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Somerset Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program students win national fundraising competition PTA student organization approved by Kentucky Physical Therapy Association

The Somerset Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program has been named the winner of a national fundraising competition. The Marquette Challenge, co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh, is a nationwide competition to raise money for physical therapy research. Since its inception twenty years ago, the competition has raised more than $1.3 million.

Somerset Community College was named “Most Successful PTA School” in this year’s competition. The winning PT School was Georgia State University of Atlanta, Georgia. The program’s winning effort was recently recognized at the Kentucky Physical Therapy Association’s Annual Spring Conference in Bowling Green.

While at the conference, PTA Program students Jeff Buis of Liberty and Rod Edwards of Somerset, requested the KPTA Board of Director’s consideration in the development of a statewide Student Special Interest Group for physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students. The Special Interest Group will serve as a means of communication and networking between students from across the state and will encourage professional development and leadership. The students drafted by-laws and formally presented the benefits of forming the group to the Board of Directors. The request was unanimously approved by the board.

2008 PTA Program graduates Isaac Mills of Corbin and Bethany Gosser of Liberty were also recognized at the conference.

Mills was named the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Orthopaedic Student of the Year for 2008. He was also recognized formally at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

Gosser was named the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Student of the Year for 2008. She will be recognized at the APTA Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, in June. Another SCC PTA Program student, Heather Tuel of Somerset, was presented the same award in 2007.

Both Mills and Gosser were given an opportunity to address conference attendees and were each presented a check for $100 in recognition of their achievements.

SCC PTA Program students attending the KPTA Spring Conference included: Katie Alexander, Burkesville; Jeff Buis, Liberty; Cyndi Clark, Liberty; Marty Converse, Yosemite; Valarie Cooper, Russell Springs; Rod Edwards, Somerset; Bethany Gosser, Liberty; Isaac Mills, Corbin; Janna Napier, London; Billie Owens, London; and Charlotte Upchurch, Columbia.

Somerset Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SCC has campuses in Somerset and London, centers in Clinton, McCreary, Casey and Russell Counties. The website is www.somerset.kctcs.edu. Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-877-629-9722.

KCTCS serves the Commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu.