Member Awards

Now Accepting Nominations

Awards will be presented each year at the APTAKY Conference. There are many deserving PT and PTA professionals in our organization! Please consider taking a moment to nominate a co-worker or colleague who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service to our profession. (Nominees must currently be APTA KY members).

Submit Your Nomination

Donald H. Lange Lifetime Achievement Award

The purpose of the award is to recognize the Physical Therapist who has exhibited outstanding leadership, innovation in practice, mentorship, and ongoing service to the profession of Physical Therapy. The award is named for Don Lange, PT. Mr. Lange practiced in Kentucky for many years. Not only was he an exceptional clinician and mentor of young physical therapists, he also was instrumental in the development of Kentucky’s practice act. Mr. Lange’s impact on the profession of Physical Therapy, the lives of all those he touched and his commitment to life-long learning and leadership is the foundation for this award.

Criteria: The award shall be based on the following:

Must be or have been a member in good standing of the APTA/APTA KY.
Must have a commitment to life-long learning as evidenced throughout their career.
Must have exhibited mentoring to students and/or other PTs and PTAs, impacting on their professional lives.
Must have exhibited a pioneer spirit by promotion, cultivating and expanding the profession of Physical Therapy.
Be nominated by at least one letter of support evidencing the above criteria.

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Mark Wiegand, PT, DPT
2023 – Bob Sellin, PT, DSc, ECS
2022 – Bill Tharp, PT, DPT
2021 – Tony English, PT, PhD
2020 – Nancy Urbscheit, PT, PhD
2019 – Janice Kuperstein, PT, PhD
2018 – Terry Malone
2017 – Terry Brown
2016 – Joseph Drake
2015 – Debbie Puckett
2014 – Stuart Lowenthal
2013 – Not awarded
2012 – Nancy Brinly
2011 – Sam Brown
2010 – Not awarded
2009 – Not awarded
2008 – Connie Hauser
2006 – Shaun Goulbourne

Richard V. McDougall “Fledgling” Award

Fledgling Award nominees should have practiced for at least 2 years but not more than 5 years.

Criteria: Nominations will be judged by the Awards committee on the following:

Contribution and Participation in the APTA/APTA KY
Clinical Expertise, Educational/Teaching Expertise or Administrative Expertise
Commitment to Professional Development/Continuous Learning
Community Service/Promotion of the profession
Commitment and Support for Physical Therapy Research
Be nominated by at least one letter of support confirming the above criteria

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Not awarded
2023 – Candace Morton, PT, DPT
2022 – Patrick Veitch, PTA
2021 – Sam Knapp, PTA
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Kirby Mayer, PT, DPT
2018 – Not awarded
2017 – Not awarded
2016 – Avery Schroyer
2015 – Emily Sacca
2014 – R. Matt Scott
2013 – Amanda Ball
2012 – Not awarded
2011 – Lauren Mitchell
2010 – Elizabeth “Liz” Ulanowski
2009 – Not awarded
2008 – Not awarded
2007 – Not awarded
2006 – Jennifer Byme
2005 – Stacy Pagorek
2004 – Elizabeth Rawlings
2003 – Eric Wint
2002 – Not awarded
2001 – Matt Janes
2000 – Not awarded
1999 – Not awarded
1998 – Lori Roby Jarboe
1997 – Ron Lasley, PTA
1996 – Not awarded
1995 – Robin Bell Dutrow
1994 – Steve Marcum, Debra Turner
1993 – Jenny Schaaf
1992 – Roger Robinson

The David A. Pariser Exceptional Educator Award

Criteria:

Nominees must be PTs or PTAs who have been actively engaged in teaching physical therapist students (entry or advanced level) or physical therapist assistant students in formal education for at least five years.
Nominees must be either clinical or academic educators. Nominees must have a faculty appointment of any rank (part-time or full-time) or receive compensation for their teaching responsibilities.
Teaching must occur in an academic setting within one or more accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant education programs, or advanced level programs for physical therapists, from which students earn an academic qualification.
Teaching solely as a component of continuing education does not constitute eligibility for this award.
Nominees must be APTA KY Members.
Nominees must exhibit exceptional teaching effectiveness in the academic setting
Nominees must excell as a role model for academic teaching for students, faculty, and clinicians.

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Sonia Young, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS
2023 – Melanie Hines, PT, DPT
2022 – Elizabeth Ulanowski, PT, DPT, NCS
2021 – Ron Meade, PT, DPT
2020 – Dennis Lesch, PT
2019 – Anne L. Harrison, PT, PhD
2018 – M. Lynn English
2017 – Not awarded
2016 – Steve Hammons

Outstanding Clinical Educator Award

Criteria:

Clinical Instructor for 3 years, averaging 1 student per year
Nomination should be submitted with: letter of recommendation from a PT or PTA student whom the CI has supervised; one letter of recommendation from an ACCE in a Kentucky PT/PTA program; nominee’s CV or resume (additional letters of support are not required, but may be submitted)

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Not awarded
2023 – Summer Barnes, PT, DPT
2022 – Kristen Luttrell, PT, DPT, GCS
2021 – Glenn Decker, PT
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Not awarded
2018 – Dana Deel Lykins
2017 – Not awarded
2016 – Stephanie Turner
2015 – Erica Basille Skinner
2014 – Not awarded
2013 – Carrie Clark Hawkins
2012 – Brett Buras
2011 – Gary J. Costelle
2006 – Shaun Goulbourne

Outstanding Physical Therapist Service Award

Outstanding Physical Therapist Award nominees should have practiced for at least 2 years.

Criteria: Nominations will be judged by the Awards committee on the following:

Contribution and Participation in the APTA/APTA KY
Clinical Expertise, Educational/Teaching Expertise or Administrative Expertise
Commitment to Professional Development/Continuous Learning
Community Service/Promotion of the profession
Commitment and Support for Physical Therapy Research
Be nominated by at least one letter of support confirming the above criteria

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Melanie Hines, PT
2023 – Melanie Hoehn, PT, MHA
2022 – Linda Rosen, PT, MHS
2021 – Beth Ennis, PT, EdD
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Not awarded
2018 – Tom Pennington
2017 – Steve Hammons
2016 – Not awarded
2015 – Michael Muscarella
2014 – Tony Brosky
2013 – Ron Meade
2012 – Dave Pariser
2011 – Ramona Carper
2010 – Gail “Cookie” Freidhoff
2009 – Holly Johnson
2008 – Not awarded
2007 – Janice Kuperstein
2006 – Robert Sellin
2005 – Tony English
2004 – Tina Volz
2003 – Not awarded
2002 – Mark Wiegand
2001 – Not awarded
2000 – Not awarded
1999 – Bill Tharp
1998 – Brenda Hilger
1997 – Terry Brown
1996 – Karen Fedor
1995 – Larry Benz
1994 – Not awarded
1993 – Don Lange
1992 – Linda Langley
1991 – Pat Moran
1990 – Debbie Tharp
1989 – Not awarded
1988 – Brenda Gosney
1987 – Donna Carlson Walker
1986 – Sam Brown
1985 – Connie Hauser
1984 – Mickey Baron
1983 – Debbie Pucket
1982 – Ann Maliszewski
1981 – Nancy Brinly
1980 – Sally “Chip” Bevin
1979 – Lavonne Jeager
1978 – Richard McDougall
1977 – Jeanne Davis

Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Service Award

Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Award nominees should have practiced for at least 2.

Criteria: Nominations will be judged by the Awards committee on the following:

Contribution and Participation in the APTA/APTA KY
Clinical Expertise, Educational/Teaching Expertise or Administrative Expertise
Commitment to Professional Development/Continuous Learning
Community Service/Promotion of the profession
Commitment and Support for Physical Therapy Research
Be nominated by at least one letter of support confirming the above criteria

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Not awarded
2023 – Ashley Wise, PTA
2022 – Mark Cook, PTA
2021 – Stephanie Taylor, PTA
2020 – Not awarded
2019 – Jansen Barrett
2018 – Not awarded
2017 – V. Jeffrey Buis
2016 – Not awarded
2015 – Not awarded
2014 – Chris Garland
2013 – Not awarded
2012 – Chris Garland
2011 – Not awarded
2010 – Not awarded
2009 – Annette Curry
2008 – Not awarded
2007 – Not awarded
2006 – Scott Engelhard
2005 – Sean Sullivan
2004 – Shelly Smith
2003 – Not awarded
2002 – Not awarded
2001 – Not awarded
2000 – Shelly Smith
1999 – Julie Schieber
1998 – Trudi Faget
1997 – Not awarded
1996 – Marcia Sympson

Honorary Membership Award

The Honorary Membership category is reserved for those who are not licensed as physical therapists professionals, but have made significant measurable and profound contributions to the profession as a whole.

PAST AWARDS WINNERS

2024 – Not awarded
2023 – Chantal Prewitt, PhD
2022 – Lisa Volz
2021 – Scott Majors