Second Round of Light the Way Scholarships Awarded to Doctor of Physical Therapy Students

Baylor University’s Department of Physical Therapy has awarded its second round of the Light the Way Scholarship—this time to eight recipients.

The annual scholarship for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students was established by an anonymous donation and is supported by continued contributions from alumni, faculty, and friends of the Department. If you would like to donate to the Light the Way Scholarship fund, please click here.

COHORT 2024

Destiny Bradshaw 

"My motivation to pursue physical therapy comes from a deep passion for helping others regain their independence and improve their quality of life. Throughout my experiences, I’ve seen the profound difference that physical therapists can make in people’s recovery, and that inspired me to join this profession, where I can have a lasting impact on people’s lives.

The Light the Way Scholarship has been incredibly helpful in lightening the financial burden of my education, allowing me to balance my studies and family responsibilities. This much-needed support has been instrumental in helping me continue pursuing my dream and work toward graduating this December."

La-Dayijah Cook

"I was motivated to become a physical therapist because I have a passion for helping others. I also enjoy working with the athletic population—and this just provides the best of both worlds.

The Baylor Light the Way Scholarship helps me achieve my goals because I no longer have to worry about how I will make ends meet. I can now focus on becoming the best physical therapist I can be!"

La-Dayijah was also honored in 2023 as one of the two inaugural Light the Way scholarship recipients.

Ayrton Martinez

"I was introduced to physical therapy at a young age when my mother went through an accident at her workplace. I helped her with her home exercise program and attended appointments, where I witnessed the significant impact physical therapy can have on people’s lives. This experience motivated me to become a physical therapist, driven by my passion for promoting an active lifestyle and my desire to be part of individuals' journeys to recovery.

This award provides tremendous support for my academic journey by alleviating the financial stress and burden I face as a student. It also further strengthens my sense of responsibility and motivation to strive for excellence and make a meaningful impact in our field." 

Maya Moody

"I was motivated to become a physical therapist because of my love for movement and my passion for helping others with their health in a holistic manner. I also spent several years as a basic science musculoskeletal researcher. My time in the lab solidified my desire to pursue a career that would be person- and movement system-centered.

My goal as a physical therapist is to serve a diverse population at the junction of pelvic and orthopedic physical therapy services. The generous provision of the Light the Way Scholarship brings me closer to that aim, enabling me to focus extra attention and resources on continuing my education in dry needling and pelvic health immediately following graduation."

COHORT 2025

Nicole Benbow

"Before starting Baylor’s DPT program, I worked in education and hospitality. However, my journey took an unexpected turn when my best friend suffered a spinal cord injury a few years ago. Witnessing her rehabilitation and the incredible impact of physical therapy on her recovery ignited my passion for the profession; motivating me to help others regain independence and improve their quality of life.

This scholarship encourages me to strive for excellence. Knowing that I have this support motivates me to excel in my studies and ultimately achieve my dream of helping pediatric patients improve their mobility and quality of life. This recognition also inspires me to give back to my community and contribute to the field in meaningful ways."

Damon Gill

"I was motivated to become a physical therapist by my deep appreciation for longevity and the importance of my community members having high quality of life. I’m passionate about not only helping patients recover physically, but also supporting them through the mental journey of rehabilitation, empowering them to reach their full potential, live healthier, and have more fulfilling lives.

This scholarship allows me to continue my education without the financial burden, helping me stay focused on achieving my professional goals of working with individuals to reach their physical potential. It also motivates me to give back by supporting others who wish to pursue this path, contributing to the growth of the physical therapy field."

Jadan Matthews-Barnett

"At a young age, my grandmother, Maxine 'Maw-Maw' Matthews, introduced me to the medical field. She was a nurse and midwife with healing hands, and I always aspired to be the woman she was. Like many, I am a former athlete and endured injuries throughout my volleyball career. Based on my sports background and the fire my grandmother instilled in me, I was always destined to fall in love with physical therapy.

Receiving this scholarship has truly meant the world to me. I come from a family of hard work and determination, which has allowed me to help decrease the amounts on my parents’ plates. Furthermore, the topic of the essay allowed me to open up about the loss of my grandmother, Maw-Maw, and how God was the only reason I made it through. It is a part of my testimony, that no matter how hard life gets, God will pull you through because He has a plan."

Alisa Phommavong

"I think the personable bonds we get to form with patients always motivates me more than anything. Since pain is both a unique and unpleasant experience for individuals, it is humbling to be trusted as someone's provider and be there for a patient through their highs and lows of a rehab journey. I've always appreciated that the PT field doesn't leave patients behind even in the case of chronic conditions and is always striving to do better and provide individual care for everyone. 

I am very honored to receive this scholarship because it serves as a reminder of why most of us go into healthcare, which is for the care of others. I believe this scholarship can help me reach my goals of providing individualized care to underserved populations both from a self-reflective perspective—as even the process of doing scholarship applications requires honest self-reflection—as well as from a continuing education perspective. The values of this scholarship are something that humbles me every day. More than anything, moving forward with these values of consistently reflecting on our efforts and biases, committing to continuing education beyond PT school, etc. is something I hope to take with me throughout my career to provide the best care for patients."