This award is intended to reward and empower students who are instrumental in advancing DEI in Michigan. An award will be given annually to a second-year Michigan Physical Therapy DPT or PTA student (graduating in 2027). Recipients of this scholarship will be recognized and given a check for $2500 at the APTA Michigan Fall Conference Awards Ceremony.  The award will be $2500 paid directly to the student to help cover costs including books, housing, food, and other expenses directly related to their education. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Applicants will be submitted electronically in 2025 with member login required.

Application Form:
*Cover letter in the form of an essay describing the student’s impact in advancing DEI in Michigan. Cover letter is limited to 500 words.
*Resume or CV
*Unofficial transcript from the education program where the student is enrolled showing courses and GPA
*Letter of recommendation from a faculty member
*Letter of recommendation from an individual or organization that can describe the student’s commitment in promoting and advancing DEI

2. Additional application requirements

*The applicant must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident and a member of one of the following racial/ethnic minority groups: African-American or Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino
*If selected for the award, the applicant will maintain membership in APTA Michigan and participate in the APTA Michigan DEI Committee for a minimum of one year.
*If selected for the award, the applicant will contribute to either the APTA Michigan Lines Blog or Waves Podcast by the end of their second year.

3. Applications are due July 1.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Applications will be reviewed by the APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research Trustees and two representatives appointed by the APTA Michigan DEI Committee. Selection of the awardee will be based on the following criteria:

1. Progressive and influential contribution(s) to DEI advancement
2. Academic success
3. Potential to contribute to the profession and future DEI endeavors

Download Application Form

Online Scholarship Application

Purpose:
This scholarship is intended to reward and encourage physical therapy (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) students who are interested in pursuing a career in oncology rehabilitation. One scholarship will be awarded in each academic year to a PT or PTA student currently enrolled in their final year at a Michigan PT or PTA school. The winner of this scholarship will be paid a stipend of $2,500. The APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research Trustees will provide the winner of the scholarship with his or her check at the APTA Michigan Fall Conference Awards Ceremony.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1.     Applicants will submit the following information via online application on aptami.org as one PDF document:

·       Essay (500 words or less) describing their motivation/inspiration for pursuing a career in oncology rehabilitation.

·       Resume which includes all community service activities.

·       Unofficial transcript from PT/PTA school only (showing GPA).

·       One letter of recommendation from a faculty member, clinical instructor, or community member.

2.     Applications are due by July 1st (for students graduating in 2025)

SELECTION PROCESS:

The scholarship will be decided by a committee chaired by a Trustee of the APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research.  This committee will consist of at least two other Trustees of the APTA Michigan Institute.  The scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:

1.     Interest in oncology rehabilitation (expressed in the essay)

2.     Commitment to community service (listed in the resume)

3.     Academic commitment (grade point average of at least 3.2 as documented on the unofficial transcript)

Download Application Form

Online Scholarship Application

Purpose:
This scholarship is intended to reward and encourage PT students who exemplify the four core values of Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists (ORS): Respect, Environment, Accountability, and Service. Four scholarships will be awarded in each academic year to a third-year student currently enrolled in a Michigan PT education program. Winners of these scholarships will each be paid a stipend of $2,500. The APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research Trustees will provide the winners of the scholarships with their checks at the APTA Michigan Fall Conference Awards Ceremony

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1.     Applicants will submit the following information via online application on aptami.org as one PDF document:

·       Cover letter describing their career objectives and highlighting how they exemplify the four core values of ORS.

·       Resume.

·       Unofficial transcript confirming current enrollment in a Michigan PT education program.

·       One letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

·       One letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor.

·       One letter of recommendation from a community member.

2.     Applications are due by July 1st (for students graduating in 2026)

SELECTION PROCESS:

The scholarships will be decided by a committee chaired by a Trustee of the APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research.  This committee will consist of at least two other Trustees of the APTA Michigan Institute and at least one representative of ORS.  The scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:

1.     Student will be in good academic standing.

2.     Student desires to practice and gain advanced learning in a clinical setting.

3.     Student exemplifies the core value of Respect

·       They are kind and considerate to fellow students, faculty, community members, and patients of all ages and backgrounds.

·       They treat everyone as a VIP (Very Individual Person), understanding and accepting that individual differences exist among all people.

·       They treat individuals as the individual would want to be treated.

4.     Student exemplifies the core value of Environment

·       They create a fun, positive, and healing environment through encouragement, laughter, and active listening. 

·       They demonstrate empathy towards others, providing a safe space for others to express themselves.

5.     Student exemplifies the core value of Accountability

·       They are prepared physically, emotionally, and mentally to perform their necessary responsibilities.

·       They are dependable, doing what is expected from, and for, others.

·       They perform tasks in a timely manner.

6.     Student exemplifies the core value of Service

·       They go above and beyond the expectations of others and are responsive to the needs of others.

·       They show active interest in serving others in their communities.

.     They “do Whatever they can, for Whomever they can, Whenever they can”.        

Download Application Form

Online Scholarship Application

Purpose:
The Team Rehab scholarship is intended to reward and encourage PT and PTA students who are already showing promise as practical clinicians. One scholarship will be awarded in each academic year to a third-year student in each Michigan DPT education program, provided there are at least 2 applicants from each program. In addition, one scholarship will be awarded to a second-year PTA student currently enrolled in a Michigan PTA education program. Winners of these scholarships will each be paid a stipend of $3,000. The APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research Trustees will provide the winners of the scholarships their checks at the APTA Michigan Fall Conference Awards Ceremony.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Applicants will submit the following information via online application on aptami.org as one PDF document:

A.     Cover letter describing their career objectives and highlighting what makes them a team player striving for excellence within the clinical environment.

B.     Resume.

C.     Unofficial transcript from PT/PTA school only (showing GPA).

D.    One letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

E.     One or more letters of recommendation from clinical instructors.

2. At least two applicants must apply from each school.  If there is only one applicant or no applicants from a particular DPT Program in any year, no scholarship will be awarded to an individual at that university.

3. Applications are due by July 1st (for students graduating in 2026)

SELECTION PROCESS:

The scholarships will be decided by a committee chaired by a trustee of the APTA Michigan Institute for Education and Research.  This committee will consist of two other trustees of the APTA Michigan Institute and at least one representative of Team Rehab.  The criteria the committee will use to award the scholarships include:

(1)   academic success (grade point average)

(2)   desire to excel and practice in the clinical environment (rather than teach and/or research in the academic environment)

(3)   contribution to patient satisfaction during clinical education

(4)   ability to be a team player in the clinical environment (flexibility and helpfulness to the clinical staff during clinical education)

(5)   evidence of advancing practical knowledge of physical therapy

Download Application Form

Online Scholarship Application