The originators of the Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy had the foresight to recognize a need for financial support of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students in Georgia. The Foundation's purpose is to provide scholarships to students and support high quality scientifically based clinical research in Georgia.The Founders Scholarship recognizes these early organizers for their dedication and vision. We honor Marcia Pearl, Pearl Pettersen, Steve Wolfe, Steve Hensley, David Pittman, Jr., Diane Spencer, Kathy Rhodes and the late Glory Sanders. |
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to PT and PTA students who demonstrate superior capabilities and the potential to significantly contribute to the growth of the physical therapy professionSCHOLARSHIPS & ELIGIBILITY
The Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy (GFPT) offers several scholarships to support physical therapy students in Georgia. All Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant programs must be fully accredited in order for students to apply for any GFPT scholarship. The 2026 Scholarship applications will open September 1, 2025! Application period closes October 31, 2025.
NOTE: The 2026 Application is NEW! All applications will be submitted online in a single PDF form. See the instructions below.
The Founders Scholarship (formerly the GFPT Scholarship) in the amount of $3,000 is offered to up to three Student Physical Therapist (SPT) and at least one Student Physical Therapist Assistant (SPTA) in Georgia who demonstrate superior capabilities and the potential to significantly contribute to the growth of the Physical Therapy profession.
- Applicants must have completed one year of the credit hours required for graduation and/or the degree awarded by this department by the application deadline.
The Phyllis D. Palma Scholarship is offered in memory of Phyllis D. Palma who passed away in 2019. This scholarship in the amount of $3,000 is a temporary scholarship scheduled to be awarded annually and is intended for those individuals who have been inspired by Phyllis’ life work and who reflect her passion and zest for life. This scholarship is awarded to students based on the following criteria:
- PT/PTA students with interest in the field of Aquatics, Pediatrics or Neurology and/or wheelchair sports
- PT or PTA students in good academic standing in their second or third year of study
The Foundation is honored to offer the Sunshine Scholarship in memory of Jaclyn N. Maxwell who passed away in 2022. The Sunshine Scholarship is a temporary scholarship that will offer $3,000 up to two student Physical Therapist in their third year of professional training who is planning to pursue a career in pediatric physical therapy. Scholarships are awarded to students based on the following criteria:
- 3rd year PT student in good standing at the time of application
- Intent to pursue Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Personal character: brings joy to others, serves others first, builds community
NOTE: If the Committee determines there is not a worthy nominee in this scholarship category, the award may be allocated to another scholarship category or not given.
GENERAL
- Nominees must be members of APTA/APTA Georgia.
- Nominees must be enrolled as full-time students in a PT/PTA school in Georgia that must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Scholarships may not be awarded on an annual basis. The decision to award the scholarship and the amount of the scholarship is at the discretion of the GFPT Scholarship Committee.
- The department chair at each institution must attest to the completion of one year and identify the student as being a second- or third- year student at the time of the application
- All schools PT/PTA programs must be fully accredited by CAPTE.
- Nominees will exhibit the superior scholastic ability and past performance.
- Nominees must exhibit a strong commitment to physical therapy through participation in state and national associations related activities, community service activities involving physical therapy, and pro bono/voluntary service.
- The scholarship check will be mailed to each school's financial aid department in the first quarter of 2026.
- Awardee will be notified in early December 2025, and will be recognized at APTA GA’s annual meeting, ImPacT 2026. Watch for information from APTA GA regarding the date and status of the 2026 ImPacT meeting.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
- Instructions for scholarship application will be distributed to the directors of all CAPTE accredited PT and PTA programs in Georgia via e-mail.
- The Director of the program will be responsible to provide the information to eligible students.
- Eligible students will submit their application documents online by October 31, 2025.
- Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered by the GFPT Scholarship Committee.
- Extraneous documents (those that are not required or in excess of requirements) will not be considered by the scholarship committee.
- Applicants not selected for the award may reapply in any subsequent year by the completion and submission of a new packet. Previously submitted nomination forms and supporting documents may not be used.
Please note: The 2026 Scholarship Application is NEW! Read the instructions below to best prepare all application documents (application information, photo, nominee statement, verification of hours, and official transcript) prior to beginning the online application process. Once your online application is submitted, you will not have an opportunity to make changes to the application. This year's application is provided in one fillable PDF document. After completion of the document, you will upload the PDF application in addition to your transcript and headshot. IMPORTANT: Please include your last name in all file names.
- Prepare a photo (head shot) for upload. NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name.
- Prepare your application (download here): NOTE: Please include your last name in the file name.
- Sign the publicity release. You can view the publicity release here.
- Prepare your answers to the application questions. In addition to personal information, you will be asked to provide responses to the following prompts:
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- List your experiences and engagement with professional, service, and community organizations. Include attendance and elected and appointed positions while in PT/PTA school or as an undergraduate.
- List any academic honors, awards, or scholarships and any honorary societies to which you have been selected while in PT/PTA school or as an undergraduate.
- Nominee Statement - Nominee statement should provide a clear, concise statement (up to 1500 words). Content must be human generated. The use of AI is not permitted, and applications will be scanned to determine the use of AI. The nominee statment should answer the following: How have you taken a leadership role in addressing current issues in physical therapy? How have your education and experiences prepared you for a career in physical therapy? How do you plan to contribute to the profession in the next 3-5 years?
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- Sunshine Scholarship - If you would like to be considered for the Sunshine Scholarship, provide responses to the additional questions:
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- Why did you choose to pursue Pediatric Physical Therapy? How do you plan to address the unique challenges faced by children in need of physical therapy? How do you spread sunshine to those around you?
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- Verification of credit hours signed by the department chair - in the PT/PTA department at your school. The applicant may not verify credit hours. The verification form is included on page 4 of the application.
Founders Scholarship and Phyllis D. Palma scholarships
- Evidence of a leadership role in addressing current issues in physical therapy;
- Participation in state and national APTA activities;
- How your education and experiences have prepared you for a career in physical therapy and;
- How you plan to contribute to the profession in the next three to five years.
- Desire to provide transformative care and exceptional service to the community
- Why did you choose to pursue Pediatric Physical Therapy?
- How do you plan to address the unique challneges faced by children in need of physical therapy?
- How do you spread sunshine to those around you?
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
- The Scholarship Committee shall consist of no less than three members.
- Two members of the GFPT Board of Directors who are not employed in an academic institution, and one Georgia clinician who is an APTA GA member and not associated with any academic institution in Georgia.
- The Scholarship Committee with the permission of the GFPT Board may request consultation with appropriate clinicians and/or content experts.
REVIEW PROCEDURE
- The Scholarship Committee will review nominations and recommend recipients to the GFPT Board of Directors for final approval.
- The GFPT will determine the number of awards to be given each year.
- Georgia PT/PTA schools must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education to be considered for any GFPT scholarship offered.
- Members of the GFPT Board of Directors, or the Scholarship Committee who are closely associated with a nominee in either by a personal or professional manner in which a conflict of interest may exist, will be required to be absent during discussion and voting concerning that nominee.
- Applications are redacted to prevent identification of the school and student by the committee.
- The decision of the GFPT Board of Directors pertaining to the selection of the awardee will be final and reasons for the decision will not be disclosed.
AWARD NOTIFICATION
- Scholarship recipients will be notified after selection by the GFPT Board of Directors in December.
- Recipients will be recognized during the 2026 APTA GA Impact meeting.
- Recipients will be contacted regarding their attendance at the 2026 APTA GA ImPacT meeting.
- Nominees who are not selected will be notified of their non-selection and will be thanked for their participation.
- The scholarship monetary award will be sent to the financial aid department at the college or university where the student is enrolled in the first quarter of 2026.
- An announcement of the award will appear in an APTA Georgia e-blast, and posted on GFPT’s Facebook page after all recipients have been notified. The recipient’s info will be provided to the Student network newsletter for publication.