Scholar: Zachary Atienza
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Zachary was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He came to Los Angeles to attend school and pursue the city's career opportunities. Zachary said that as a Filipino student, he is proud and grateful to be the first of his family to attend graduate school. Receiving this scholarship is a great help and high honor to him. The scholarship will help to lessen his financial burden. Zachary's goal is to help individuals break through the physical limits that life has imposed on them so that they can have a better quality of life. He is grateful for the generosity of the Dodgers and the Campanellas for helping him to achieve his goals.
Scholar: Melani Cabanayan
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Melani and her family are honored that she will be the first in her family to complete a doctoral program. During her time in the DPT program, she has been involved in the mentoring program for future DPT students and has several other program events. In the near future, she will join the Dodgers during Spring Training for her last clinical rotation. Melani is honored to receive this scholarship and elated to be part of such a well-known legacy. She hopes to become a physical therapist who can educate and empower the community to move and live better.
Scholar: Andrew Donnelly
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Andrew served in the United States Marine Corps prior to pursuing higher education and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. Since coming to CSUN, he has been involved in many events and mentoring opportunities, including serving as an officer in the Physical Therapy Club. Andrew is honored to receive this scholarship and said he is overjoyed to join in with a professional organization that prioritizes welfare and community involvement. He is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers for their generosity and support of the CSUN DPT students.
Scholar: Taylor Hawes
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Taylor said she and her family are very proud that she will be the first in her family to earn a doctorate degree. During her time in the DPT program, she has been involved in many activities that benefit the university, community, and DPT program. She said receiving this scholarship is an immense honor as she has been a softball player for many years and a fan of the Dodgers since birth. Taylor is grateful to the Dodgers and the Campanellas and looks forward to continuing to help individuals in need and share her passion for baseball, the Dodgers, and the physical therapy profession.
Scholar: Thuy Jacobson
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Thuy was born and raised in Dallas, Texas after her family immigrated to the United States following the Vietnam War. In 2009, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in business administration and a focus on marketing. She is the first in her family to graduate from college.
Years later, her husband's job brought them to Los Angeles. She then decided to pursue a degree in physical therapy. She enrolled at Glendale Community College to take prerequisite courses while she worked as a waitress and physical therapy aide. Thuy dreamed of attending CSUN's DPT program because of the exceptional reputation and many volunteer opportunities it provided. During her time at CSUN she has been involved in many volunteer and event activities in the program.
Thuy feels immense gratitude to be a recipient of this scholarship. She feels lucky to be able to use her passion for health, wellness, and movement to help others achieve their own life goals. She said her family has overcome many tragic life events and receiving this scholarship proves to them that it has not all been in vain. She is thankful to the Campanellas, the Dodgers, and the faculty in the Physical Therapy Department.
Scholar: Bret Maddux
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 62)
About Scholarship Recipient: Bret came into the physical therapy world through sports. In high school, he was a CIF champion pole vaulter, two-time state champion in football, and also received an Eagle Scout award in the Scouts of America. During his time at CSUN, Bret has grown academically and in his involvement in the community. He has been engaged in many campus events and community service activities as well.
Bret said he has been a fan of the Dodgers since he was a boy and has regularly attended games with his family and best friend. To receive this scholarship is a complete honor for him. He said that although the road to get to where he is today has been long and difficult, he is extremely grateful to be where he is now. Bret is thankful for the generosity and the recognition that has been given to him by the Campanellas and the Dodgers. He is excited to continue giving back throughout his career.
Scholar: Caelan Griggs
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 63)
About Scholarship Recipient: Caelan began his studies at community college and worked to pay his way through classes. He moved to attend Humboldt State and became president of the Kinesiology club there where he helped aspiring physical therapy students attend various conferences across California. Caelan came to CSUN and has been involved in many activities and events in the Physical Therapy Department. He is working with faculty to research and create a presentation on health and sustainability. Caelan said that as a fan of the Dodgers, receiving this scholarship has been a dream come true and great honor. He considers it a blessing to pursue a career in which he can positively impact the lives of many on a daily basis. He is sincerely thankful to the Dodgers and the Campanellas.
Scholar: Christine Matsuda
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 63)
About Scholarship Recipient: Christine said that her path to CSUN's DPT program was not the most conventional, as it started with an accounting degree. The years following college were filled with rediscovery that led her heart to ultimately find the physical therapy profession. During her time at CSUN, she has been involved in many physical therapy events. Christine said that receiving this scholarship has been an incredible honor for her and she hopes to represent the profession to the best of her abilities. She said that physical therapy has the potential to impact people's lives, as baseball does for many. She is thankful to the Campanella and Dodgers Foundation Boards for their generosity.
Scholar: Celeste Alcala
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 64)
About Scholarship Recipient: Celeste is a first-generation Latina student and is grateful to be part of the DPT program. As an undergraduate student, she served as a tutor and mentor to further student success at CSUN. Celeste has also spent her time in the CSUN community volunteering for non-profit organizations by promoting physical activity and wellness. Celeste is thankful to everyone who has helped guide her journey to becoming a physical therapist thus far. More important, she said that the Dodgers have always been part of her family history; from attending games before she could walk, to her siblings playing on the stadium's field before high school championship games. She said, receiving support for her education is more than she can ask for, but to receive support from an organization that she has valued her entire life is truly an honor. Celest is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers for this scholarship. She seeks to continue her academic career with integrity and compassion and hopes to make a difference in the field of physical therapy someday.
Scholar: Earl Lopez
Year Awarded: 2020
Working towards degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy (Class 64)
About Scholarship Recipient: Earl is a proud Matador and said that CSUN has become like home. As a CSUN undergrad, he was heavily involved in club activities in the Kinesiology department, and engaged in various academic and community based volunteer opportunities. He was also a dancer and choreographer for the annual Kinesiology dance performance, Collaboratoria.
Earl was extremely happy to return to his home at CSUN to pursue his dream of becoming a physical therapist and join the DPT program. He is thankful to the Campanellas and the Dodgers for this scholarship. It is a tremendous honor to him that affirms his strong sense of duty to continue serving communities.
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.
Scholar: Allison Meyer 
