A record number of twenty-nine applications were sent in for the Champion Fitness Physical Therapy/Jill Bane Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to high school seniors planning on entering the field of physical therapy or athletic training in their college careers. Inquireies came from high schools all over the scope of the Champion Fitness Physical Therapy radar, including Urbana, Cumberland, Tri-Valley, El Paso-Gridley, Tuscola, Pontiac, Prairie Central, Newton, Washington, Olympia, Blue Ridge, Delavan, St. Joe-Ogden, Danville Schlarman, Normal Community, Arcola, and Bloomington, with several schools having multiple applicants.
Jill Bane was well known for serving the Pontiac community as an Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist Assistant at Champion Fitness Physical Therapy. Highly regarded by the athletes, parents, and patients she worked with, Jill built her reputation by putting patients first. Jill truly loved her career. And she held close to her heart the family of co-workers and friends that she made during her eleven years at Champion Fitness Physical Therapy. She served as a mentor and inspiration to fellow employees and students interested in the athletic training and physical therapy fields before losing her courageous battle with lymphoma in 2009. In the spirit of her commitment to advancing patient care, Champion Fitness Physical Therapy has joined forces with the Bane family in offering the Jill Bane Memorial Scholarship.
Champion Growth and Development Director Mick Peterson spearheads the event each year. “We are simply thrilled to have this number of seniors not only interested in entering the fields of athletic training and physical therapy as a career, but that they also felt the need to respond to this schoalrship opportunity,” he said. “With the wide range of applicants, this is going to be a very, very competitive situation. Our scholarship committee really has its work cut our for us.”
Students submitted a letter of reference from a non-family member, their transcript (GPA, Class rank, ACT), an email address, and a personal essay answering this prompt—”How have my high school experiences prepared me to enter the physical therapy/athletic training field?” Peterson noted that the essay was critical to determining a winner. “Sometimes, students have a tendency to write off the cuff—our prompt looks for some real specifics, and we hope that they respoond to the question properly,” he said. “At the same time, we heavily weigh the student’s academic record, and the reference letter often is the deciding factor. Somewhere, Jill Bane has to be smiling.”
This is the 4th year the scholarship has been offered. Past recipients have received $1000 awards. The 2013 winners will be announced on May 1.
South Wilmington Grade School doesn’t have a lot of students inside its doors…but it sure has a lot of supporters out there! The Lions’ roar could be heard all over!!!
The tiny community banded together, got the word spread to all over the place, and came out with a resounding victory in the Champion Fitness Physical Therapy “Get Busy Living” Grade School Photo Contest. Casey Monroe from southern Illinois finished second, while Graymont Rooks Creek, another tiny little school on Rt 116, came in third.
The winning school will receive $400 for its finish, while 2nd receives $200, and 3rd gets $100, all of the money earmarked for the PE programs at their respective schools. These three schools will also be the featured photos for an upcoming poster created by Champion, promoting fitness and wellness in the schools. In fact, all ten finalist photos will be used in the poster. The top three schools will also get a complimentary poster to hang in their hallways.
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy owner Jeff Schade was extremely impressed. “We always know how communities come together for a cause, and everybody should be extremely proud of the pride you showed in this contest. The numbers speak for themselves. This was awesome, maybe the best contest we’ve ever had!!!”
The numbers from this contest are mind-boggling! Besides the nearly 160,000 votes cast, we had:
2504 voters….from 11 countries around the world (US, Canada, UK, India, Dominican Republic, Chile, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, and Botswana) and 42 states from around this country!!!! Absolutely amazing!!
Thanks to one and all for voting!!! Here are the results!!!
