While Anderson University’s School of Physical Therapy won’t officially open until summer 2019, already it has its first endowed scholarship.
And the benefactor for this generous gift is the chair of the physical therapy program, Dr. Martha Hinman.
A scholarship created by a program chair is quite unusual.
“This is very extraordinary,” said Wayne Landrith, Senior President for Development and Presidential Affairs. “It’s extremely thoughtful on her part and speaks volumes about her dedication and involvement in the program. It’s the first physical therapy scholarship set up to help students at the university, and hopefully there will be others to follow.”
The Rammel Endowed Scholarship, established by Dr. Hinman, is named in honor of her parents, Ralph Richard (“Dick”) and Lois Spangle Rammel, who raised two physical therapists – Dr. Hinman’s brother is also a physical therapist – and were very active volunteers. The money used to set up the endowment came from an inheritance left to Dr. Hinman by her mother.
The Rammels were actively involved in the Christian Church in multiple cities, with Dick Rammel serving as an elder. He took a leadership role in many service organizations during his lifetime, including the Boy Scouts of America, president of the Indiana Jaycees, Rotary International (he earned all the highest honors for that organization) and president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club, which gives the Naismith Award to top basketball athletes and coaches in the country.
Lois Rammel, who owned a gift shop in the Atlanta area, took over operations for the hospital gift shop at Thomas Hospital as a member of the ladies auxiliary after retiring to Fairhope, Alabama. She logged more than 6,000 service hours and was honored by the hospital board for the thousands of dollars it generated each year, which were donated back to the hospital to support scholarships, among other endeavors. One of her other passions was preparing gifts for children as part of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child ministry.
“She was always packing and wrapping those shoeboxes every Christmas,” Dr. Hinman said. “She and my dad certainly instilled that spirit of service and philanthropy in me, so it was only logical that I name this scholarship in their memory.”
The establishment of an endowment requires at least $10,000. To grow the endowment, Dr. Hinman hopes that additional donors will make contributions. Her goal is to see the fund increase to at least $50,000 in order to fund multiple scholarships.
At present, there will be at least one scholarship. To be eligible, incoming physical therapy students need a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.6 and should have demonstrated a record of volunteer service. The scholarship is renewable annually as long as the student remains in good academic standing. Finalists for the scholarship will be selected by a scholarship committee of physical therapy faculty, and Dr. Hinman may be involved in interviewing the finalists. Students who have been accepted into the program will receive a letter inviting them to apply for the scholarship.
The program will accept 28 students each summer and can be completed in eight semesters. Students will spend the first semester on the main campus in Anderson and will then move to AU’s campus at the University Center in Greenville.
The School of Physical Therapy prepares physical therapists who are clinical experts in the evaluation and treatment of conditions that affect the human movement system, as well as advocates for healthy living and physical wellness.
Physical therapists work with patients to reduce pain and improve or restore mobility. They can assist with everything from recuperation to preventive care, working in hospitals, schools, long-term rehabilitation facilities, retirement communities, manufacturing plants, outpatient clinics or patients’ homes.
The School of Physical Therapy is hosting an open house on Thursday, Sept. 6, from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at AU’s campus at the University Center of Greenville. The event, suitable for drop-in visitors or those who want to spend more time on site, will feature refreshments, networking opportunities and a tour of the state-of-the-art classrooms and labs.
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Anderson University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1, 2018. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.