PA Student Scholarships
Over the years, the PA Foundation has awarded more than $2.3 million in scholarships to PA students, benefitting more than 1,400 future PAs. Scholarships are awarded based on the availability of funds provided through contributions from AAPA members, other individuals, and corporate partners.
Eligibility Requirements
The Physician Associate (PA) Foundation Scholarship Program is open to applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria listed below. Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, and leadership and service activity involvement.
The PA Foundation selection committee is seeking PA student applicants who demonstrate passion for the PA profession, commitment to serving their communities and patients, and exceptional leadership potential.
Additional consideration will be given to applicants who:
- Demonstrate financial need
- Identify as part of an underrepresented group including American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Hispanic/Latinx; LGBTQI+; and/or persons with disabilities
- Identify as a first-generation college student
Scholarship applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a student member of AAPA
- Attend an ARC-PA-accredited PA program (programs with “Accreditation – Provisional” status qualify)
- Have successfully completed at least one term of PA studies (semester or quarter) and be in good academic standing
- Be enrolled in PA school at some point during the application cycle
Additional criteria/requirements apply to individual scholarship awards. We encourage you to apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for.
View the applicant instructional guide before beginning the application process and for assistance as you go.
Questions? Contact Allie Rivera at [email protected].
2025 Application Cycle*
Opens: February 3
Closes: March 17
The Foundation will offer one application cycle in 2025.
*Dates pending/subject to change.
2025 Cycle
Opens February 3; closes March 17
- PA Foundation Scholarship
19 awards totaling $28,750
Open to applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria listed above.
NOTE: Applicants must complete the PA Foundation Scholarship application in order to apply for any of the scholarships listed below.
- AAPA Past Presidents Scholarship
5 awards @ $2,000 each
Awarded to students who demonstrate service leadership through their PA program or through a community health organization/project.
- AAPA Rural Health Caucus Scholarship/Ron Nelson Memorial Scholarship
1 of each award @ $2,000 each
Awarded to students from a rural area who are committed to serving a rural community.
- NCCPA Endowed Scholarship
3 awards @ $3,000 each
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group and/or as economically disadvantaged and/or as educationally disadvantaged.
- Timi Agar Barwick Scholarship for Humanism in Medicine
1 award @ $1,500
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group and/or as economically disadvantaged and/or as educationally disadvantaged.
- William H. Marquardt Community Health Access Scholarship
4 awards @ $2,500 each
Aims to benefit PA students who are dedicated to promoting accessible primary and preventive healthcare amongst underserved populations.
- Joyce Nichols Memorial Scholarship
5 awards @ $1,000 each
Awarded to Black or African American PA students. Honors the legacy of PA Joyce Nichols, who overcame much adversity to become the first Black woman to be formally educated as and practice as a PA. She was the first person of color to serve on the AAPA Board of Directors. PA Nichols advocated for and established the AAPA Minority Affairs Committee and served as its first chair.
- Women in Philanthropy Scholarship
1 award @ $1,000
Awarded to PA students who demonstrate a dedication to promoting women’s and/or children’s health locally and globally.
- Ruth Ballweg Memorial Scholarship
1 award @ $2,500
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group. Honors the legacy and distinguished career of Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C Emeritus (1944-2022), and aims to continue Ruth’s work to expand diversity within the PA profession. From her childhood in southern Oregon, she observed how a rural healthcare shortage affected those struck by the polio epidemic and saw a path forward through expanding educational access to “non-traditional” candidates. She began her career as the first female PA in southern Oregon and then the first PA at the public health department in Bremerton, Washington. In her tenure as program director for the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest, she worked tirelessly as an advocate, educator, and leader to create opportunities within the profession and protect access to healthcare for underserved populations.
- PA Moms Advocacy and Leadership Scholarship
3 awards @ $1,000 each
Awarded to women demonstrating a commitment to the PA profession through advocacy and leadership. Lead support provided by PA Moms.
2024 Cycle
Opens February 4; closes March 18
- PA Foundation Scholarship
17 awards totaling $28,750
Open to applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria listed above.
NOTE: Applicants must complete the PA Foundation Scholarship application in order to apply for any of the scholarships listed below.
- AAPA Past Presidents Scholarship
3 awards @ $2,000 each
Awarded to students who demonstrate service leadership through their PA program or through a community health organization/project.
- AAPA Rural Health Caucus Scholarship/Ron Nelson Memorial Rural Scholarship
1 of each award @ $2,000 each
Awarded to students from a rural area who are committed to serving a rural community.
- NCCPA Endowed Scholarship
3 awards @ $3,000 each
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group and/or as economically disadvantaged and/or as educationally disadvantaged, based on the definitions provided here.
- Ron Pace Memorial Scholarship
2 awards @ $1,500 each
Awarded to a Florida-based student who is a veteran or the child/dependent of a veteran. Named in memory of Ron Pace, a Florida Academy of Physician Assistants past president and AAPA Outstanding PA of the Year Award recipient, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.
- Timi Agar Barwick Scholarship for Humanism in Medicine
1 award @ $1,500
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group and/or as economically disadvantaged and/or as educationally disadvantaged, based on the definitions provided here.
- William H. Marquardt Community Health Access Scholarship
4 awards @ $2,500 each
Aims to benefit PA students who are dedicated to promoting accessible primary and preventive healthcare amongst underserved populations.
- Joyce Nichols Memorial Scholarship
5 awards @ $1,000 each
Awarded to Black PA students. Honors the legacy of PA Joyce Nichols, who overcame much adversity to become the first Black woman to be formally educated as and practice as a PA. She was the first person of color to serve on the AAPA Board of Directors. PA Nichols advocated for and established the AAPA Minority Affairs Committee and served as its first chair.
- Women in Philanthropy Scholarship
1 award @ $1,000
Awarded to PA students who demonstrate a dedication to promoting women’s and/or children’s health locally and globally.
- Ruth Ballweg Memorial Scholarship
1 award @ $2,500
Awarded to students who identify as part of a historically marginalized group, based on the definition provided here. Honors the legacy and distinguished career of Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C Emeritus (1944-2022), and aims to continue Ruth’s work to expand diversity within the PA profession. From her childhood in southern Oregon, she observed how a rural healthcare shortage affected those struck by the polio epidemic and saw a path forward through expanding educational access to “non-traditional” candidates. She began her career as the first female PA in southern Oregon and then the first PA at the public health department in Bremerton, Washington. In her tenure as program director for the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest, she worked tirelessly as an advocate, educator, and leader to create opportunities within the profession and protect access to healthcare for underserved populations.
- PA Moms Advocacy and Leadership Scholarship
3 awards @ $1,000 each
Awarded to women demonstrating a commitment to the PA profession through advocacy and leadership. Lead support provided by PA Moms.
Other PA Student Scholarship Opportunities
- PAs for Latino Health Scholarship
- Prentiss L. Harrison Memorial /African Heritage PA Scholarship
- The Eva Dimitrov, MD & PAHPM Student Scholarship
- Society of Army PAs – Captain Sean P. Grimes Physician Assistant Educational Scholarship Award
TO APPLY:
The application process is hosted through an online platform called Wizehive. Applicants will first create a Wizehive account and then access the application form and complete the process within the Wizehive platform.
View the applicant instructional guide for assistance with the application process.
Questions about the scholarship program? Contact Allie Rivera at [email protected].
2024 PA Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to the 44 PA students awarded scholarships through the 2024 application cycle.