Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy

The Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy (GFPT) offers several scholarships to support physical therapy students in Georgia.  All Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant programs must be fully accredited in order for students to apply for any GFPT scholarship.  The 2025 Scholarship submission deadline has closed. The 2026 Scholarship applications will open soon!

NOTE: All applications will be submitted online. See the instructions below. 

The Founders Scholarship (formerly the GFPT Scholarship) is offered to one Student Physical Therapist (SPT) and one Student Physical Therapist Assistant (SPTA) in Georgia who demonstrate superior capabilities and the potential to significantly contribute to the growth of the Physical Therapy profession.

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 a temporary scholarship 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.  This scholarship is awarded to students based on the following criteria:

Click here for information on the Phyllis Palma Scholarship.

Application Opens Soon

The Foundation is honored to offer the Sunshine Scholarship in memory of Jaclyn N. Maxwell who passed away in 2022.  The Sunshine Scholarship is a temporary scholarship that will offer $2,000 up to two 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:

NOTE: If the Committee determines there is not a worthy nominee in this scholarship category, the award may be allocated to another scholarship category or not given.

Application Opens Soon

Lynda D. Woodruff Health Disparities Initiative

A health disparities initiative has been established in memory of Lynda D. Woodruff, PT, Ph.D., FAAPT. This initiative will reward creative ways to provide physical therapy to underserved populations in Georgia and will be offered each year as funds are available. Click here to learn more about Dr. Woodruff, who was an exceptional physical therapist and educator. Dr. Woodruff was also an APTA Lucy Blair Service award recipient. 

Click here to learn more about Dr. Woodruff, who was an exceptional physical therapist and educator.  Dr. Woodruff was also an APTA Lucy Blair Service award recipient.

• 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
• All schools PT/PTA programs must be fully accredited by CAPTE.
  
• 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 2025.
• Awardee will be notified in late December 2024, and will be  recognized at APTA GA’s annual meeting, ImPacT 2025.  Watch for information from APTA GA regarding the date and status of the 2025 ImPacT meeting. 

• 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 online by November 18, 2024.
  
• 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.

• 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.

• 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.