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This award identifies a student physical therapist and student physical therapist assistant member with exceptional overall accomplishments and contributions to APTA and the physical therapy profession.
The outstanding student physical therapist will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The outstanding student physical therapist assistant will receive a $500 scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements
Physical therapist students or physical therapist assistant students who are current members in good standing of the association, and by the start of the annual Honors & Awards nomination process, are enrolled in the final year of study in a CAPTE-accredited PT or mPTA program (or for PTA programs with a part-time curriculum, the final year of the curriculum), based on each institution's determination of the minimum number of credit hours required for final year status, and are within 12 months of completing all requirements for graduation from the program in which they are enrolled.
Self and peer nominations are accepted for this award.
Criteria for Selection
Nominees must demonstrate:
- Exceptional overall accomplishments and contributions to APTA and the profession
- Continued dedicated service to the association and clearly state plans to continue engagement post-graduation
- Superior scholastic performance
- Past productivity
- Evidence of potential contribution to physical therapy
A strong application should demonstrate the following:
Academic honors, awards, scholarships, and honorary societies.
- Health care related
- Non-health care related
- School related
Extracurricular activities to include but not limited to leadership positions, offices held, and participation on committees.
- APTA member activities
- Meetings attended
- Component level
- National level
- Health care related
- Non-health care related
- School related
- Other
Evidence of current and future potential contributions to the physical therapy profession.
- Service and involvement
- Publications
- Presentations
- Research
- Other
Employment experience.
- While enrolled in PT/PTA school
- Relevant experience prior to PT/PTA school
Support statements that are positive, cite specific examples of professional accomplishments, and provide additional information on depth, scope, and quality in a convincing manner.
Submission Requirements
Nomination statements must be submitted to begin the process.
The following must be submitted by the nominee:
- Current curriculum vitae or resume of the nominee
- Completed online application
- Two support statements obtained from the following:
- One from a faculty member in the educational program at which you are enrolled
- One from a clinical instructor or an additional faculty member
Guide to Submitting a Nomination
Follow the five steps below to submit your nomination.
Review our step-by-step guide for more information about the nomination process review our guide to submitting a nomination.
The nominations call for the Honors & Awards Program is open from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1. Nominations must be submitted through APTA Achieve by Dec. 1; late submissions will not be considered. Selected recipients and their nominators will be notified in May.
If you have questions about the nomination process or the award, contact APTA Honors & Awards.