Fifth-Year Cohort of Scholars Selected from Nearly 400 Applicants Across 20 DPT Programs Nationwide
PHOENIX, Aug. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rizing Tide, a foundation dedicated to expanding access to physical therapy care by creating a more inclusive workforce through scholarships and professional development, announces today the selection of 20 Crest scholars for its 2025 cohort. Each scholar receives financial support to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, and this year, the foundation pledged $570,000 in new scholarships. Rizing Tide now exceeds $2.2 million in scholarships pledged toward shaping a more diverse and inclusive future for the physical therapy profession.
“I am excited to welcome this newest cohort of Crest scholars into the Rizing Tide community,” said Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, founder of Rizing Tide. “With each passing year, we watch more of our alumni step into the workforce and immediately make an impact as empathetic clinicians, advocates for cultural competency and leaders in their communities. As the demand for physical therapy services increases, it’s inspiring to see our scholars—who reflect the communities they serve—take up the mantle while also shaping a stronger, more inclusive future for our profession.”
Ten recipients were awarded scholarships of $14,000 to fund tuition, housing, textbooks and other academic essentials, while 10 more were recognized as Crest: Rizing Stars, receiving $5,000 for the same purposes. These scholarships are renewable each year a scholar attends DPT school until their graduation, contingent on continued academic excellence and community engagement.
In addition to financial support, scholars gain access to mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and an invitation to the annual Rizing Tide conference in Phoenix, an experience designed to create connection, amplify purpose and build a strong professional community.
“Participating in both the screening committee and Rizing Tide’s Employer Connect program has given us a front-row seat into the incredible talent coming up in this community,” said Nick Weber, MSPT, ATC, CEO of Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy. “The applicants we met were academically accomplished and demonstrated strong character and a deep commitment to the future of their profession. Employer Connect gives us a chance to connect with these rising stars early in their careers, while also helping us understand how our organization can better attract and support employees who truly align with our mission.”
Introducing the 2025 Rizing Tide Foundation Crest scholarship recipients and their respective universities:
- Amanuel Nigatu, University of Minnesota
- Elias Rivas, University of Texas at El Paso
- Felicia James, University of New Mexico
- Gabriela Garza, University of Texas Medical Branch
- Javonte Butler, Belmont University
- Kaira Torres, Temple University
- Nellie Del Carmen Blanco, Duke University
- Nyhri Mudie, Mercer University
- Soleana Demapan Villanueva, Hawai’i Pacific University
- Zion Segears, Virginia Commonwealth University
Introducing the 2025 Rizing Tide Foundation Crest: Rizing Star scholarship recipients and their respective universities:
- Alexis Colliard, New York University
- Ariana Smith, The Ohio State University
- Caroline Jung, University of Washington
- Chidera Ibewuike, University of Central Florida
- Christian Johnson, Whitworth University
- Gabriela Rey, University of Miami
- Marcella Brown, Texas State University
- Myles Smith, Langston University
- Torian Kelly, Lincoln Memorial University
- Rachel Cheung, University of Illinois, Chicago
Rizing Tide also offers the Surge scholarship, awarded to licensed physical therapists attending U.S.-based residency programs. The Surge application window opened August 1. To learn more about both scholarship opportunities or to apply, visit www.rizing-tide.com.
ABOUT RIZING TIDE:
Rizing Tide was founded in 2020 by Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, to help bridge the diversity gap in the physical therapy profession. She is the co-founder of WebPT and a physical therapist with more than 25 years of experience in the rehab therapy industry. The foundation annually awards scholarships to DPT students and residents from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds in an effort to make a meaningful, generational impact on the physical therapy industry, and has pledged a total of $2.2 million to students to date. This achievement underscores the foundation’s unwavering commitment to the success of its beneficiaries and its mission to create a more inclusive future for the physical therapy profession. Learn more at www.rizing-tide.com.
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SOURCE Rizing Tide
