September 19, 2025 By CDHD Welcome back, fall 2025 trainees! There’s no doubt about it – fall is here, coming on the heels if a final summer heatwave. Students have once filled the University of Idaho campus, brining their youthful energy back to Moscow with all the excitement of opportunity that comes with each academic year. Nowhere is immune to the new influx of energy, including the CDHD. This semester we’ve welcomed back seven trainees, and we’re excited to see what they’ll accomplish over the coming months. Read on to hear from each, including what they’re looking forward to the most for this fall 2025 semester … Avery Zill Degree: Medical Sciences (heading for OT) Project: Idaho SESTA Welcome back, Avery! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Avery: January 2025 What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Avery: I enjoyed and valued my experience at the CDHD last semester and I wanted to be involved again. I am also applying to OT graduate school currently and I think the CDHD (trainings, accessible workshops, etc) is great preparation. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Avery: I really enjoy getting involved in community events, collaborating with my co-workers, as well as learning new skills related to my project here. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Avery: I have found the collaborative efforts that I have been a part of here to be very valuable – researching with my co-workers, assisting as a natural support for our accessible workshops, and getting to know many different community members. Trainings such as Disability Etiquette and our training seminars have also taught me a lot. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Avery: I am looking forward to continuing with the new research I have started working on, as well as acting as a natural support for artAbility and other workshops. Bella Hacker Degree: Conservation Biology Project: ICIE Welcome back, Bella! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Bella: I joined the Idaho CDHD in the fall semester of 2024. What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Bella: I was inspired to return to the CDHD this year because I love the work the Center does. All the projects are so interesting to learn about and do important work. I love being a part of something great. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Bella: I enjoy … the support it gives. Throughout my time here, I have gotten so much support with school. Everyone is very understanding and flexible. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Bella: The most valuable thing I have found throughout my role here is the skills that I am gathering. The data evaluation skills I have gathered will help me in my future professions and even in my major currently. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Bella: I am excited to work on this new project [ICIE] and learn more about what it accomplishes! Corey Dix Degree: Psychology, emphasis in Child Development Project: IdahoSTARS Welcome back, Corey! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Corey: I originally joined the Idaho CDHD in the fall 2024 semester. This is my second year at the Center! What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Corey: I discovered the Center at U of I’s career fair where I talked to Emily Pearson, Isabella Gillmore and Olivia Lebens about the Interdisciplinary [Student Trainee] Program. There was a range of programs that students facilitated such as Healthy Active Lifestyles (HAL), which interested me. When I passed the interview and attended a couple of events, I was officially onboarded. My first year at the Center opened me to the history of individuals with disabilities, education and research. My admiration for those who work here and who benefit from what resources the CDHD provides has inspired me to return for my senior year. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Corey: I enjoy collaborating with other students! Having trainee seminars, hosting events in the community, and learning from other professionals has created a sphere of knowledge I did not know was possible before. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Corey: This position has also granted me the opportunity to engage in a research project and work for IdahoSTARS, directly correlating with my education. I am more aware about the lives of others and communicate more effectively too. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Corey: I am excited to be working with IdahoSTARS this semester, as well as launching my research study. I am also looking forward to engaging more with the community this year! Emily Pearson Degree: Elementary Education, Special Education Endorsement Project: Healthy Active Lifestyles Welcome back, Emily! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Emily: I started in January of 2024. What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Emily: Staying with the CDHD is an easy decision for me since I am so fulfilled by this job. It’ll be hard to leave soon when I graduate. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Emily: The events with our participants – artAbility, cooking classes, Movement in the Park – are the absolute best. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Emily: Learning to build relationships with our participants and their families has been so valuable for me as a future teacher. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Emily: Honestly, I am really excited to attend artAbility workshops as a natural support again after a long year of coordinating. Haley Sprague Degree: Exercise, Sport and Health Science Project: Healthy Active Lifestyles Welcome back, Haley! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Haley: I started working at the Idaho CDHD in August of 2024. This is my second year at the Center. What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Haley: I returned to the Idaho CDHD this year because I love the environment that comes with working at the Center. There are so many learning opportunities and ways to get involved with the community. This is something that has helped me develop personally and professionally. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Haley: My favorite part about working at the Center is building relationships with individuals in the community. Through my time working at the Center, I have had the pleasure of working with so many amazing people, and they are what make me excited to show up every day. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Haley: Seeing the impact of our HAL programming on members in our community has been what I have found the most valuable in my role so far. While our program stands to bring accessible healthy activities to members of our community, it continues to do so much more. Hearing participants say they value the connections and support they receive at our programming, some which otherwise lack that support, really proves the value of this role. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Haley: This semester, I am most looking forward to attending our Healthy Cooking classes. They are such a fun way to connect with the community. Natalie Tomsic Degree: Exercise, Sport and Heath Science, emphasis in Pre-Occupational Therapy Project: IATP Welcome back, Natalie! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Natalie: September 2024 What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Natalie: I love working here and being a part of the Moscow community! What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Natalie: I like the connections I have made here, and that I am able to do projects that are reflective of the career I want to pursue. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Natalie: The Movement in the Park, artAbility and Assistive Technology projects because I get to actually work with people in the community and directly assist them in some way. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Natalie: I am excited to be working on the Idaho Assistive Technology Project! Sofia Bronaugh Degree: Secondary Education Project: artAbility Welcome back, Sofia! When did you join us at the Idaho CDHD? Sofia: I joined the CDHD at the beginning of last school year. What inspired you to join/return to the CDHD this year? Sofia: I was so excited to return this year because I get to coordinate artAbility and I had so much fun at all the artAbility workshops last year. What do you enjoy most about working at the Center? Sofia: The thing I enjoy the most about working at the Center is that I get to help out the community and the state I live in. I had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in the Moscow community which has really helped me prepare for my future career. What have you found most valuable about your role at the Center so far? Sofia: The thing I most value about working at the Center is all the learning opportunities I have had. Everyone is so willing to help support my learning and have given me the chance to expand my knowledge. What are you looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD this semester? Sofia: I am looking forward to all the awesome artAbility workshops I have planned for this semester and getting to see all the finished artwork.