Jill Bane
Jill Bane PTA-ATC
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.
Jill Bane was well known for serving the Pontiac community and 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. Highly regarded by the athletes, parents, and patients she worked with, 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.
1. This scholarship is available to any high school senior who plans to pursue a career in either physical therapy or athletic training. Past winners have received a $1000 one-year award.
2. Applicants must reside within a thirty-mile radius of any of the fifteen Champion Fitness Physical Therapy clinics in central and southeastern Illinois and have maintained a 3.0/4.0 or 4.0/5.0 GPA. Each applicant needs to submit a transcript (including class rank/GPA), as well as an e-mail address (for easy communication purposes).
3. One letter of character reference from a non-family member is also required, along with a 1-2 page essay discussing the following prompt-“How have my high school experiences prepared me to enter the physical therapy/athletic training field?” Essays will be judged on focus, presentation, grammar, and usage.
4. Deadline for all materials is April 12. Winner(s) will be announced by May 1.
5. Applicants should submit all materials (Letter, Transcript Info, & Essay) to:
Mick Peterson (e-mail: mpeterson@champfit.com)
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy
924 W Custer Ave.
Pontiac, IL 61764
Cumberland High School's Paige Willenborg (L) received her award from Champion PT (and CHS alum) Cory Hanley.
2012 Pontiac winners Kristin Eggenberger (M) and Cailyn Carstens (R) are pictured with Presenters Kris and Junior Lambert, along with Ella Bane, the daughter of the late Jill and Parker Bane.
The 3rd Annual Champion Fitness Physical Therapy/Jill Bane Memorial Scholarship winners were presented recently to the 2012 winners during Awards Ceremonies at their respective high schools. These scholarships were selected from high school entries from all across Illinois where a Champion Fitness Physical Therapy clinic is located. Prospective candidates must meet several criteria, most importantly planning to study either physical therapy or athletic training at the college level, completing a writing prompt, and have a letter of recommendation included from a non-family member.
A pair of recipients was named from Pontiac High School. Calyn Carstens will be attending Western Illinois University to become an athletic trainer while Kristen Eggenberger will be studying physical therapy at St. Ambrose University. Their awards were presented by Kris and Junior Lambert, along with Ella Bane, the daughter of the late Jill and Parker Bane. Paige Willenborg from Cumberland High School, the 2012 Class Valedictorian, will be on the campus of Millikin University in Decatur to study physical therapy as well. Her award was presented by PT Cory Hanley of Champion’s Casey clinic, Cory himself a graduate of Cumberland HS.
Each of the winners will receive $1000 towards their educational pursuits. A total of $9000 has been awarded in the three years the scholarship has existed.
From the Desk of Jeff Schade:
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy-Jill Bane Memorial Scholarship
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 in her eleven years at Champion Fitness Physical Therapy. Jill worked with numerous students and served as a mentor and inspiration to new employees and students interested in the athletic training and physical therapy fields. In the spirit of her commitment to advancing patient care, Champion Fitness Physical Therapy is offering the Jill Bane Memorial Scholarship.
This scholarship is available to any senior who plans to pursue a career in either physical therapy or athletic training. Applicants must reside within a thirty-mile radius of any of the fifteen Champion Fitness Physical Therapy clinics in central Illinois and have maintained a 3.0 GPA. One letter of character reference from a non-family member is required, along with a 1-2 page essay discussing the following prompt-“How have my high school experiences prepared me to enter the physical therapy/athletic training field?” Deadline for all materials is April 16. Winners will be announced by May 1.
Applicants should submit all materials (Letter & Essay) to:
Mick Peterson (e-mail: mpeterson@champfit.com)
Champion Fitness Physical Therapy
924 W Custer Ave.
Pontiac, IL 61764
