By using this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. To find out more visit our privacy policy.
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.
Submission Requirements
The nominator must submit a nomination statement (nomination statements are 300-words) to begin the process.
The nominee is responsible for the following:
- Submitting a current curriculum vitae or resume
- Completing an online application (application questions are 500-words)
- Requesting two support statements (support statements are 300-words) 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
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.
If you would like to reuse a nomination from a previous year's cycle, please contact APTA Honors & Awards to request submission cloning. Please note: Nominees or nominators interested in resubmission, cloning requests can only be submitted by the nominator.
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.