Two WKCTC students selected for KPTA All-Academic Team | News

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - Two physical therapist assistant students at West Kentucky Community and Technical College were recently selected to the 2012 Kentucky Physical Therapy Association All –Academic Team.

The KPTA partnered with RehabCare to select the students from Kentucky’s Physical Therapist Assistant and Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs.

Brandi Bennett of Livingston County and Rachel Halicks of McCracken County were two of only ten students selected for the award. This is the largest number of student admitted to the team from WKCTC since the award began in 2010.

Students are chosen for the competitive team based upon academic and clinical performance, extracurricular, campus and community service activities, participation in physical therapy-related activities and organizations, and a personal statement discussing the student’s career goals and the importance of being an advocate for the physical therapy profession.

 “This really makes me feel great to have my dedication and hard work, on campus, in the PTA clinics, and in the community, recognized at the state level, “ Bennett said. “This award also provides me additional encouragement to continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of my professional and personal life."

Halicks recently received a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University and began the entry-level DPT Program at the university. She applied for the WKCTC PTA Program last semester because she wanted to get away from the administration and documentation required by the physical therapist and focus more on the carrying out of the plan of care by spending more time working directly with patients.

“Since I began in WKCTC’s program, my decision for a career change has been confirmed, and being selected for this award is an added bonus,” Halicks said.

Ronald Meade, PTA program coordinator at Somerset Community College, said WKCTC’s PTA Program produces some of the finest PTAs working in our region.

“Peggy Block, the college’s PTA ProgramDirector and her faculty do an amazing job of providing opportunities for their students to participate in meaningful projects; they are considered one of the finest programs around, year after year,” Meade said.

Other members of this year’s team include: Brandon English and Samantha Walls, Somerset Community College PTA Program; Daniel C. Brown and Ziyan James Zhang, University of Kentucky DPT Program; Patricia Ann Gregory, Jefferson Community and Technical College PTA program; Christy Kaiser, Christopher G. Pyles, and Katherine Anne Williams, Bellarmine University DPT Program.

This is the second year KPTA has collaborated with RehabCare for the awards. RehabCare is a rehabilitative care facility known to be one of the largest employers of physical, occupational and speech therapists in the nation.

The award recipients will be recognized at the KPTA Fall Conference on September 8 in Louisville, Kentucky.

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