Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Awards Second Class of Scholarships to College of Health and Human Services Students
Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services is grateful for the continued investment from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust which supports students and innovative learning environments at CHHS’s Phoenix Bioscience Core campus.
In addition to funding campus renovations that will enhance hands-on learning experiences, the grant supports 15 graduate students each year for three years who are pursuing careers as occupational therapists, physician assistants, and physical therapists.
Meet the second class of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Scholars and learn how this scholarship is supporting their academic journeys and professional aspirations as future health care providers.
Jamie Erdely
Program: Occupational Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Peoria, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will help me continue pursuing my goal of becoming an occupational therapist. It helps relieve some financial burden so that I am able to fully focus on my education. I am extremely grateful for this support and look forward to using my education to provide the best possible care for my future patients.
Lizette Camacho Ramirez
Program: Occupational Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will help lessen the financial costs of the program as I complete my level II fieldwork rotations this summer, both of which are in Maricopa County. It will help bring me one step closer to providing occupational therapy services for underserved families and communities.
Kelly Downs
Program: Occupational Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will allow me to pursue my career aspirations in the health professions by reducing financial stress. It will help me continue on the path toward completing my Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree, allowing me to focus on my education and clinical experiences. With this support, I will be one step closer to making a meaningful impact in Maricopa County by helping individuals improve their independence, participation, and overall quality of life.
Madisanne Dahl
Program: Occupational Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Waddell, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This will assist me with being able to dive into my fieldwork and capstone experience as I complete my final year as an NAU Occupational Therapy doctoral student. This scholarship will relieve a small financial burden that comes with the privilege of higher education to allow me to build my clinical skills and relationships as a student within our community.
Ally Raissen
Program: Occupational Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will support my career aspirations as a student by easing the financial burden that comes with graduate school. I will be able to focus on academics and I recognize the support that this charitable fund has given me as a dedicated student wanting make a difference with Arizona.
Meghan Sandoval
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
Receiving this scholarship will help reduce the financial burden of PA school and allow me to focus more fully on my education, clinical training, and professional development. As a student funding my education primarily through loans, every scholarship makes a meaningful difference in reducing future debt and increasing my ability to pursue work in underserved communities after graduation. My goal is to become a Physician Assistant serving populations with limited access to care, particularly in psychiatry and substance use treatment. This support will help me continue working toward that goal while allowing me to focus on becoming the best provider possible for my future patients.
Michael Piedra Gonzalez
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Glendale, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of PA school, allowing me to focus more fully on my education, clinical training, and professional development. It will bring me one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a compassionate, knowledgeable physician assistant dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care and serving my community.
Eleanor Randolph
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
I am immensely grateful for this scholarship. As I work toward my goal of becoming a physician assistant, the support this scholarship provides will help me dedicate more time to my education, and will allow me to learn and grow as a provider. This financial relief is a blessing, and I am deeply committed to putting it towards providing compassionate, consistent, accessible care for my patients and community.
Samantha Simonian
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Mission Viejo, California
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship would give me the stability to focus on PA school while still showing up for the community that shaped me. Serving people experiencing homelessness is where I learned the kind of provider I want to be—someone who meets people with dignity, patience, and compassion. This support would ease the pressure of balancing school, living costs, and volunteer work, allowing me to stay rooted in Maricopa County and continue growing into the clinician this community has encouraged me to become. Most of all, it would help me keep becoming the kind of neighbor this community deserves.
Daniella Vigilant
Program: Physician Assistant Studies
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Suprise, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship will help me pursue my career aspirations because now I will have extra funds to be able to purchase things I wouldn’t have been able to afford such as PANCE prep material and suture kits that will hone my skills and knowledge for school and once I am practicing.
Claire Lindemier
Program: Physical Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Scholarship Impact
Receiving the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Scholarship will make a huge difference as I continue pursuing my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Northern Arizona University. Graduate school is both academically and financially demanding, and this scholarship will help relieve some of that burden so I can focus more on becoming the best physical therapist I can be. My goal is to become a pediatric physical therapist because I have always loved working with children and want to help them gain confidence, independence, and a better quality of life through movement. I also hope to complete a pediatric residency after graduation to further specialize in treating children with complex needs. This scholarship allows me to invest more of my time and energy into my education, clinical experiences, and serving others. I am incredibly grateful for this support as I work toward a career that I am truly passionate about.
Hajar Al-Zubaidy
Program: Physical Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
This scholarship would significantly support me as I pursue my goal of becoming a physical therapist. The financial demands of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program can be significant, and this scholarship would help reduce the burden of tuition, educational materials, clinical experiences, and travel expenses. With that support, I would be able to focus more fully on my academic and professional development, allowing me to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide the highest quality care to my future patients. As a future physical therapist, I am passionate about helping individuals regain mobility, independence, and confidence following injury, illness, or disability. Through my volunteer experiences, I have witnessed the impact that limited healthcare access and socioeconomic barriers can have on individuals and families. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care and advocating for equitable access to rehabilitation services, particularly in underserved communities. This scholarship would not only support my educational journey but also bring me one step closer to achieving my career aspirations of becoming a skilled and dedicated healthcare professional. By investing in my education, this scholarship would help me develop the expertise, leadership qualities, and compassion necessary to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of my patients and the communities I serve.
Skyla Cochrane
Program: Physical Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Scholarship Impact
Receiving this scholarship will help me by reducing the financial burden of graduate school and allowing me to focus more on my education. As a full-time student, financial support helps cover tuition, educational expenses, and living costs, enabling me to devote my time and energy to becoming the best clinician possible. Your support not only eases the financial challenges but also encourages me to continue working toward my goals.
Keila Orona
Program: Physical Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
Receiving this scholarship will ease the financial strain of graduate school, and I’m truly grateful for the support. It will allow me to focus more fully on my growth as a future physical therapist without the constant stress of educational expenses.
Holly Roof
Program: Physical Therapy
Class Year: 2027
Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona
Scholarship Impact
My husband and I are paying for my graduate school on our own, and work really hard to be good stewards of our money. We live on one income with me being in school, so receiving this scholarship will help immensely in propelling us forward when we go to be able to start paying off our loans. Personally, this provides such a boost of confidence in that others out there have faith in my future as a healthcare provider, and I’m honored to have been chosen.