Scholar: Jennifer Au
Year Awarded: 2018
Major: Physical Therapy (Class 62, first year recipient)
About Jennifer: In the community where Jennifer grew up, higher education was not encouraged and she never fathomed being accepted into a doctoral program. She is grateful to have had amazing mentors that guided her down the path to physical therapy and she is eager to share her knowledge and experience with those in need. She was motivated to pursue physical therapy after a close friend suffered a traumatic brain injury and desperately needed physical therapy. Unfortunately, he was unable to get the treatment that he deserved. That experience stayed with her and drives her to become the best clinician possible. Jennifer has always loved mentoring others who want to improve themselves for the better. Helping those who find themselves in situations where the feel lost, and at times, hopeless, is her greatest passion. She is extremely grateful to have received the Dee Lilly Scholarship. The award empowers her to mentor students, advocate for education, and it gives her the strength to help individuals gain access to necessary and quality treatment.
Scholar: Jacob Melgar
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (second year recipient)
About the Scholarship: Dee Lilly, now retired from CSUN, was a valued faculty member throughout the 1980’s. She taught anatomy and physiology and was known for instilling a yearning for knowledge and a motivation to help others in students studying physical therapy. This scholarship was made possible by a generous contribution from physical therapy alum, George Erb. George said that Dee Lilly was instrumental in encouraging him to complete his physical therapy degree at CSUN. He created the Dee Lilly Scholarship in 2009 to honor his influential professor; the scholarship has since been enhanced by long-time physical therapy program supporter and alum, Jeff Vargo. The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to professional growth and service, outstanding leadership, a positive and professional attitude and who have shown outstanding clinical potential.
Scholar: Tara O’Rourke
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Scholarship Recipient: Tara was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. She graduated from high school with honors, was a first-generation college student at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and will soon be the first in her family to receive a doctorate degree. Tara worked full-time as a head athletic trainer for a high school while finishing her pre-requisite courses and applying to physical therapy programs. She was accepted to CSUN and has been involved in the CAMINO mentorship program, international visiting student events, and has been working as a personal trainer while in school. Last winter, she traveled with other students and faculty from CSUN PT to India to provide physical therapy to an underserved community at a pro-bono clinic. Tara said that it has been an emotional and financial challenge studying so far away from her family. It is her goal to improve people’s quality of life by helping them move optimally without pain. She is extremely grateful for the generosity of the Campanellas and Dodgers for the opportunity.
Scholar: Jose Perez
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Scholarship Recipient: Jose is the first in his family to go to graduate school. He grew up in Fresno and spent many years working and volunteering in the health care field, including serving as a rehab aide and advocating for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. During his three years in the PT program, he has continued to dedicate his time to the profession through serving as a CAMINO mentor, working with visiting international students, working with people with prostheses at the ECLIPSE event, and acting as one of the presidents for his cohort. In addition, Jose has chosen a pro-bono elective course to serve the needs of underprivileged populations in his hometown, where he plans to move back to after graduation. He said that receiving the scholarship has been an unbelievable experience for him as he remembers watching the Dodgers play as a child. He never thought that it would one day be their foundation honoring him. He is thankful to the Campanella family and the Dodgers for the tremendous support given to him and will reflect that generosity in the care he provides his patients in the future.
Scholar: Ashley Surak
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Scholarship Recipient: Ashley has known that she wanted to be a physical therapist since she was in high school and she is proud to be the first in her family to become a health care professional. During her time in the physical therapy program at CSUN, she has been involved in many volunteer opportunities on-campus as well as off. She has served as an officer for the PT Club and went to Vietnam for two weeks to assist local physical therapists in treating patients at the DaNang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital. Ashley strives to become a pediatric physical therapist and hopes to improve the quality of life for others in the Los Angeles community. She is an avid Dodger fan and she is thankful for the support they, and the Campanellas, have shown her in her pursuit of making life better for others.
Scholar: Kaylie Fisher
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Scholarship Recipient: Kaylie has been involved in the sports world since she was very young. Her love for sports led her to a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from CSU, Long Beach before she came to CSUN to pursue physical therapy. At CSUN, she has been involved in organizing events with the PT Club, assisting in international student visits, and working with faculty to create an interactive iBook for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques for future students to use. Kaylie is grateful to the Dodgers and Campanellas for helping her continue pursuing her dream of helping others. Her passion for physical therapy came after watching her father battle brain cancer and witnessing first-hand how rehabilitation can affect a person’s life. It is her goal to be able to help others return to their highest possible function through physical therapy and live their lives to the fullest with their loved ones, like rehabilitation did for her family.
Scholar: Kristen Hubbs
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 61)
About Scholarship Recipient: Kristen has always had a love for learning and for people. While in high school, she traveled to China to assist in organizing camps for orphans. In college, she spent four summers volunteering as a youth camp counselor in Juneau, Alaska. When she started the PT program at CSUN she was excited to continue on with her love for academics and community outreach. As a PT student, she has had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam to conduct research and assist in sharing techniques with Vietnamese hospital clinicians. In addition to serving the global community this past semester, she also volunteered locally as a tutor for children at Hope Garden, a place for homeless women and children. Kristen is thankful to the Dodgers and Campanellas for their generosity and for a gift that will allow her to continue to increase her involvement in the community.
Scholar: Manvir Kaur
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Manvir grew up in India and moved to the United States at the age of 15. Through various volunteer opportunities, she found an affinity for working one-on-one with patients to improve their quality of life. Manvir said that she is proud to be pursuing a career considered novel in southern Asian and Sikh communities and is raising awareness for the profession of physical therapy via talks and tutoring in her hometown and neighboring areas. She is thankful to the Campanella and Dodgers Foundations for the honorable scholarship and is excited to be part of the Dodger family.
Scholar: Shayan Safar
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Shayan was introduced to physical therapy after a severe arm fracture. He was treated by a physical therapist who was a graduate of CSUN’s program. That transformative experience inspired him to pursue a career in physical therapy and a mission to live a life of service. Shayan is Iranian-American and was able to serve a large population of Persian patients during his first summer clinical internship in the program. As the son of two immigrant parents living in Los Angeles, he feels that having the support of his favorite baseball team that represents America’s favorite pastime is truly a remarkable symbol of the American dream. He was incredibly honored to receive the scholarship.
Scholar: Daniella Averbukh
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 63)
About Scholarship Recipient: Daniella was the youngest in her class to receive a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Due to her academic excellence in high school, she was able to begin her undergraduate work at the age of 14. As a dancer, Daniella decided to pursue kinesiology, and ultimately, go on to become a physical therapist. As a mentor of young dancers, she observed many dancing related injuries; she saw first-hand physical therapists benefiting patients. After volunteering at a nursing home, she saw a need for more cultural diversity in medical professionals, and realized as the daughter of Russian immigrants, that she could help fulfill that need. Daniella is extremely grateful for the generosity of the Campanella and Dodgers foundations and is thankful to the CSUN physical therapy department for this scholarship. Since many of her family members are medical professionals, healing patients has been a goal of hers from an early age. Receiving the scholarship brings her one-step closer to achieving her goal and dream of becoming a physical therapist.
Scholar: Reid Gantney
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 63)
About Scholarship Recipient: Reid was a kinesiology undergraduate student at CSUN, a program that fostered his passion for working in sports and gave him the opportunity to help both high school and collegiate athletes. This passion for working with athletes continued after he graduated and landed the job as head athletic trainer at a high school in his childhood community. Reid then pursued his master’s degree in exercise science and, later, returned to CSUN to teach part-time in the kinesiology department. He stopped teaching after two years because he was accepted into CSUN’s physical therapy program. Becoming a physical therapist has always been a dream of his because it gives him the tools to continue to serve his community. Reid said that the Campanella and the Dodgers foundations are helping to make his dream a reality. Some of his greatest memories as a child are those when he was with his dad at Dodger stadium. He deeply appreciates the generosity of the foundations and is honored to be part of the storied history of Roy Campanella and his family’s legacy of giving back to the community.
Scholar: LisaMarie Ornelas
Year Awarded: 2019
Working towards degree: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (Class 63)
About Scholarship Recipient: LisaMarie said her passion for physical therapy arose from her involvement in the sports medicine program offered by her high school. She became a Matador in 2012 and juggled being a full-time student with a 40 hour work week. LisaMarie said that as a Latina student, she is proud to be setting an example for her younger brother by being part of a scholastic program that she has strived for since high school. As the daughter of community workers, she said that helping people is in her nature. She would like to help others experience movement without pain so they can focus their time on spending it with family and friends. LisaMarie has been a Dodger fan since before she was born because her grandfather was a Brooklyn Dodger fan and he planted that seed for the love of baseball in their family. She is thankful for the kindness of the Campanellas and the Dodgers for the amazing opportunity to be part of the Dodger family.
About the Scholarship: Roy “Campy” Campanella was a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and one of the first African Americans to play Major League Baseball; he was also a three-time National League MVP. In 1958, he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down, ending his baseball career. He started physical therapy which helped him gain enough mobility to become a guest instructor at the Dodgers’ spring training camp, offering lectures to young catchers. Roy passed away in 1993, a year later his wife Roxie began donating money to physical therapy programs and she continued to do so until her passing in 2004.
The scholarships at CSUN are made possible due to a generous contribution from the Campanella Family. In 2005, the Roy and Roxie Campanella Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation partnered to dedicate scholarships to CSUN physical therapy students. Roy and Roxie’s daughter, Joni Campanella-Roan, has enhanced the partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers and continues to be actively involved with the College. The partnership has grown to add more scholarships, and since 2010, each year the Dodgers have invited a CSUN physical therapy student to intern with the team’s medical staff.
Read more about the honoring of this year’s recipients from CSUN Today here.
