Program Purpose
The APTA Centennial Scholars Program is designed to build a cadre of future association leaders at both the chapter/section/academy and national levels. Demonstrating APTA’s investment in the sustainability of the association as it begins its next 100 years, the program will support our collective quest for a diverse and prepared leadership pool.
The 12-month program will run throughout 2021 with a goal of engaging 100 scholars, including the goal of at least one scholar sponsored by each of APTA’s chapters, sections, and academies. The curriculum will cover association leadership and management topics and be delivered through three face-to-face meetings and regularly scheduled virtual learning experiences. Additionally, scholars will work directly with their sponsoring chapter/section/academy to design and complete a capstone project that addresses an existing need as determined by the sponsor. Scholars will also benefit from the guidance of Centennial Scholar mentors who will work directly with the scholars in small groups to support the completion of their projects.
Application Deadline
August 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
Expected Selection Notification Date
September 1, 2020
Eligibility and Application Requirements
1. Be a current PT, PTA, or student member of the APTA at the time of application and throughout the 2021 Centennial year.
2. Attend three mandatory in-person events expenses paid by the APTA Kansas sponsorship and regularly scheduled virtual meetings. The in-person events are currently scheduled for:
a. January 16, 2021, New York, NY
b. April 2021 [exact date TBD] in Alexandria, VA
c. September 12, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
3. Commit to developing and completing a capstone project in collaboration with the sponsoring chapter/section/academy, which may extend beyond 2021.
4. Submit a completed application by the application deadline.
Required Application Materials
1. Completed application
2. Resume or CV detailing educational, professional, and volunteer service experience.
Desired Application Materials
1. Two letters of recommendation from people familiar with your potential for future professional leadership and your ability successfully complete a capstone project for your component.
2. For students: at least one letter of recommendation should be from your physical therapy program academic and/or clinical faculty
APTA Centennial Scholar Application
Kansas Chapter
1. Your name
2. Your title (PT, PTA, SPT, SPTA)
3. Additional titles and credentials
4. Why are you applying to the Centennial Scholars Program?
a. For Sections and Academies: Why are you applying through this section/academy?
5. How does this program support your personal leadership development goals?
6. What unique contributions do you think you would make to APTA’s and your chapter’s/section’s/academy’s leadership pool?
7. In what ways might you and your experiences contribute to a more diverse and prepared leadership pool to lead the profession during the next 100 years?
8. What specific skills and strengths do you bring to the program that will serve your sponsoring component and the profession?
9. Describe a key past experience that contributed to your interest in leadership development, including how it contributed. The experience does not necessarily have to be physical therapy-related.
10. What do you value most as an APTA member?
11. What do you value most as a PT professional or student?
[FOR PRACTICING PTS AND PTAS]
1. Describe a clinical experience that you feel had a significant and valuable effect on your personal and professional growth?
2. What do you anticipate will be the most rewarding outcome for prospective Centennial Scholars?
[FOR STUDENTS]
1. Describe how you feel the Centennial Scholar experience will affect your relationship with your sponsoring chapter?
