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Program in Physical Therapy Announces For and With Others PTSA Scholarship

The Saint Louis University (SLU) Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA) recently introduced the For and With Others PTSA Scholarship. The scholarship is for Professional Year II or Professional Year III students in the SLU Program in Physical Therapy who are from historically underrepresented communities or who have significantly contributed to those communities. This scholarship will be awarded to one student per year and the award amount will vary.

PTSA Logo
The SLU Physical Therapy Student Association recently introduced the For and With Others Scholarship.

SLU Physical Therapy student and PTSA president Jemma Kim discussed why PTSA and the Program in Physical Therapy believed this scholarship was important to create.

“I think SLU and the Program in Physical Therapy is continuously working on celebrating and embracing the different cultures, beliefs and identities that each student brings to the university as a whole,” Kim said. “As someone who comes from an underrepresented community, I think it is imperative that we increase the diversity in enrollment in academic programs in the future and ensure these professions are more reflective of the communities they serve.”

SLU Physical Therapy student and PTSA co-treasurer Radhika Patel explained how the conversation about creating the scholarship began with a donation from an alumna of the program.

“The scholarship idea started about a year ago with the new leadership in PTSA. We had a generous donation from an alumna of the program and decided we wanted to utilize those funds to provide support to students who have to fund much of their education on their own,” Patel said.

The alumna who helped make the For and With Others PTSA Scholarship possible was SLU PT Class of 1988 alumna Barbara Jacobsmeyer. Jacobsmeyer, who serves as the Executive Vice President and the President of Inpatient Hospitals at Encompass Health Corporation, talked about the importance scholarships can have in the education and lives of others.

“As a first-generation college student myself, if it was not for the generosity of others, I would not have been able to attend SLU,” Jacobsmeyer said. “I truly hope this gift can go to help someone fulfill their dreams, who otherwise might not have been able to do so.”

To learn more about how to apply or how to contribute to the PTSA For and With Others Scholarship, contact the Program in Physical Therapy at sluptat@health.slu.edu. 

Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.