Program Overview
Special Tree is highly committed to excellence in health care and rehabilitation and the training and development of healthcare professionals. We are pleased to announce the availability of scholarship awards for senior students from selected high schools who are planning to continue their education in a health care or rehabilitation career.
Special Tree’s Scholarship Award Program provides encouragement and some financial support to selected senior level high school students who are planning to enroll in a course of study in health care or rehabilitation. These include one, two or four year programs which lead to a degree, diploma or certificate from an accredited post-secondary institution. Examples of eligible health care and rehabilitation careers include: physical therapy/PT assistants, occupational therapy/OT assistants, medical records, nursing (RN, LPN, or CNA), medical assistants, respiratory therapy, medicine, and similar occupations. Because Special Tree provides care and rehabilitation to many persons who are recovering from catastrophic accidents—including motor vehicle accidents—we are committed to a program of public education promoting safe driving and the avoidance of drinking and driving. It is our hope that this scholarship will help increase awareness of safe and healthful practices among young drivers.
Eligibility
Scholarships will be awarded to senior level high school students enrolled in eligible schools. Eligible schools include those within districts where Special Tree has a rehabilitation facility. Schools include:
| Macomb County | Chippewa Valley High School Warren Mott High School |
| Midland County | Midland High School |
| Oakland County | Birmingham Groves High School
Royal Oak Kimball High School Troy Athens High School |
| Saginaw County | Arthur Hill High School Freeland High School |
| Wayne County | Belleville High School Flat Rock High School Livonia Stevenson High School New Boston Huron High School Riverview High School Romulus High School Southgate High School |
*Please note: Special Tree employees and their immediate family are not eligible for scholarship awards.
Award Criteria
Awards will be granted based on the following criteria:
| Scholarship | Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. |
| Citizenship | As evidenced by community involvement, volunteer service, work experience, and school activities |
| Vocational | Interest in a health care and rehabilitation field as demonstrated by high school coursework, paid or volunteer work experience in health care, and/or plans to enroll in a health care or rehabilitation post-secondary program. |
| Application | Completeness and quality of responses on the scholarship application. |
| Recommendations | References and evaluations from teachers, counselors, employers, or health care professionals. |
Competition Requirements
- Completed application—including concise responses to the following four open-ended questions:
- Why are you interested in working in the health care/rehabilitation career that you have identified?
- What personal qualities do you have that will make you an effective health care/rehabilitation professional in the career that you have chosen?
- A brief essay on your ideas to prevent or reduce traumatic brain injuries. Each year over 1.4 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries, primarily from falls and automobile accidents. Traumatic brain injuries can result in permanent changes in a person’s ability to walk, talk, think, and function independently.
- Your personal and professional long term goals.
- Two letters of recommendation. These should be from a teacher, counselor, employer, volunteer supervisor, health professional, etc. and may be uploaded during the on-line application process, or sent via email or U.S. Mail. (PDF, DOC or TXT files preferred if submitting electronically.)
- Copy of high school transcript. These should be sent via U.S. Mail.
If you need assistance or are unable to complete the application on-line, please contact us at 734-893-1130 to make arrangements.
Award Information
One $1,000.00, one year, non-renewable award will be awarded to one student at each eligible school.
Scholarship Committee
Recipients will be selected following an objective, criterion-based application review process by a Special Tree Scholarship Committee.
Deadlines
Friday, March 2, 2012Applications should be completed on-line by midnight March 2, 2012. Any information submitted electronically, whether uploaded with the application or sent via email, should be submitted by this date.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Any supporting information such as letters of recommendation or transcripts sent via U.S. mail must be postmarked by February 29, 2012 in order to meet the March 2, 2012 scholarship deadline.
All applicants will be notified regarding their award status by early April.
Important Notice
The application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot close out and re-start. You may wish to first prepare your essay answers off-line and then cut and paste.
Notice of Non Discrimination
Special Tree is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, origin, age, gender, physical or mental handicap or veteran’s status.
Direct questions or supporting materials to:
Ken HandwergerSpecial Tree Rehabilitation System
39010 Wabash Road
Romulus, MI 48174-1148
learning@specialtree.com
Tel: 734-893-1132
Fax: 734-942-8727
