Masters’ grad gave commencement speech at St. Augustine school graduation
St. Cloud native Madison Ferguson recently graduated from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with her Master of Occupational Therapy degree. (Submitted photo)
It takes a lot of time and money to become a physician. Double down on that if you’re going to work with those with physical or developmental disabilities.
St. Cloud native Madison Ferguson is taking it one step further—to become an occupational therapist and work with adults who need that extra bit of life help to accomplish everyday tasks that most of us think nothing of and take for granted.
Ferguson, 24, known to many in town as “Maddie” Ewen before getting married with a lot going on, recently graduated from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences with her Master of Occupational Therapy degree, and delivered the student address at the summer commencement ceremony last week in Jacksonville.
“I want to work with those with disabilities and have needs, and help them to better complete daily tasks,” she said.
Ferguson, born and raised in the area and attended Hickory Tree Elementary, St. Cloud Middle School and Harmony High (Class of 2019), took to working with others who need a hand back then, volunteering with the Best Buddies program and the Challenger Little League, which gives children who need a little bit of physical help the opportunity to play baseball. She attended University of South Florida and earned a health science degree, where she became president of USF’s Future Occupational Therapists of America. Being around likeminded professionals made her calling come clear, she said.
“People are familiar with PT (physical therapy), but not OT (occupational therapy), and I realized there was a big shortage in OT,” Ferguson said. “I saw such a big need and wanted to be there to help these people. I had known I wanted to do advocacy and work in health care, look at these people’s environment and what they need, and do it in a way that’s meaningful. They deserve to be more than just a diagnosis.
“They say, ‘PT helps you walk, OT helps you walk with your clothes on.’ The goal is to restore people’s lives back to full capacity.”
When she sought out OT Master’s degree programs— eight locations off that in the state of Florida—it led her to St. Augustine, where she completed her degree program, delivered the summer commencement address and earned an award as school’s most outstanding OT student.
“I was told it was based on my community service and volunteer work. It was truly a huge honor,” Ferguson said.
She said her next step is to complete her board certification to be able to work in the field. While she said she’d love to return to Osceola County and work with those in her hometown, she said she’s been offered a school position in St. Augustine and working with adults with developmental disabilities—an underserved health care sector.
“Not many people are willing to work with adults with disabilities. They have such a big place in my heart based on my work with Challenger,” Ferguson said. “Only 4 to 6 percent OTs are community based, the rest work in clinics or the school system.
“As I develop as a practitioner, there’s the potential of coming back to work back in our community. “I’ve loved every minute of being (in St. Augustine), it’s been the most incredible journey.”
