Scholarship Winner Dedicated To Helping Troops
There can never be enough respect and admiration given to the brave men and women who serve in our nation’s military. Our soldiers constantly find themselves in harm’s way, while being asked to protect our country and persevere our way of life.
Inspired by their commitment and sacrifice, current AMBUCS Scholarship recipient Justin Zimmerman is dedicating his career to aiding those military members who are in need of therapy.
Zimmerman, who is enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is on pace to receive his doctorate in physical therapy in 2010. After graduation, he himself plans to serve full-time in the armed forces where he will be an Army Physical Therapist.
“The guidance of influence of both military and civilian physical therapists has reinforced my feelings of honor and respect towards this profession,” said Zimmerman. “As an active and motivated person myself, I understand the need for full mobility and function. This strengthens my willingness to provide effective care to injured individuals.”
Sponsored by the Longview Too chapter of AMBUCS, Zimmerman has been awarded an AMBUCS scholarship in each of the past three years.
The scholarship has been extremely important for Zimmerman since he and his wife Sheila are now raising a young son and are expecting their second child next February. Because of the rigors of his studies, he is unable to work a full-time job, leaving the financial burden of his household to currently fall primarily on his wife.
“Although I try to work whenever possible, our total income is not enough to support our living expenses as well as pay for graduate tuition and fees,” he said. “The AMBUCS scholarship not only allows me to complete my studies but it helps out entire family as well.”
Since 1955, National AMBUCS™, Inc. has been awarding scholarships to therapy students in their junior/senior year in a bachelor’s degree program, or a graduate program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree. Today, AMBUCS has emerged as the largest private awarder of scholarships to therapy students. Recipients for this year’s scholarship award were determined in June and are currently posted on the AMBUCS website. This year 207 scholarships were awarded scholarships totaling $139,675. The average award was $674.75.
Once again, Zimmerman was thankful to have been selected and is very excited about his future.
“By attending the physical therapy program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, I am continuing to develop my leadership potential and knowledge essential to not only the therapy profession, but also my future career as a military officer,” he said. “The pride of selflessness and determination are feelings that I will continue to have as a military physical therapist.”
