OT scholarship recipients honored at AMBUCS luncheon

On Oct. 5, members of the Kalamazoo AMBUCS organization came to the College of Health and Human Services to celebrate the WMU OT students who were 2016 recipients of AMBUCS scholarships.

The recipients, WMU OT students from both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, expressed a great deal of gratitude to the organization for the financial aid.

“It has allowed me to reduce my work hours so I can focus more on my classes,” said Caitlin Muir. “Plus, driving back and forth between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, this will definitely help me keep gas in my tank."

AMBUCS is a nonprofit service organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. For 2016-­17, nearly 40 WMU OT students received a total of $28,400 from local chapters and the national AMBUCS organization.

(L to R) Dr. Ben Atchison, Natalie Allen, Caitlin Muir,  Alison Braden, Krista Kerby, Ellen Stimson, Chanel Raddatz, Alex McMullen, Sarah Jarzembowski, Julie Ballast, Heather Lonkar, Mr. Jack Bellware - president of the Kalamazoo chapter of AMBUCS

According to AMBUCS, the organization has given more than $8.3 million in scholarships to nearly 15,000 students pursuing degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy,speech pathology and audiology. Over $150,000 is awarded annually.

Scholarship applications are due mid-April and awards are announced in late June.