EMPOWER Scholarships

The EMPOWER (Encourage Minority Participation in Occupations with Emphasis on Rehabilitation) Scholarship, administered by the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute encourages and supports ethnically diverse students who are pursuing a career in a medical or rehabilitation field.

The scholarship is made possible by a generous gift from the David M. Hersey Endowment Fund of the Allina Health Foundation.

Applicants must identify how they will use their education and training and demonstrate their interest in rehabilitation. Selection is based on the applicant’s stated intentions, past achievements, need and graduation ranking.

2023 EMPOWER scholarship winners

The 2023 recipients are Ulyses Perez and Arreh Jain. Congratulations and best wishes to all on their educational goals.

My name is Ulyses Perez, a recent graduate of the University of St. Thomas, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. I am honored and grateful to be a recipient of the EMPOWER Scholarship! As I start the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at the University of Minnesota this summer, the EMPOWER Scholarship will serve as a reminder of the positive and rewarding experiences I have gained thus far in the field of Physical Therapy at CKRI. It will continue to motivate me in making significant contributions in Physical Therapy. Thank you CKRI for the support!

Arreh Jain is a rising freshman at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, College of Biological Sciences, majoring in Neuroscience and Human Physiology. Arreh has been an avid volunteer with the City of Plymouth, Wayzata district Schools, Nonprofits like Feed My Starving Children, Vidya Gyan, Hindu American Temple School and local hospitals. He has been awarded the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award consecutively for four years (2019-22). He plans to continue to volunteer at the hospitals and explore other serving opportunities through the University of Minnesota, which would help him with his mission to make a difference in the life of others by supporting improved education, health and overall well-being of the world communities, to provide an inclusive environment that embraces diversity.