Scholarships
Physical Therapy Scholarships
Scholarships change lives
Scholarships have a tremendous impact on students’ lives by reducing the financial burden of physical therapy education.
The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program provides a variety of scholarships to both prospective and current students to make physical therapy education more financially feasible. The efforts of the Physical Therapy Philanthropy and Advisory Council and the generosity of our donors allow us to provide scholarships in a variety of areas including diversity, rural, merit, and dance performance. The Scholarship and Awards Committee oversees the scholarship application and award processes.
In addition to the scholarship offerings, the program offers a number of student awards. Information on these are found in the student portal.
Thank you for realizing the challenges minorities of every aspect face, and for choosing me for this scholarship. With such an incredible, financial contribution, my attitude, studies, and opportunities have been greatly expanded.
Josh Scurles, Class of 2021
Current Physical Therapy Scholarships
Scholarships are available for prospective students and are awarded to individuals based on merit, diversity, and commitment to practice in specific areas such as rural communities.
The University of Colorado Physical Therapy (CU PT) Program has established scholarships to reduce the financial burden for prospective candidates. Descriptions of the scholarships and application instructions are listed below. Candidates who have been offered an interview will be invited to apply for a scholarship(s). If you are a selected scholarship recipient, you will be notified soon after you receive an offer of admission letter.
Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships
The University of Colorado School of Medicine (SOM) and the CU PT Program believe that diversity is a value that is central to the University's educational, research, community service and health care missions. The CU PT Program is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administration. The CU PT Program adopts the SOM definition of diversity that embraces race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, political beliefs and socioeconomic status. The definition of diversity also includes life experiences, record of service and employment and other talents and personal attributes that can enhance the scholarly, clinical care and learning environment.
University of Colorado Medicine Diversity Scholarship
The University of Colorado Medicine (CU Medicine) is dedicated to providing business operations and administrative support to nearly 3,000 University of Colorado School of Medicine clinical healthcare providers. CU Medicine honors the Diversity Mission
Statement of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Physical Therapy Program by providing financial support through scholarships. CU Medicine supports the need for more students from diverse backgrounds and those underrepresented in
medicine, to fill roles in healthcare.
Posner-Mayer Diversity Scholarship
Joanne Posner-Mayer, CU PT Class of 1973, established this scholarship to embody her dedication to the physical therapy profession and the CU Physical Therapy Program. Ms. Posner-Mayer recognizes the importance of increasing the diversity of students
in educational and professional environments to address health disparities in our society.
Physical Therapy Program Diversity Scholarship
The Physical Therapy provides scholarship support to promote diversity within the Program at the Anschutz Medical Campus. This may include students from under-served groups, 1st generation college students, and those from low income families.
Rural Scholarships
The CU PT Program is committed to improving the access to health care in general, and in particular, physical therapy services to populations in rural communities within the Rocky Mountain region.
Hutchison Scholarship Endowment
Established by SEB board member George “Buck” Hutchison III and his wife, Marijane Hutchison. The scholarship invests in students who are from and/or intend to practice in an underserved rural community, while also considering financial need and academic merit.
Physical Therapy Program Rural Scholarship
Recognizes individuals who are committed to providing physical therapy services in a rural community. In addition to scholastic achievement, recipients must exhibit strong leadership skills and outline their plan to practice physical therapy in a rural
community after graduation.
University of Colorado Medicine Rural Scholarship
The University of Colorado Medicine (CU Medicine) is dedicated to providing business operations and administrative support to nearly 3,000 University of Colorado School of Medicine clinical healthcare providers. The purpose of the CU Medicine Rural Scholarship is to recognize individuals who are committed to providing physical therapy services in a rural community. In addition to scholastic achievement, recipients must exhibit strong leadership skills and outline their plan to practice physical therapy in a rural community after graduation.
Merit Scholarships
Scholarships based on merit recognize individuals for exceptional academic achievements, volunteer and work experiences, leadership, and extracurricular activities completed prior to applying to the CU PT Program. There is no formal application process
for the merit scholarships, but each applicant is considered based on the strength of their entire application.
Physical Therapy Program Merit Scholarship
The Physical Therapy Program provides scholarships based on merit to recognize individuals for exceptional academic achievements, volunteer and work experiences, leadership, and extracurricular activities completed prior to applying to the University
of Colorado Physical Therapy Program.
University of Colorado Medicine Merit Scholarship
The University of Colorado Medicine (CU Medicine) provides scholarships based on to merit recognize individuals for exceptional academic achievements, volunteer and work experiences, leadership, and extracurricular activities completed prior to applying to the CU PT Program.
Scholarships for current students recognize individuals based on academic and clinical excellence, involvement in professional activities and financial need. Scholarship timelines and application processes will be provided to students in regularly scheduled
Program Updates throughout the year.
APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) Scholarship
Two scholarships are offered to offset costs to attend CSM. Scholarships are awarded to students in the second-year class who have maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher and are members of the APTA. The awardees for this scholarship are chosen by lottery during the fall semester prior to CSM. The awardees create a presentation, summarizing what they learned at CSM, to all classes of the Physical Therapy Program.
Bookstein and Krapfl Endowed Physical Therapy Scholarship
Established through the collective generosity of former faculty members Nancey Johnson Bookstein, PT, EdD and Betti Krapfl, PT. Nancey Johnson Bookstein (fondly known as Bookie), was a faculty member for 38 years, joining the program in 1978, with a commitment to caring for marginalized populations. Betti Krapfl, was a member of the CU PT faculty from 1998 until her retirement in 2014. Betti has a deep commitment to altruistic service, mentoring students in participation with the Stout Street Clinic, the DAWN Clinic and teaching physical therapy in Bhutan in South Asia.
Denise Stelzner Endowed Scholarship
Created by an anonymous donor who was inspired by Stelzner’s work as a clinician and educator. Stelzner was a CU PT faculty member from 1985-2016. Each scholarship will support students who demonstrate commitment to their communities, professionalism and academic merit, as well as financial need. As an educator and clinician, she helped shape the program’s philosophy, embracing patient-centered care, incorporating the importance of discovering and understanding patient concerns, beliefs and values.
Herbert J. and Sandy Levy Endowed Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates a consistent commitment to the profession of physical therapy and to the CU Physical Therapy Program. This individual demonstrates honorable actions and thoughts, generosity toward others, meritorious academic status and have circumstances of financial need.
National Western Stock Show Association Scholarship Trust
The National Western Stock Show was established in 1906 and is one of the premier livestock, rodeo, and horse shows in the nation. The National Western Stock Show Association is committed to providing education in agriculture including graduate level scholarships for practice physical therapy in rural areas. First year physical therapy students in the University of Colorado Physical Therapy (CU PT) Program intending to practice physical therapy in rural Colorado or Wyoming for 3 years post-graduation are considered for this scholarship. The application for this scholarship includes written and interview portions.
Patrick and Carla Grant Physical Therapy Rural Scholarship
Patrick A. Grant, a grateful former patient from Denver, Colorado, former CEO and President and active board member of the National Western Stock Show Association, initiated this fund in the fall of 1997. The intent of the fund is to help defray tuition
and expenses of physical therapy students who have an interest in practicing in rural Colorado or Wyoming upon graduation while recognizing and promoting awareness of the excellence of the CU PT Program. There are two scholarships awarded annually.
The scholarships are given during a rural clinical affiliation. Applications for this scholarship are evaluated based on interest in practicing in rural Colorado or Wyoming upon graduation as well as GPA, financial need, and leadership skills.
University of Colorado Medicine Scholarships
University of Colorado Medicine (CU Medicine) provides generous scholarships for the CU PT Program students. Each of the scholarships is awarded to selected students who demonstrate academic and clinical excellence, involvement in professional activities
and circumstances of financial need. These professional activities may include leadership, research, volunteer, service, and APTA activities. Students receive application instructions near the end of their first year in the CU PT Program.