Eastern Kentucky University

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy 5 Scholarships

Scholarships

In recognition of the cost of education, the EKU Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers this funding source guide. Students are encouraged to research scholarship opportunities to determine individual eligibility.

Scholarship applications are now accepted electronically through Slate. No paper applications will be accepted. To apply to any scholarships offered through the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, along with many more, please visit the Scholarship website.

The scholarship Call for Applications is sent via e-mail to eligible program students by the first week of March, with an application deadline of 4:00 PM, April 1st, 2024.

If you have any questions please contact:

Dr. Cheryl Carrico, Scholarship Committee Chair
Email: Cheryl.carrico@eku.edu

Interested in donating? Your contributions can make a tremendous difference to students who are working hard to become an occupational therapist. Consider donating to any of the scholarships below. Students use the scholarships to pay for tuition, books, and other necessary education expenses. Scholarships allow students to work fewer hours to fund their education, which in turn helps them spend more time studying and participating in classes. Scholarships make a huge difference in student success!

Not sure which to contribute to? The Occupational Therapy Development Fund is a general fund that we use to support poorly funded scholarships. See also the Occupational Therapy Endowed Chair.

Scholarships for OS and OT Students

Occupational Therapy Endowed Alumni Scholarship

This scholarship was established through donations by EKU Occupational Therapy Program alumni. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support for a beginning graduate occupational therapy student.

Scholarship Criteria:

Applicants must be planning to enter into year one (and be accepted) of the EKU graduate Occupational Therapy Program
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Resume demonstrating the potential for successful Occupational Therapy practice
A list of professional goals
1-2 page essay, typed and double spaced, outlining need for scholarship
Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

Nancy Gillespie Occupational Therapy Scholarship

This scholarship was established in honor of Nancy Gillespie, an Occupational Therapist and part-time faculty member. The purpose of this scholarship is to acknowledge the qualities of humanitarianism, determination, perseverance, and potential to become an Occupational Therapist by providing financial assistance for Level II Fieldwork.

Scholarship Criteria:

Applicants must be enrolled in year one of the EKU Graduate Occupational Therapy program to be considered
1-2 page essay, typed and doubled spaced, describing and supporting personal characteristics of humanitarianism, determination, and perseverance
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

David Allgier Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Allison Allgier, daughter of David Allgier, and graduate of EKU’s Occupational Therapy program. David Allgier was born May 16, 1940 in Lima, Ohio, to Arnold A. and Rilla Bowman Allgier. He received his BBA degree from Indiana University, where he later worked in Information Technology. David served Eastern Kentucky University as the Director of Information Technology for over 20 years. He was married to Jill H. Allgier, retired EKU Registrar, for 52 years and had two daughters, Abigail A. Horn and Allison Allgier, both EKU graduates. This scholarship is established in support of students enrolled in the graduate Occupational Therapy Program during their Level II assignments to defray costs associated with completing six months of unpaid internships.

Scholarship Criteria:

Current graduate student enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program; and enrolled in Level II Fieldwork, or doctoral placement, and in good academic standing with the University at the time of the award
1-2 page essay, typed and double spaced, describing and supporting personal and professional aspirations/goals
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need to support Level II Fieldwork, and potential for occupational therapy

Rebecca B. Pelfrey Endowed Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established in honor of Rebecca Pelfrey, a graduate of the EKU Occupational Therapy program, who was a clinician and legislative advocate. She was instrumental in passage of Kentucky’s Occupational Therapy Practice Act.

Scholarship Criteria:

Preference will be given to applicants who are second-year graduate level occupational therapy students (or otherwise deserving Occupational Therapy applicants if this criteria cannot be met)
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Proof of Kentucky Residence. List all Kentucky counties in which you have resided along with the number of years for each
1-2 page essay, typed and double spaced, describing how being a student from Eastern Kentucky has influenced his or her occupational therapy education and career plans
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

Morning Pointe Foundation Scholarship

The purpose of the Morning Pointe Foundation Scholarship is to provide support for undergraduate students in Occupational Therapy. The scholarship will be funded at $1500 annually for a period of three years and is non-renewable. Scholarship recipients, separate from their scholarship award, may be provided opportunities for professional development and internships based on mutual need and consent. These opportunities would be in furtherance of the Morning Pointe Foundation’s mission to “advance care of seniors for generations to come.

The Morning Pointe Foundation believes that families, healthcare professionals, and researchers have the knowledge to master the aging process and advance the care of seniors for generations to come. The Morning Pointe Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for caregivers and their
loved ones by investing in geriatric scholarships, caregiver training, and service-learning opportunities with community colleges, universities, and centers on aging. Morning Pointe Scholarships are an investment in today’s students and an opportunity to generate leaders in the field of senior wellness,
nursing and geriatric care. By connecting with higher institutions of learning, the Morning Pointe Foundation can ease the financial burden for students while growing the number of educated caregivers in the field of senior healthcare.

Scholarship Criteria:

Formal admission to the undergraduate Occupational Science program
Proof of permanent Kentucky residency (such as KY Driver’s License)
Minimum GPA of 3.0, current student in good academic standing
Financial need demonstrated through completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA), but not required
Resume
1-2 page essay, typed and double spaced, describing personal and professional aspirations/goals with intent to work with the geriatric population in long-term care upon graduate, and potential for occupational therapy

Other Scholarships

External Scholarships:

Eastern Kentucky University Scholarships Webpage

National Scholarships:

American Occupational Therapy Foundation (more than 50 scholarships available)
AOTA Scholarships for OT Students
AMBUCS Scholars Program

Occupational Therapy Endowed Faculty Scholarship

This scholarship was established through donations by the EKU Occupational Therapy Program faculty. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support for a beginning graduate occupational therapy student.

Scholarship Criteria:

Applicants must be planning to enter into year one (and be accepted) of the EKU graduate Occupational Therapy Program to be considered
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Resume demonstrating the potential for successful Occupational Therapy practice
Narrative (descriptive) list of professional goals
1-2 page essay, typed and double spaced, outlining need for scholarship
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

Joy Anderson Occupational Therapy Scholarship

This scholarship originally named “The Occupational Therapy Master’s Program Alumni Endowed Scholarship” was established through donations from EKU Occupational Therapy program alumni and renamed to honor Joy Anderson, Program Director from 1978-1996. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support for a graduate Occupational Therapy students.

Scholarship Criteria:

Applicants must be enrolled in year one of the EKU graduate Occupational Therapy program to be considered
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Resume demonstrating potential as an occupational therapist
1-2 page, typed and double-spaced, essay addressing professional goals and potential as an Occupational Therapist
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

Gladys Nobuko Masagatani Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the family and in honor of Gladys Nobuko Masagatani, who led a rich professional life in the roles of occupational therapist, professional leader, and occupational therapy educator. She received the Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year Award by the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association in 1988, the 1990 Lindy Boggs Award by the American Occupational Therapy Association for advancing occupational therapy, and Faculty Emeritus status from Eastern Kentucky University upon her retirement. Together, these three highly prestigious awards in each of the professional roles that Gladys assumed serve as testimony to a lifetime of service, dedication, and commitment. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support for a graduate occupational therapy student.

Scholarship Criteria:

Applicants must be enrolled full time in the first or second year of the EKU graduate Occupational Therapy program
Minimum GPA of 3.5
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (summary of rated FAFSA) demonstrating financial need

Jean Steffan Smith Memorial Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established in honor of Jean Steffan Smith, a respected faculty member, researcher, artist and clinician. The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize Ms. Smith’s life and commitment to the Occupational Therapy profession.

Scholarship Criteria:

Planning to enter the first year of the graduate Occupational Therapy program (and accepted) to be considered
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Proof of Kentucky Residence. List all Kentucky counties in which you have resided along with the number of years for each. Preference will be given to students that are either current or former residents of Southeastern Kentucky
1-2 page essay (typed and double spaced) describing professional aspirations
Completed Student Aid Report (SAR) (rated financial aid application)

Marshall Pediatric Therapy Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Jim and Pamela Marshall, owners of Marshall Pediatric Therapy clinic. Pam, former EKU Bachelor of Science Occupational Therapy graduate, partnered her clinic with EKU in early 2022 to provide real-world experience for students from various disciplines and studies. Marshall Pediatric Therapy aims to share its professional expertise and core values of family, love, excellence, happiness, and courage with EKU students.

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and support EKU students studying to become pediatric occupational therapists.

Scholarship Criteria:

Preference given to a graduate occupational science/occupational therapy student
Doing fieldwork in pediatrics
Good academic standing
Demonstrating financial need via FAFSA
1-2 page essay is required describing personal and professional goals, experience working with children, and leadership skills
Two letters of recommendation.

*The exact amount of any of the scholarships may vary depending on the interest generated by the Foundations Portfolio and as designated by the Foundation Board. For further questions, contact a Scholarship Committee member: Jennifer Hight or Cheryl Carrico