The DPT program has the following funding opportunities for students. The award amounts for the scholarships below vary annually. Scholarship Committee contact: Dr. Elisa Gonzalez-Rothi, and ufdptscholarships@phhp.ufl.edu
Scholarships Awarded at Admission
Goldstein Family Memorial Fellowship in Physical Therapy
The Goldstein Family Memorial Fellowship in Physical Therapy is awarded to a matriculate who demonstrates evidence of leadership, strong community or public service, perseverance through unforeseen or uncommon obstacles while completing undergraduate degree, and financial need.
Process: The Scholarship Committee uses applicant materials submitted to PTCAS to determine recipients. No special application needed.
Joan Wynne Mathews Scholarship
The Joan Wynne Mathews Scholarship is awarded to a matriculate who is a non-resident of Florida demonstrating evidence of leadership, and strong community or public service.
Process: The Scholarship Committee uses applicant materials submitted to PTCAS to determine recipients. No special application needed.
Miller and Toni Couse Physical Therapy Fellowship
The Miller and Toni Couse Physical Therapy Fellowship is awarded to a matriculate demonstrating high potential to contribute to the profession, leadership skills, and financial need.
Process: The Scholarship Committee uses applicant materials submitted to PTCAS to determine recipients. No special application needed.
Barbara and Michael Connolly Scholarship
The Barbara and Michael Connolly Scholarship is awarded to a matriculate demonstrating high potential to contribute to the profession, leadership skills, and 3.5 undergraduate GPA, and financial need.
Process: The Scholarship Committee uses applicant materials submitted to PTCAS to determine recipients. No special application needed.
Scholarships Awarded to DPT Students During Years 1, 2, or 3
Alumni and Friends Scholarship
The UF Physical Therapy Department collects funds to support the Alumni and Friends Scholarship. Established in 2021, the scholarship expands inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility initiatives within the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and supports the mission of the department’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee. The Scholarship Committee considers students who individually meet one or more of the following criteria: (1) is a first-generation college student; (2) has actively worked to overcome educational, social, or family disadvantages; (3) has demonstrated a commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion; and/or (4) has demonstrated academic merit and leadership potential.
Process: An application is required. The scholarship committee will notify students when applications will be accepted.
Scholarships Awarded During the First Year in the Program
Application Required
Evans Family Scholarship
The Evans Family Doctor of Physical Therapy Scholarship supports tuition and partial cost of living expenses during the entire DPT program. The Scholarship Committee considers first year students who demonstrate academic achievement, overcoming hardships, financial need, and promise to the physical therapy profession.
Process: An application is required. The scholarship committee will notify students when applications will be accepted and will select a recipient during the first semester.
The Claudette Finley Scholarship Award
The Claudette Finley Scholarship Award was established by the Class of 1999 in recognition of Ms. Finley who has taught anatomy for 35 years while a faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy. The class initiated this recognition, and in consultation with the University of Florida Foundation, they established the award and secured contributions from the alumni of this program prior to their graduation in the Spring of 1999. The award is presented to a first year DPT student during his or her second semester. Selection of the student will be made by the faculty teaching anatomy and based on criteria including excellence as a student in anatomy courses, willingness to teach others in anatomy courses, demonstrated financial need, and participation in campus and/or community activities.
Process: An application is required. Students will be notified when applications will be accepted.
Julia Conrad Trojanowski Scholarship
Julia Conrad Trojanowski was a 1990 alumna of the physical therapy program. This scholarship was established in her memory.This scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding first year physical therapy student with a GPA of at least 3.65. Additional criteria include excellent clinical skills as demonstrated in laboratory and practical examinations. The student must also be recognized by his/her colleagues as a caring, compassionate, and highly principled person of outstanding character.
Process: An application is required. Students will be notified when applications will be accepted.
Scholarships Awarded During the Second Year in the Program
Application Required
Frederick Family Scholarship
Bill and Mary Ann Frederick established the Frederick Family Scholarship in Physical Therapy to endow scholarships for students in the physical therapy department. The DPT student is nominated by his/her peers during the spring semester of their second year. The Scholarship Committee considers criteria for selection including treating others with positive regard, dignity, and respect, dependability when given responsibilities by peers and faculty, and showing good judgment in decisions particularly those that have an impact on peer.
Process: An application is required. Students will be notified when applications will be accepted.
McWells Scholarship Fund in Physical Therapy
Established in 2016, Dr. Benjamin W. Wells and Dr. Becky N. McQuain-Wells created this fund to support second-year physical therapy students who have financial need. Ben and Becky recognize that, while good grades matter in life, they don’t tell the whole story. For that reason, they established this scholarship to support a promising student who, without regard for academic achievement, has financial hardship and would benefit from additional financial support. Their hope is that, by relieving some of that financial pressure, a student will be able to reach their potential as a physical therapist, achieving great things for others, their family, and themselves. The Scholarship Committee considers criteria for selection include financial need and service.
Process: An application is required. Students will be notified when applications will be accepted.
No Application Required
Rolf and Anne Kuhns Endowment for PT Scholarship
The Rolf and Anne Kuhns Endowment for PT Scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates outstanding performance in the first full-time clinical internship, thereby showing promise as a future clinician of excellence.
Process: The clinical education faculty select the recipient of this award. No application is required.
Elks Club Scholarship
The Elks Club Scholarship is awarded to a student in their second year demonstrating service and leadership.
Process: REACH faculty leaders select the recipient of this award. No application is required.
Scholarships Awarded During the Third Year in the Program
No Application Required
Dr. Mark H. Trimble Memorial Scholarship Award
The Dr. Mark H. Trimble Memorial Scholarship Award was established in Dr. Trimble’s honor following his untimely death in February 2001. Dr. Trimble was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy from 1994-2001 and taught in the area of orthopedics.
Process: This scholarship recognizes a student who has demonstrated excellence and a strong commitment to the learning and development of clinical skills in orthopedics and has shown initiative and self-reliance in his or her studies, assignments, and responsibilities in the entry-level program. The award is selected by the musculoskeletal faculty will be presented annually to the student at graduation. No application is required.