A first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student, Jake Sentman, was recently awarded a $14,000 scholarship from the Rizing Tide Foundation.
The foundation was founded in 2020 by Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, who wanted to increase diversity in the physical therapy profession. Rizing Tide Foundation awards scholarships annually to DPT students from diverse backgrounds, specifically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds; and has pledged a total of $1.5 million to students to date. All of these scholarships are renewable until the recipient graduates if they maintain their academic performance. Recipients are also invited to participate in educational seminars, mentoring and an annual conference held in Phoenix, AZ in order to build connection and camaraderie and inspire passion for the profession.
Those selected for the scholarships were chosen by a group of healthcare professionals based on their potential to enact lasting change, academic excellence, personal integrity, leadership qualities, and attributes befitting a healthcare professional.
Sentman was named one of the ten Crest Scholarship recipients and awarded $14,000 to cover tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other essential expenses for the upcoming academic year. For why he wanted to go into PT, he states, “I am motivated to give back to all those who have come before me and really just elevate those around me to make us all better, whether it comes to my fellow cohort, other students or patients.”
After graduation from Carolina, Sentman plans to go into a residency and fellowship in PT. His long-term goal is to go into collegiate sports, specifically a Division I football team, or in the National Football League where he intends to use the skills he is gaining in the program to contribute to the wellness of athletes and the team’s success.