May 14, 2026 By CDHD Congrats, spring 2026 grads! The end of the semester is always bittersweet here at the CDHD. While we love that it ushers in beautiful late spring weather and the buzz of summer possibilities, but it also means we must bid adieu to our graduating CDHD student trainees. This year we have four trainees who will be crossing the stage for their diplomas and taking the next steps in their journeys. Please join us in congratulating Avery Zill, Natalie Tomsic, Haley Sprague and Sofia Bronaugh! This academic achievement is worthy of celebration and we are so excited to see what’s next for these superstars … Congratulations, Avery! Avery, congratulations on your graduation and thank you for catching up before head off. How long have you worked at the CDHD? Avery: I started in January 2025, so it has been almost a year and a half. What project(s) did you work on? Avery: I started out working on the Special Education Support and Technical Assistance (SESTA) project assisting with social media and have continued with that through the time I have been here. This past semester I have also gotten the opportunity to work closely on Healthy Active Lifestyles (HAL) and become an instructor for Movement in the Park, which has been so much fun. Throughout my time at the CDHD, I have also assisted with CORE dissemination, social media for Idaho Competitive Integrated Employment (ICIE), and worked on an undergraduate research project. We certainly kept you busy! What next? What are your plans now that you’re officially finished with your medical sciences degree? Avery: I am attending Occupational Therapy school next year at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Florida. I plan to earn my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and then go on to ultimately do OT for kids in schools. I would love to eventually move back home to Western Washington but still come back to Moscow to visit. That’s amazing! You’ll do well in Florida. Speaking of drawing you back to Moscow, what is your favorite CDHD memory? Avery: One memory that stands out was getting to travel to the Boise Capitol for Disability Advocacy Day. I got the chance to have a hands-on experience in disability advocacy, tour allied healthcare facilities, and meet so many amazing people. In my daily work at the CDHD, I have really enjoyed getting outside and connecting with members of our community during some of our outdoor program time. Exploring new spaces like Idler’s Rest or Robinson Park with the group, and getting to share in the excitement as we discover new things (animals, landmarks, etc.) has been a really fun experience. Attending our accessible workshops like our art workshops has also been extremely fun. I love getting to see our participants’ creativity really come to life, and seeing everyone’s confidence grow as we explore new mediums. That’s leads to my next question pretty perfectly. What is the most valuable thing you learned while working at the CDHD? I have learned so much about the valuable work the CDHD does through its many different projects. I have also gained an understanding of the ways we can help improve the community experience for adults with disabilities by listening to what they need and keeping accessibility and inclusion at the forefront of everything we do. Learning how to work effectively as a team to achieve common goals has also been very beneficial. What are you looking forward to the most about what’s next? I’m very excited to continue serving my community in different ways and I’m excited to gain a whole new skillset in Occupational Therapy school. I am grateful that I get to continue my schooling and learn specifically about the things that interest me. I am also excited to get to experience a new environment and meet new people. That’s awesome! What (in your opinion) is the best reason to become a student trainee at the CDHD? In my opinion, the best reason to become a student trainee is gaining diverse experiences that will prepare you for your career and beyond. You will get the opportunity to work on/with many different cool projects, such as HAL and artAbility, that work directly with community members with disabilities. It’s an awesome experience I think everyone could benefit from, and it is a lot of fun. Congratulations, Haley Hello, Haley! Thank you for taking the time to chat. Let’s start off with an easy one – how long have you worked at the CDHD? Haley: I have worked at the CDHD since the beginning of my second year of college. I have enjoyed working at the Center for two out of my three years in Moscow. Can’t believe it’s already been two years! What project(s) did you work on? Haley: I worked on the Healthy Active Lifestyles project. I’ve enjoyed working in the community and being able to apply the knowledge I’m learning in my classes to the programming I help to lead. From Movement in the Park and NatureFit Adventures to our Healthy Cooking Series, I’ve been able to lead conversations about nutrition and fitness. Encouraging members to become more engaged in the community while living a healthier and more active lifestyle has also been an important part of this role for me. That’s so awesome that you were able to directly apply your education and gain job skills while you worked with us. Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the CDHD? Haley: My favorite CDHD memory is watching the growth of individual participants. I have seen many of our participants regularly for the past two years and have seen considerable personal growth and progress towards goals related to health and wellness. It is also fun to see participants in different settings through our various programs, and watch as they apply what they have learned in one setting to another. The Adaptive Climbing Clinic for Youth was also a lot of fun to coordinate. I was able to watch all my work this semester pay off as the children got to participate and explore rock climbing. You’re graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences with minors in pre-health and psychology. What are the next steps? What are your plans now that you’re finished with your degree? Haley: I’m excited to attend Idaho State University starting in August to earn my Master of Occupational Therapy. I’m excited to stay in Idaho while continuing my education. My work on the HAL project has prepared me for entering the field of occupational therapy and I look forward to building on my knowledge and continuing to be active in my community. That is indeed very exciting! What is the most valuable thing you learned while working at the CDHD? Haley: The most valuable thing I’ve learned while working at the CDHD is how to be flexible. When working with such diverse groups and providing various types of programming, I’ve had to learn how to step outside of my comfort zone to be a confident leader and a supportive community member. Before stepping into my role as a trainee, I was not a confident communicator and struggled with taking the lead, especially in areas that I was not expert in. I’ve improved these skills by leading programs, contributing new ideas, and eventually coordinating an adaptive recreation event. In those little moments of being flexible and being okay with feeling uncomfortable as I learned, I’ve noticed incredible growth in my own confidence and abilities. This is something that will continue to benefit me in my future academic and professional career. I love it! What are you looking forward to the most about what’s next? Haley: I’m most looking forward to beginning my Master of Occupational Therapy program in the fall. I’ve always been passionate about working in the field of occupational therapy and have enjoyed learning in every opportunity of my education so far. I’m excited to take on the new opportunities and challenges that come with this next chapter and I’m excited to see the my growth as I become an occupational therapist. What (in your opinion) is the best reason to become a student trainee at the CDHD? Haley: I think the best reason to become a student trainee at the CDHD is to work collaboratively with various staff and students to improve leadership skills while applying the knowledge you’re learning in your courses. I’ve learned a lot from other trainees in different majors, as well as from my supervisors encouraging me to explore opportunities that bridge my major and interests to my project work. I’ve experienced a significant amount of personal and professional growth through my time at the CDHD. Many of the experiences I’ve had as a trainee have propelled me towards new academic and professional opportunities. Becoming a student trainee will challenge you in ways you do not expect and will foster personal and professional growth. This growth and the connections made as a trainee will also open doors to new opportunities, which contribute to academic and professional successes. Congratulations, Natalie! Natalie, thank you for your time before you depart the Center. We’re so excited for you! How long have you been at the CDHD? Natalie: Since September of 2024. And what project(s) did you work on? I have worked on SESTA and the Idaho Assistive Technology Project. Excellent! Now you’re graduating with a degree in exercise, sport and health science. What are your plans now that you’re finished with school? Natalie: In August I am moving to St. Augustine Florida to attend the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences to pursue my Occupational Therapy Doctorate. That’s awesome, Natalie! You and Avery will be moving to Florida together. Such a great opportunity for you both! What is your favorite CDHD memory? Natalie: My favorite CDHD memories would have to be from the artAbility workshops. I love being involved in these events because I was working directly with the Moscow community and getting to know the participants. I also enjoyed seeing the different kinds of art the participants created. That’s so fun! artAbility really is a blast. And, in helping out at the CDHD, what is the most valuable thing you learned? Natalie: My most valuable learning experience at the CDHD was from the Disability Advocacy Day in Boise trip. I learned a lot of valuable things, but what stood out to me the most was how easy it is to get involved in advocacy for something you’re passionate about. We met many advocates in the Boise Capitol who spoke to us about the importance of advocating with and for people with disabilities. That’s such a great take-away, and definitely true. What are you looking forward to the most about what’s next? Natalie: I’m excited to drive down to Floridia with my mom in August, see all the sights, and go to New Orleans. Oh! Road trip! That will be such a great experience. Lastly, what (in your opinion) is the best reason to become a student trainee at the CDHD? Natalie: The best reason to become a student trainee in my opinion is to gain hands-on experience while working and learning more about policy and advocacy. I’m going into the healthcare field and I now have a stronger understanding of policy and advocacy work, which will give me a different prospective while working in healthcare. Congratulations, Sofia! Sofia! You’re finishing up here at the Center already. How long have you been with us? Sofia: This is my second year at the CDHD! Can’t believe it’s already been two years. What project(s) did you work on? Sofia: During my first year I work with Vandal QUEST. Then, I worked on the ECIPSE grant as a peer job coach for Vandal QUEST. This past summer I worked on Health Active Lifestyles and ICIE. And, this year I have been the project coordinator for artAbility. I will continue working on Health Active Lifestyle and SESTA this summer. You really worked across a range of projects with us. That’s great! Do you have a favorite memory from your time? Sofia: I have so many great memories from working at the CDHD, but a few of my favorites have been the artAbility Showcase I planned. I got to see all my hard work this year come to fruition. The trip to Boise for Fred Rigger Disability Advocacy Day was so informative and awesome to see so many people come together to voice what they need as citizens. Lastly, going fishing last summer as part of NatureFit Adventures! It was fun to go fishing as a community and see everyone get excited learning and catching fish. So, you’re finishing up your BS in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Special Education. What are your plans now? What’s next? Sofia: I will start my student teaching next fall where I will be staying in Moscow and be in both an elementary special education classroom and a middle school special education classroom. After I finish student teaching, I plan on getting a job as either a special education teacher job (mid-year) or paraprofessional (next spring) before I get a full year teaching position next fall. We’re so excited that you’ll get to stay in Moscow for your student teaching! That’s very exciting. What is the most valuable thing you learned while working at the CDHD? Sofia: The most valuable thing I have learned while working at the CDHD is how to coordinate community-based projects. There is a lot that goes into coordinating project like artAbility. You first must secure grant funding to ensure the program can be funded for the year. Then you must plan all the workshops and events that will happen as a part of the project. Then lastly must wrap everything up at the end of the project. What are you looking forward to the most about what’s next? Sofia: I’m looking forward to being in the classroom, learning more about special education, and how different schools run their special education programs. I’m also excited to see which age group of students I prefer to work with. I’ve spent a lot of time working with adults with disabilities though my work at the CDHD and have enjoyed those experiences. I would love to learn more about working with younger students as well. That’s great – you’re going to be an awesome teacher. What (in your opinion) is the best reason to become a student trainee at the CDHD? Sofia: In my opinion the best reason to become a student trainee at CDHD is the opportunities it will give you. Just in my two years here, I have been through a variety of experiences that have furthered my education. It has made me feel more prepared to go into my future career field. I’ve gotten a chance to learn through personal experiences, documentation and lived experiences of those with disabilities and those who work with people with disabilities. If it wasn’t for the opportunities given to me I would not know how to write grants to improve my future classroom, coordinate community projects, and have an understanding of disability history, legislation and resources in the state. Congratulations to all of our graduating trainees. You've been incredible at the Center as you've undertaken important projects and work to benefit the Idaho disability community and beyond. We know you will bring the same enthusiasm and ethic to the next exciting chapters of your journies. We can't wait to see how far you fly!