Members of the O&P Community,
It is understood that students enrolled at NUPOC are not, as indicated
in our initial posting, “full time degree candidates.” They are, in
fact, enrolled in a post-baccalaureate certificate program that does not
award a degree, it awards a certificate. Thus, we correct our original
posting (below), as well as the OPAF web site where this announcement is
listed.
Thanks very much to Cathy Carter of ABC for bringing this important
detail to our attention. Thank you, Cathy!
With sincere apologies for this error and miscommunication – JSR
—
(CORRECTED POST)
ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC ASSISTANCE FUND (OPAF) ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2003
Contact: Julie Besaha
OPAF Program Coordinator
(202) 223-2878
Read this announcement online at: http://www.opfund.org/announcements/
OPAF LAUNCHES O&P SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AS PART OF THE DALE YASUKAWA
MEMORIAL FUND
Washington, DC – In November 2001, a memorial fund was established at
OPAF in the name of Dale Yasukawa CP.
Yasukawa, who died on November 22, 2001 at the age of 43, served as
director of prosthetics at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)
in the department of prosthetic-orthotic clinical services. He began his
work with RIC in 1988 as a physical therapy aid. In 1990, he joined the
O&P clinical services department, and in 1991 Yasukawa attended the
Northwestern University prosthetics certificate program. He became an
ABC-certified prosthetist in 1993 and throughout his career worked with
patients of all ages – children, young adults, and geriatrics. Yasukawa
was involved in the Midwest Chapter of the American Academy of
Orthotists & Prosthetists for over seven years, completing his service
as immediate past president in 2001.
In cooperation with Linda Yasukawa, PT, MS, OPAF has created a
scholarship program connected to Dale’s memorial fund
http://www.opfund.org/programs/scholarship.htm
This scholarship program is currently open to all full-time certificate
candidates enrolled in Northwestern University’s Prosthetic Orthotic
Center (NUPOC) during the fall 2003 and spring 2004 terms. The chief
purpose of the scholarship is to encourage student participation in the
annual meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the American Academy of
Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP). It is expected that the award will
be used specifically to defray Midwest Chapter meeting registration fees
and assist in the purchasing of books, supplies, and equipment needed
for ongoing studies at NUPOC.
OPAF will award one $500 scholarship each fiscal year. The 2004
application cycle has begun. The deadline is April 15, 2004, as
indicated below, with the successful candidate to be announced shortly
thereafter at the 2004 annual meeting of the Midwest Chapter.
As the Memorial Fund grows through future contributions, its associated
scholarship program will expand to recognize the continued support of
OPAF’s founders: the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
(AAOP), American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics
(ABC), and American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA). The
future scholarship program will be open to all full-time students
enrolled in O&P Programs accredited by the National Commission on
Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) and the Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Scholarship
recipients will be expected to use their awards to defray fees incurred
toward:
* AAOP Annual Meeting registration;
* AOPA National Assembly registration;
* registration for annual meetings of state and regional AAOP chapters
and AOPA associations and societies; and
* registration for the ABC Certification examinations.
To be considered for a scholarship under the current program, a student
should:
1. submit a package of information that includes a current curriculum
vitae (indicating current grade point average and class rank or
percentile ranking); and 2. provide a short narrative (no more than two
double-spaced pages in
length) that describes why she/he is a good candidate for the award. The
application narrative should address:
* financial need;
* school/community/volunteer activities;
* noteworthy personal and academic achievements and awards and
recognitions; and
* work/internship history.
All applications under the current cycle are due no later than April 15,
2004.
All materials should be sent to address noted below, and all
applications must be complete. OPAF reserves the right to return
incomplete applications and contact applicants for additional
information. Applications received cannot be returned.
Note: Please do not include any binders, folders, or any permanently
bound material with your application.
All applications will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the Board of
Directors of the Fund.
The successful applicant in the 2004 funding cycle will be responsible
for offering to OPAF a short narrative (at least two double-spaced pages
in length) about their experiences at the 2005 Midwest Chapter meeting.
This essay will appear on a special page set aside on OPAF web site to
recognize the student’s professional accomplishments and experiences in
O&P.
All successful applicants will also be responsible for keeping their own
receipts and financial records for any reporting required in compliance
with Internal Revenue Service guidelines as stated in IRS Publication
520 “Scholarships and Fellowships.” A copy of this document is available
here. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document. If you
do not have this program installed on your browser, you can download it
here for free.)
For more information about the Dale Yasukawa Memorial Fund and its
associated scholarship program, and/or or make a donation, please
contact:
Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc.
1666 K Street NW, Suite 440
Washington, DC 20006
Tel (202) 223-2878
Email [email protected]
—
OPAF is a 501(c)(3) public charity, the official philanthropy of the
U.S. orthotics and prosthetics community, established in 1995 by the
Orthotic and Prosthetic National Office. Dedicated initially to
providing financial and in-kind support to the 1996 Paralympics, OPAF
now generates its own initiatives through partnerships with individuals,
organizations and institutions engaged in raising public awareness of
disability and improving the quality of rehabilitation medicine, science
and technology.
As a community-focused nonprofit organization, OPAF aims primarily to
enable individuals with physical disabilities-especially those served by
members of the orthotics and prosthetics community-to enjoy the rewards
of personal achievement, physical fitness, and social interaction.
All contributions to OPAF are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of
U.S. law, and annual sponsorships of OPAF, its programs, and its
fundraisers are available to every individual, institution, and company
inside and beyond the O&P community. For more information about
sponsorship opportunities contact OPAF at 1666 K Street NW, Suite 440,
Washington, DC 20006, Tel. (202) 223-2878, email [email protected], or
visit http://www.opfund.org/support/index.html
For complete information about current OPAF programs, please visit
www.opfund.org.
