The originators of the Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy had the foresight to recognize a need for financial support of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students in Georgia. The Foundation's purpose is to provide scholarships to students and support high quality scientifically based clinical research in Georgia.The Founders Scholarship recognizes these early organizers for their dedication and vision. We honor Marcia Pearl, Pearl Pettersen, Steve Wolfe, Steve Hensley, David Pittman, Jr., Diane Spencer, and the late Glory Sanders. |
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to PT and PTA students who demonstrate superior capabilities and the potential to significantly contribute to the growth of the physical therapy professionSCHOLARSHIPS & ELIGIBILITY
The Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy (GFPT) offers several scholarships to support physical therapy students in Georgia. The 2024 Scholarship submission deadline is Monday, October 30, 2023.
NOTE: The application process for 2024 has changed and all applications will be submitted online. See the instructions below.
- Applicants must have completed one year of the credit hours required for graduation and/or the degree awarded by this department by the application deadline.
- There is no minimum number of applicants per school required to be considered for a GFPT scholarship.
- Students will apply using the GFPT application
Team Rehab will offer one $2,000 scholarship for one SPT from EACH accredited PT school in GA and one SPTA $2,000 scholarship from ONE accredited PTA school in GA. This scholarship is intended to recognize and reward Georgia SPTs and SPTAs who exhibit superior scholastic accomplishments and demonstrate promising potential as a practical clinician. Scholarships are awarded to students based on the following criteria:
- Two or more applicants per school must apply for a school to be considered for a Team Rehab scholarship
- Applicants must have completed one year of the credit hours required for graduation and/or the degree awarded by this department by the application deadline
- GPA
- Desire to excel and practice in a clinical environment
- Contributing to patient satisfaction during clinical education
- Ability to be a team player in the clinical environment
- Evidence of advancing practical knowledge of physical therapy
- Students will apply using the GFPT application
The Phyllis D. Palma Scholarship is offered in memory of Phyllis D. Palma who passed away in 2019. This scholarship in the amount of $2,000 is scheduled to be awarded annually and is intended for those individuals who have been inspired by Phyllis’ life work and who reflect her passion and zest for life. To gain insight on Phyllis’s life and work, click here:
- PT/PTA students with interest in the field of Aquatics, Pediatrics or Neurology and/or wheelchair sports
- PT or PTA students in good academic standing in their second or third year of study
- Students will apply using the GFPT application
PT Solutions Future Leaders Scholarship Program will offer eight $2,000 scholarships for SPT's enrolled in an accredited PT school in Georgia through the PT Solutions Future Leaders Scholarship. Efforts will be made to distribute awards across all accredited PT programs in Georgia, though quality of application will be prioritized. This scholarship is intended to recognize Georgia physical therapy students who express an early interest in leadership, whether that be through clinical leadership or advocating for their profession. Applicants should demonstrate promising leadership potential as practical clinicians. Scholarships are awarded to students based on the following criteria:
- Evidence of leadership role in PT
- Participation in advocacy within APTA or state chapter activities
- Ability to discuss further contributions to the profession
- Desire to provide transformative care and exceptional service to the community
- Applicants must be in their last year of credit hours required for graduation and /or the degree awarded by the department by the application deadline
- PT Students will apply using the PT Solutions application
The Foundation is honored to offer the Sunshine Scholarship and Award in memory of Jaclyn N. Maxwell who passed away in 2022. These are available as detailed below:Sunshine Student Scholarship
The Sunshine Student Scholarship will offer $2,000 to one student Physical Therapist in their third year of professional training who is planning to pursue a career in pediatric physical therapy. Scholarships are awarded to students based on the following criteria:
- 3rd year PT student in good standing at the time of application
- Intent to pursue Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Personal character: brings joy to others, serves others first, builds community
- Students will apply using the Sunshine Scholarship Application
Sunshine Post-professional AwardThe Sunshine Post-professional Award will support one practicing physical therapist who has successfully obtained their board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy within the last five years. Up to $1,500 of specialty exam registration fees will be reimbursed. Proof and date of certification are required.
- Working in Georgia at the time of application
- Reimbursement if successfully passed PCS exam within past five years
- Applicants obtaining initial certification or recertification are eligible
- Reimbursement only up to $1,500 (APTA member rate)
- Personal character: brings joy to others, serves others first, builds community
- Applicants will apply using the Sunshine Scholarship Application
Award rule:
The GFPT will determine the number of Sunshine Scholarships and Awards to be given each year up to $5,000 per year. If the Committee determines there is not a worthy nominee in any one scholarship category, the award may be allocated to another scholarship category or not given.
GENERAL
- Nominees must be members of APTA/APTA Georgia.
- Nominees must be enrolled as full-time students in a PT/PTA school in Georgia that must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Scholarships may not be awarded on an annual basis. The decision to award the scholarship and the amount of the scholarship is at the discretion of the GFPT Scholarship Committee.
- The department chair at each institution must attest to the completion of one year and identify the student as being a second- or third- year student at the time of the application
- Nominees will exhibit the superior scholastic ability and past performance.
- Nominees must exhibit a strong commitment to physical therapy through participation in state and national associations related activities, community service activities involving physical therapy, and pro bono/voluntary service.
- The scholarship check will be mailed to each school's financial aid department in the first quarter of 2024
- Awardee will be notified in late December, 2023, and will be recognized at APTA GA’s annual meeting, ImPacT 2024. Watch for information from APTA GA regarding the date and status of the 2024 ImPacT meeting.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
- Instructions for scholarship application will be distributed to the directors of all CAPTE accredited PT and PTA programs in Georgia via e-mail.
- The Director of the program will be responsible to provide the information to eligible students.
- Eligible students will submit their application documents in one PDF file and attach their photo separately via e-mail by deadline coming soon.
- Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered by the GFPT Scholarship Committee.
- Extraneous documents (those that are not required or in excess of requirements) will not be considered by the scholarship committee.
- Applicants not selected for the award may reapply in any subsequent year by the completion and submission of a new packet. Previously submitted nomination forms and supporting documents may not be used.
Prepare all application documents (application information, photo, nominee statement, verification of hours, and official transcript) prior to beginning the online application process. Once your online application is submitted, you will not have an opportunity to make changes to the application. Please ensure you have all of the required information ready for upload prior to starting your application. IMPORTANT: Please include your last name in all file names.
- Prepare a photo (head shot) for upload. NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name.
- Prepare your answers to the online application questions. In addition to personal information, you will be asked to provide responses to the following questions:
- GFPT Scholarship
- List any academic honors, awards, or scholarships and any honorary societies to which you have been selected while in PT/PTA school or as an undergraduate.
- List your experiences and engagement with professional, service, and community organizations. Include attendance and elected and appointed positions while in PT/PTA school or as an undergraduate.
- Please describe your greatest customer service moment.
- Sunshine Scholarships and Awards
- List any academic honors, awards, or scholarships and any honorary societies to which you have been selected while in PT/PTA school or during your PT career.
- List your experiences and engagement with professional, service, and community organizations. Include attendance and elected and appointed positions while in PT/PTA school or during your PT career.
- Be prepared to sign the publicity release. You can view the publicity release here.
- Verification of credit hours signed by the department chair - in the PT/PTA department at your school. The applicant may not verify credit hours. Click here to download the form and be prepared to upload the document in a PDF format.
PT Solutions Future Leaders scholarship applicants: Verification of credit hours signed by the department chair - in the PT department at your school. The applicant may not verify credit hours. Please use this verification of credit hours and be prepared to upload the document in a PDF format.
NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name. - Official transcript indicating cumulative PT/PTA specific GPA in a PDF format for upload. NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name.
- Prepare your nominee statement to be uploaded (MS Word or Google Docs) into the application field. NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name.
Nominee statement should provide a clear, concise statement (up to 1200 words), discussing information relevant to the scholarship you are applying for:- GFPT Scholarship
- Evidence of a leadership role in addressing current issues in physical therapy;
- Participation in state and national APTA activities;
- How your education and experiences have prepared you for a career in physical therapy and;
- How you plan to contribute to the profession in the next three to five years.
- Sunshine Scholarships and Awards
- How do you plan to contribute to the profession in the next 5 years?
- Why did you choose to pursue Pediatric Physical Therapy?
- How do you spread sunshine to those around you?
- PT Solutions Future Leaders Scholarship
- Evidence of leadership behavior role in PT
- Participation in advocacy within APTA or state chapter activities
- Ability to discuss further contributions to the profession
- Desire to provide transformative care and exceptional service to the community
- Applicants must be in their last year of credit hours required for graduation and /or the degree awarded by the department by the application deadline
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
- The Scholarship Committee shall consist of no less than three members.
- Two members of the GFPT Board of Directors who are not employed in an academic institution, and one Georgia clinician who is an APTA GA member and not associated with any academic institution in Georgia.
- The Scholarship Committee with the permission of the GFPT Board may request consultation with appropriate clinicians and/or content experts.
REVIEW PROCEDURE
- The Scholarship Committee will review nominations and recommend recipients to the GFPT Board of Directors for final approval.
- The GFPT will determine the number of awards to be given each year.
- Georgia PT/PTA schools must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education to be considered for any GFPT scholarship offered.
- Members of the GFPT Board of Directors, or the Scholarship Committee who are closely associated with a nominee in either by a personal or professional manner in which a conflict of interest may exist, will be required to be absent during discussion and voting concerning that nominee.
- Applications are redacted to prevent identification of the school and student by the committee.
- The decision of the GFPT Board of Directors pertaining to the selection of the awardee will be final and reasons for the decision will not be disclosed.
AWARD NOTIFICATION
- Scholarship recipients will be notified after selection by the GFPT Board of Directors in mid-December.
- Recipients will be recognized during the 2024 APTA GA Impact meeting.
- Recipients will be contacted regarding their attendance at the 2024 APTA GA ImPacT meeting.
- Nominees who are not selected will be notified of their non-selection and will be thanked for their participation.
- The scholarship monetary award will be sent to the financial aid department at the college or university where the student is enrolled in the first quarter of 2024.
- An announcement of the award will appear in an APTA Georgia e-blast, and posted on GFPT’s Facebook page after all recipients have been notified. The recipient’s info will be provided to the Student network newsletter for publication.