25th Anniversary Celebration Weekend a Success!

Thanks to everyone who made our department's 25th anniversary weekend such a fun and special event!

We celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first graduating class with a series of events that took place on campus during the weekend of May 7-8, 2010.

On Friday night, students, alumni and friends gathered for refreshments and a look at the Rockhurst PT program (past, present and future). Ellen Spake (chair of the program from 1983 - 2003) took the audience on a guided tour of the "past" with a history of the inception and growth of the program. Class presidents Chelsie Harper (PT '12), Chris Robl (PT '11) and Greg Hollenbeck (PT '10) gave the audience a taste of the "present" experience from a student perspective. Brian McKiernan (current chair of the program) finished the evening with a look ahead at some dreams and schemes for the "future" of the program.

Saturday morning, current PT students teamed up to host the "Let's Get Physical Run/Walk" which raised $4,000 for the American Stroke Foundation. Saturday afternoon, students, faculty and alumni joined together for a picnic lunch and some fun and games in the wonderful spring weather.

Early Saturday evening, current students got a chance to meet and talk with current APTA president Scott Ward during a private reception.

Saturday night was a festive event as more students, faculty, alumni and friends gathered together one last time. Attendees were treated to presentations by Scott Ward (APTA president), Tammy Burlis (MPTA vice-president) and Mark Dwyer (KPTA president). All three speakers inspired the crowd with visions of a bright future for PT.

We are grateful for all the support and best wishes we received from alumni and friends. The "last" 25 years have been fantastic and we look forward to an even more exciting and memorable "next" 25.

Thanks!

From left: Brian McKiernan (current chair of the PT program), Ellen Spake (current faculty and original chair of the PT program), Scott Ward (APTA president), Catherine Thompson (PT faculty and 25th anniversary organizer), Mark Dwyer (PT adjunct faculty and KPTA president).

From left: Brian McKiernan (current chair of the PT program), Jerry Lampe (physical therapist and co-founder of the program), Ellen Spake (current faculty and original chair of the PT program), Lou Loescher-Junge (physical therapist and co-founder of the program).

See more photos of Saturday's gathering by clicking here

"Let's Get Physical" Run/Walk Photos!!!

Whew! It took a while, but we finally got photos from the May 8th Let's Get Physical Run/Walk uploaded.

View photos of the event by clicking here

Once again, congratulations to the Amanda, Erin and the rest of the PT Class of 2011 for a great event. In its first year, the run raised $4,000 for the American Stroke Foundation (Wow!).

The Class of 2012 plans to host the 2nd annual "Let's Get Physical Run/Walk" next spring, so look for details after the first of the year and plan to join us then.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

The Department of Physical Therapy Education would like to extend congratulations to all 36 members of the Class of 2010 who graduated on May 15, 2010 in a ceremony at Municipal Auditorium.

We would like to extend a special acknowledgment to several members of the class who received special awards from the faculty at the class graduation banquet the night before the commencement ceremony.

Justin Trent received the 2010 Lampe-Loescher Award for the graduating student who exemplifies exceptional academic accomplishment, leadership and service and who demonstrates potential for exceptional leadership and service to the physical therapy profession.

Katie Greubel received the 2010 Donna J. Calvert Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Communication.

Adrienne Klein received the 2010 Ellen Spake Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Aubrey Swank and AJ Thomas received Magis Awards for "generous excellence and commitment to others" throughout their time in the PT program.

Physical Therapy Class of 2010
Jennifer Lynn Aloisio
Jessica Ann Barr-Craine
Natalie Kathryn Bliss
Jamie K. Bovay
Tracey Lee Brown
Madeline Jean Cline
Jessica Lee Crawford
Michael Anthony Crawford
Leah Michelle Driver
Gary Dwayne Eichenberger
Kathryn Ashley Greubel
Laura Michelle Hale
Sara Jean Hargrove
Lauren Nichole Holle
Gregory Kenneth Hollenbeck
Curtis E. Kempton Jr.
Adrienne Louise Klein
Mary Elizabeth Krogmeier
Elizabeth Ann Lewis
Carrie Ann McDonald
Jolyn Mary Noble
Kara Ann Page
Darin Edwin Pape
Stephanie Ann Papik
Holly Elizabeth Rauch
Kelli Kathleen Richardson
Ashley Dyan Roberts
Sarah Kathlene York Roberts
Jamie Nicole Schropp-Fuqua
Aubrey Sue Swank
Anthony Joseph Thomas
Justin Shay Trent
Megan Danielle Wainscott
Nichole Dawn Waterworth
Katy Jo Watson
Meagan Elizabeth Weber

Heather Green Receives Barnett Scholarship

Heather Green was selected as the 2010 recipient of the Megan Lynn Barnett Scholarship Award. The presentation of the scholarship was made on May 7, 2010 as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the first class to graduate from the Physical Therapy program at Rockhurst.

Megan Barnett started the PT program in June 2005 as a member of the class of 2008.  Unfortunately, on December 15, 2006, Megan was killed in an automobile accident after having completed over half of the physical therapy curriculum.

In the midst of their hurt, Megan’s family decided that something positive and life affirming would come from their loss. Megan’s parent’s (Mark Brown-Barnett and Patricia Brown-Barnett) gave a gift of $50,000 to Rockhurst to endow a scholarship in Megan’s name.

They believed that progressing through the PT program had been a transformative experience for Megan and they wanted to support future PT students who were making the same journey.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a 2nd year student in the Rockhurst physical therapy program. Since the endowed fund will not yield dividends until next year, Megan’s parents have made additional annual gifts of $1,500 so that the scholarship could be awarded to a member of Megan’s class and each succeeding class.

The family and faculty decided that the award would be given to a student who could clearly articulate growth and transformation while enrolled as a student in the PT program. The scholarship requirements state that applicants must submit a formal application and typed
essay that demonstrates self-reflection and articulates how experiences in the DPT program at Rockhurst University have transformed his/her attitudes and behaviors consistent with the core values of Rockhurst University and the physical therapy profession.

Heather is scheduled to start her full-time clinical internships in June and will graduate in May 2011. Congratulations Heather!

 

Heather Green (PT '12)

Inaugural "Let's Get Physical" Run/Walk Is a Success!

As part of the events surrounding the PT 25th anniversary celebration at Rockhurst, members of the PT Class of 2011 scored a huge success with the inaugural "Let's Get Physical 5K/10K Run/Walk".

Led by second year PT students Amanda Fisher (PT '11) and Erin Hopper (PT '11),  students from all three current PT classes staged a magnificent event. The day dawned cool and windy, but the energy level was high as close to 300 runners and walkers completed 5K and 10K courses that started and ended on the Rockhurst campus.

The event served as a fundraiser both for the Class of 2011 and for the American Stoke Foundation (ASF). The American Stroke Foundation (www.americanstroke.org) is a Kansas City-based non-profit organization whose mission is, "To empower stroke survivors and their families to overcome ongoing challenges of life after stroke and rejuvenate their lives." Many of the second year students who worked to organize the inaugural Let's Get Physical event have been regular volunteers at ASF where they have helped facilitate a weekly balance/exercise class for stroke survivors.

The American Stroke Foundation is funded entirely by donations and the students were very glad to be able to help support ASF (75% of the proceeds from the race will go to ASF and 25% will go to the Class of 2011).

Members of the PT Class of 2012 are all set to carry on the event next year, so make plans to join us then! Also, be sure to support the many great sponsors who helped make this event a huge success.

Here are a few photos from the event. We'll post a web album with dozens more photos very soon.

Faculty Earn Promotion and Tenure

Congratulations to Rockhurst PT faculty Amy Foley, PT, DPT and Don Hoover, PT, PhD for earning tenure and promotion at Rockhurst University during spring 2010. Rockhurst president Fr. Thomas Curran made the announcement in a message to the campus community in April.

Amy joined the full-time faculty in fall 2004 after serving as an adjunct instructor for many years. In addition to being tenured, she was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. Amy earned her BS in physical therapy from the University of Missouri and her DPT from Creighton University. She teaches in the areas of clinical procedures and clinical decision making in the PT curriculum.

Her research interests include the influence of hormones on the ACL in females and listening styles and student learning.

Don joined the full-time faculty in spring 2007. In addition to being tenured, he was also promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. Don earned his MS in physical therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center and his PhD in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas (Lawrence campus). He teaches in the areas of movement science and clinical procedures.

His research interests include any topic that connects ideas from Physical Therapy and Exercise Science.  Research projects in recent years have focused on low back pain and core stabilization, sports medicine, and the interaction between exercise physiology, motor performance, and biomechanics.

Congratulations to both Amy and Don for this tremendous achievement!