Goodwill Gulf Coast’s Kaleidoscope Adult Day Program has been named Community Partner of the Year by the University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies, marking a milestone for both the organization and the university.

The award was presented April 23 in the John Counts Room at the Mitchell Center, a news release said. It is the first time the college has issued the Community Partner of the Year recognition, adding significance to the honor.

Kaleidoscope was nominated by Susie Montgomery, Recreational Therapy Program Coordinator and Internship Coordinator, and Dr. Shelly Bates, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport.

Since its founding in 2013, Kaleidoscope has expanded into a weekday program serving more than 40 young adults with disabilities each day. The program supports individuals age 19 and older who want to remain active and engaged through structured daytime activities. Participants take part in arts and crafts, music therapy, recreational games, exercise classes, field trips and life skills training designed to promote independence and social connection.

In addition to its direct services, Kaleidoscope has played a key role in workforce development for more than five years as a clinical placement partner for the University of South Alabama’s Recreational Therapy program. The site hosts at least one student intern each semester and often accommodates multiple interns at once. It is also the only Recreational Therapy internship site in the Mobile area offering paid internships, giving students hands-on professional experience while supporting their academic training.

Program manager Rebekah Nicholson, a 2017 graduate of the university’s Recreational Therapy program, leads Kaleidoscope’s day-to-day operations. A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Nicholson mentors students while advancing the profession through her service on the Board of Directors for the Recreational Therapy Foundation and her involvement in national conferences hosted by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.

“Kaleidoscope is not a passive partner. It is an active, invested, and long-standing collaborator that has consistently demonstrated what it means to support a university program's mission with genuine care, professionalism and generosity,” Bates said in the release.

Montgomery echoed that sentiment, saying, “Rebekah and the Kaleidoscope Program exemplify the College of Education and Professional Studies’ motto of ‘Leading Today, Impacting Tomorrow’ through dedication to our field, our students, and our community.”

Goodwill Gulf Coast officials said the organization remains committed to expanding opportunities for individuals of all abilities while continuing to support the education and training of future professionals in therapeutic recreation and related fields.