UAMS Northwest receives $100,000 from Schmieding Foundation

Schmieding Foundation Inc. has donated $100,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to create the Schmieding Foundation Physical Therapy Endowed Scholarship, benefiting the UAMS College of Health Professions at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville.

Each year, this scholarship will be given to a second- or third-year student enrolled in the college’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the Northwest Regional Campus, with preference given to a student from Northwest Arkansas.

“The employment for physical therapists is projected to grow by approximately 14% in the next 10 years,” said Angel Holland, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “The growth in our profession coupled with the growth in Northwest Arkansas creates a demand for more highly trained physical therapists in our area. With the cost of higher education, scholarships play a crucial role in meeting the demands of our profession and community.”

Holland said the new scholarship will support the Department of Physical Therapy’s mission to meet the community’s needs.

“We are honored to work with UAMS to support both health care and education in Arkansas,” said Lance Taylor, president of Schmieding Foundation. “Through the Schmieding Foundation Physical Therapy Endowed Scholarship, we are confident that we are contributing to the next generation of health care professionals that Northwest Arkansas desperately needs.”

The Schmieding Foundation was created by brothers Lawrence and Hubert “Bert” Schmieding. The philanthropic nonprofit primarily supports health care and education for children and seniors. The foundation has supported UAMS since 1998 with the creation of the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education in Springdale, the first facility of its kind in the state and a nationally recognized program for healthy aging. In 2019, Schmieding Foundation gave the building to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees for the benefit of UAMS.

In Northwest Arkansas, Schmieding Foundation also supports UAMS Schmieding Foundation Pathways Academy, UAMS Schmieding Kids First and the UAMS Schmieding Developmental Center.