Commencement marks transition for physical therapy
Jay Dorne / Asst. News Editor
The commencement ceremony for the Master of Physical Therapy
class of 2004 was held in Whitley Auditorium May 2.
Twenty-three students received Master of Physical Therapy
degrees during the ceremony, which honored Elon’s fifth
and final MPT graduating class.
The program is being replaced by a Doctorate of Physical
Therapy program, which will begin in the fall.
The new 36-month DPT program will replace the 24-month
masters program, and its first class will graduate December
2005.
“Sunday was a little piece of history for Elon,”
said Elizabeth Rogers, associate dean of physical
therapy. “It was very meaningful to see the last
class graduate from this program.”
Among the 23 graduates, three were given awards for
excellence in their work. The overall outstanding
student award was presented to Jon Gerenski; the outstanding
research award was presented to Kristin Baxley and the
outstanding research award was presented to Michelle Moody.
Joseph Black, senior vice president of the American Physical
Therapy Association, delivered the commencement
address. Black drew on past experiences from personal,
professional and educational aspects of his life and
encouraged graduates to take important risks in their own
lives.
“Life is a matter of risk management,” Black
said.
Black told graduates that achieving their dreams is not
impossible when they are not afraid to take the risks of
unearned privilege, seeing the broader view and always being
willing to grow.
He said one regret he had in his own life is that he could
have been more intentional in making decisions. Black told
students to be architects rather than victims when creating
the future.
“You can be apathetic and become a victim, or you can
struggle to be intentional about building your future,”
Black said.
A cap, gown and chair were put aside to honor late professor
George Sleek, who passed away in April 2003.
The graduating class wore blue ribbons to honor the September
2003 birth of his son, Max Sleek.
Rogers and President Leo Lambert were among those who honored
the late professor. Chaplain Richard McBride led a prayer to
honor Sleek and spoke about his love of nature and teaching
students.
Rogers said almost every member of the class of 2004 will be
participating in a DPT transitional program to receive their
doctorate degrees.
“It is all part of our vision to see all physical
therapists become autonomous practitioners,” Rogers
said. “The transition to a doctorate program is a
very important step in achieving this goal.”
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