project is completed by the student to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained throughout the program and which will be of benefit to the capstone location.
At Wingate University, capstones are completely student selected and designed under the supervision of the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator and faculty mentor. This allows the student to design a capstone experience and project that aligns with their passions or topics of interest.
All
Clinical Practice Skills
Program Development
All
Clinical Specialties
Community-Based
Pediatric
View the Capstone Archive
A Pediatric Feeding Program in a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Pediatric Clinic
Hannah Harris, OTDS; Kathryn Wright, OTR/L; Meredith Allen, OTD, OTR/L; Patricia Tomsic, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Read More
about A Pediatric Feeding Program in a Multidisciplinary Outpatient Pediatric Clinic
A Transitional Care Program for Residents and Their Families Transitioning to Supportive Care Services
Sydney Snyder, OTDS; Kendra Hunter, HCS; Wynnet Sinclair, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about A Transitional Care Program for Residents and Their Families Transitioning to Supportive Care Services
A Transitional Program: Hospital to Home for Families with Children who have Complex Medical Needs
Victoria Pitman, OTDS; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L; Shaketa Wright, LCSW
Read More
about A Transitional Program: Hospital to Home for Families with Children who have Complex Medical Needs
Addressing Health Literacy through Patient Education Guidelines: Upper Extremity Patients in Rural America
Savanah A. Perrini, OTDS; Samuel L. Pasour, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CEAS, IASTM; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about Addressing Health Literacy through Patient Education Guidelines: Upper Extremity Patients in Rural America
An Occupational Therapy Program to Address the Oral Health Disparity for Children with Disabilities
Marissa Holsonback, OTDS; Leslie Yuan Gazdeck, DDS, PLLC; Reeti Douglas, OTD, OTR/L
Read More
about An Occupational Therapy Program to Address the Oral Health Disparity for Children with Disabilities
Assistive Technology and the Pediatric Population: Increasing Occupational Participation
Ava Elasy, OTDS; Katie McGregor, MOT, OTR/L, ATP; Daniella Hauser, OTD, OTR/L, CSOT, LSVT
Read More
about Assistive Technology and the Pediatric Population: Increasing Occupational Participation
Bringing Calm to Chaos: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Firefighter Mental Health
Shae Lomas, OTDS; Marvin Murray; Patricia Tomsic, OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Read More
about Bringing Calm to Chaos: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Firefighter Mental Health
Development and Enhancement of Therapeutic Practices, Equine Welfare, and Safety Within Equine-Assisted Services
Heather Barsukoff, OTDS; Stacey Caplan, OTD, OTR/L; Sarah Austin, CTRI
Read More
about Development and Enhancement of Therapeutic Practices, Equine Welfare, and Safety Within Equine-Assisted Services
Embrace Your Health: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Childhood Obesity
Hanna Osborn, OTDS; Lakesha Welch, Union County Area Club Director; Christine McConnell, DC, OTR/L
Read More
about Embrace Your Health: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Childhood Obesity
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2025 Student Recipient
Marissa Holsonback
This award is presented to the graduate who demonstrates outstanding critical thinking and servant leadership during their culminating capstone experience with the creation of an exemplary project with distinct value to their community site and the field of occupational therapy.
Outstanding Capstone site Mentor Award
2025 Mentor Recipient
Samuel Pasour from ECU Outpatient Rehabilitation
This award is presented to a mentor who provides exemplary guidance to a student throughout their capstone process, creates meaningful opportunities to further the student’s advanced learning, and strives to foster a collaborative, supportive environment to build a capstone project that is mutually beneficial to the community site and students’ learning.
2024
2023
2022
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2024 Student Recipient
Katelynn Bodin
Outstanding Capstone site Mentor Award
2024 Mentor Recipient
Andrea Maxwell from Wingate Elementary School
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2023 Student Recipient
Lyndsi Perez
Outstanding Capstone Site Mentor Award
2023 Mentor Recipient
Kayla Bryant from The Family OT
Outstanding Doctoral Capstone Student Award
2022 Student Recipient
Melanie Smith
Outstanding Capstone Site Mentor Award
2022 Mentor Recipient
Joy Simon from Mitey Riders
Published Capstones
As part of the final capstone course, students complete a manuscript that may be eligible for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Some of the capstone manuscripts that have been published are linked below.
Smith, M. N., & Douglas, R. R. (2022). The role of school-based occupational therapy practitioners in providing tier 1 services to enhance sensory processing and self-regulation strategies within the classroom. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 1-11.
Click here
.
Urban, T. M., & Douglas, R. R. (In Press). Occupational therapists’ role in sexual education for teens and young adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Kototello, M., Sithong, C., & Sinclair, W. (In Press). What motivates low-income older adults to age in their homes: A qualitative study. Home Healthcare Now.
The capstone experience greatly influenced my career path and helped me discover and connect with an area of OT that I am greatly passionate about and excited to learn more about. This environment really supported my learning, curiosity, and creativity, while providing the assistance and freedom I needed. I am so excited to continue working with Thrive and at peace that this is the perfect opportunity to support my growth as an OT and wellbeing as a person.
Rose W.
Class of 2023
This Doctoral Capstone Experiential helped me gain confidence in myself as a student, advocate, and future practitioner. Throughout OT school, I have struggled with self-doubt but the outcomes of this experiential and the feedback received from my site mentor, NCOTA leadership, and my faculty capstone advisor have helped me know that I am capable of achieving the goals that I set and making an impact.
Chelsea W.
Class of 2023
This capstone experience has certainly grown me professionally. I feel more confident in my skills initiating group discussions, presenting information, developing rapport, conducting a needs assessment, time management, professional communication, and much more. During this experience I have learned how I work best, how to set objectives and achieve them, how OT can be implemented within a community setting, and gained a new understanding of the quality of work I can achieve as an occupational therapy practitioner.
Lyndsi P.
Class of 2023
Questions?
Dr. Melissa Sweetman
(704) 233-8972
OTD@wingate.edu
Free OT Clinic
ot.clinic@wingate.edu