PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE OT STUDENTS PARTNER WITH EVERGREEN SKILLS IN INCLUSIVE SPRING FESTIVAL
April 14, 2025
The Clinton Municipal Center was alive with laughter and the smell of fresh-baked goods on April 11, as students from Presbyterian College’s Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program partnered with Evergreen Skills for the second annual Spring for Evergreen community celebration.
Held during Occupational Therapy Month, the event was a festive showcase of inclusion, creativity and service, bringing together adults from Evergreen — a work and training program operated by the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board — and PC students for an afternoon of connection and collaboration.
A DAY OF INCLUSION AND JOY
The event featured handcrafted items, jewelry, baked goods, and artwork created by adults at Evergreen with the support of OT students. All proceeds from the sales went directly back to the Evergreen participants. According to organizers, the event raised hundreds of dollars last year and is poised to top that figure in 2024.
“My heart is so full,” said Shelbi Frederick, a second-year occupational therapy student at PC. “There was a moment I just stood back and looked around. To see everyone laughing, to see the smiles on people’s faces, knowing that our class helped make this happen—it was beautiful.”
Frederick worked with participants in the baking group, where they practiced fine motor skills by labeling and packaging the food. “We made little name tents for the food,” she said. “It was therapy built into every step.”
For many Evergreen adults, the opportunity to create and sell items was about more than income — it was about confidence and connection.
FROM CLASS CONCEPT TO COMMUNITY TRADITION
The idea for Spring for Evergreen originated with students in PC’s third OT cohort as part of a course on community-based practice. After forming a relationship with the mayor of Clinton and working with Evergreen staff, the students proposed the event as a way to build bridges between the college, the city and the adults served by Evergreen.
“This idea was birthed through our community class,” said Dr. Moni Keene, the director of the OT program. “It’s become an annual event. It promotes inclusivity, it promotes diversity, and it lets people know that we need to include everybody in what we do.”
Keene said the collaboration is a perfect example of PC’s motto, “While We Live, We Serve,” brought to life.
“This is the fruit of their labor,” she said. “We have just played a small part in guiding and mentoring them. They are the ones doing the work.”
Keene noted that the first event raised $800, all of which went back to support the Evergreen adults. “We don’t take a penny of it,” she said.
PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON SHARED PASSION
The partnership between Presbyterian College and the Laurens County Disabilities and Special Needs Board began a few years ago with a simple connection. Jason Tavenner, executive director of the board, said it was born out of mutual respect and shared goals.
“One of our staff members connected with Moni and she told us about the OT program,” Tavenner said. “We have a lot of needs in our service array that could benefit from OT students, so we said, ‘How can we work together?’”
The result was a partnership that brought students to the Evergreen campus regularly and eventually led to the creation of Spring for Evergreen.
“One of our goals is to build a community that’s aware and inclusive,” Tavenner said. “Today, we’re just at a shop, selling goods, having conversations, enjoying good food. It’s just a day for people being people.”
SERVICE THROUGH LEARNING
For the students, the event is more than a class project—it’s a powerful learning experience that underscores the value of occupational therapy in real-world settings.
Emma Bentley, a second-year OT student, said it’s been deeply rewarding to apply classroom knowledge in a way that makes a tangible difference.
“There aren’t really words to describe the amount of pride that I think all of us are feeling,” Bentley said. “To see not only the smiles on the participants’ faces, but to see the community come together and show love and support — it’s really beautiful.”
Bentley said working with Evergreen has helped students grow professionally and personally. “It’s just beautiful to be able to use our skills to serve others and highlight their capabilities,” she said. “This event truly embodies a spirit of service.”
A CELEBRATION OF TALENT AND TOGETHERNESS
As the event wound down, guests left with armfuls of treats and crafts—but more importantly, with a deeper sense of connection to one another.
“This is a win-win from any direction you look at it,” Keene said. “It’s about celebrating each other’s talents, building relationships, and strengthening our community.”
With smiles all around and plans already in motion for next year, Spring for Evergreen has become more than an event—it’s a tradition grounded in compassion, inclusion and shared joy.
