Somerset Community College Represented at National Physical Therapy Conference

Above: SCC PTA students Samantha Grubb, Courtney Carpenter, and Briana Allen accepted the Foundation for Physical Therapy’s “Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Program Award” from William Boissonnault, PT, DHSc, DPT, FAAOMPT.

Attending the APTA NEXT Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina were: (Seated) Courtney Carpenter, program student, Kings Mountain; Claudette Prather, PTA Program faculty; Nancy Powell, Dean of Health Sciences; Chris Garland, program graduate, Burkesville; Briana Allen, program graduate, Monticello; (standing) Samantha Grubb, program graduate, Barbourville; Tyler King, program student, Monticello; Dr. Steve Hammons, PTA Program Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education; and Dr. Ron Meade, PTA Program Director.

Above: Briana Allen  receives the award for Outstanding PTA Student from APTA President Paul A. Rockar, Jr, PT, DPT, MS.

Somerset Community College was recently represented at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Annual NEXT Conference for program students, alumni, faculty and administrators.  The event was held in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In addition to attending programming and cultural activities, several students and the program itself were recognized at the conference.  

Briana Allen of Monticello received the 2014 APTA National Student of the Year Award.  Allen was the eighth SCC graduate to be named the recipient of the award.  

Samantha Grubb of Barbourville was named the recipient of the Mary McMillan Scholarship Award, presented in recognition of students who exhibit superior scholastic ability and potential for future professional contribution.  She is the sixth program graduate to receive the award.

The program itself was recognized as the “Outstanding PTA Program” for its fundraising efforts in the 2014 Miami-Marquette Challenge by the Foundation for Physical Therapy.  Program graduates Samantha Grubb and Briana Allen, and current student Courtney Carpenter of Kings Mountain, represented the college at the awards ceremony and gala.  This is the seventh year in a row that the SCC PTA Program has received the award and the fifth time the students raised over $3,000 for physical therapy research.  This year, SCC placed among the top 22 institutions nationally, including doctoral programs, receiving an overall honorable mention in the competition, and was the top PTA program.  To date, the program has raised more than $25,000 for research.

Also in attendance was Tyler King of Monticello, a program student currently serving on the APTA Student Assembly’s Board of Directors.  He will continue to serve until his term expires in October.  Chris Garland of Burkesville, a 2011 graduate of the program and currently serving as Kentucky’s PTA Delegate, was also present.