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The Mary McMillan Scholarship Award acknowledges and honors outstanding physical therapist and physical therapist assistant students who are nearing the completion of their respective programs of study. The scholarship program contributes to the growth of physical therapy as a profession by recognizing individuals with superior capabilities.
Eligibility Requirements
Nominees must be:
- 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.
- The only nominee from the PT or PTA program in which they are enrolled. Only one physical therapist student and one physical therapist assistant student may be nominated from each academic institution.
Self-nominations are not permitted for this award. Nominations must be submitted by the faculty and/or student body from a CAPTE-accredited PT or PTA program.
Criteria for Selection
Nominees must demonstrate:
- Superior scholastic performance
- Past productivity
- Evidence of potential contribution to physical therapy
- Service to the American Physical Therapy Association
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.
- Health care related
- Non-health care related
- School related
- APTA member activities
- Meetings attended
- Component level
- National level
- Other
Evidence of potential contributions to the physical therapy profession.
- 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.
What Recipients Receive
A monetary award will be granted to each physical therapist professional education student recipient and to each physical therapist assistant education student recipient.
Student recipients will receive an award presented by APTA's Board of Directors at an APTA national event with monetary awards mailed directly to recipients. An official announcement will appear in an association publication.
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 representative of the student body and one from a representative of the faculty that specifically focus on a nominee's worthiness for this award
Submit a Nomination
The nominations call for the Honors & Awards program is open from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1. Nominations must be submitted through our online platform by Dec. 1; late submissions will not be considered. Selected recipients and their nominators will be notified in May.
Additional Resources
For questions regarding the nomination process or the award, contact APTA Honors & Awards.