Scholarships & Awards – Massage Therapy

Scholarships & Awards – Massage Therapy

The International Academy of Massage is pleased to offer students applying to the Academy for  Full-time programs, the opportunity to apply for the following scholarships and awards.

Entrance Scholarships:

A student may apply for only one scholarship in the following categories:

The Academy recognizes the benefits of a student’s past educational training and work within the healthcare field. The award is prorated over the length of the program.

(1)    Massage Training Scholarship $500.00

In addition to the potential eligibility for educational & financial credits, as determined by the Educational Committee’s analysis of your educational experience, the scholarship recognizes a student’s demonstrated past participation in becoming a massage therapist. It is awarded in addition to any educational or financial credit for entry into the program during semesters 1 to 3 of the FT program.

To be eligible, the student must have completed a minimum of 3 months of training (16 hours per week) in a structured massage program in North America. A transcript and set of course descriptions will be required.

How do you apply? Simply add a letter to your application setting out the name of the school attended and provide a transcript. Upon confirmation by the Education Committee, the scholarship will be granted.

(2)    Related Healthcare Scholarship of $500.00

Students applying with a background as a Personal Support Worker, Physiotherapy Assistant, Dental Care, or Acupuncture/TCM. Any educational financial credits granted to the candidate will be deducted from the scholarship amount, as the applicant will already be receiving the direct financial benefit from their previous education.

How do you apply? Add a copy of your certificate or diploma to the application form.

(3)    Sir James R. Marshall Scholarship $2,000.00

This scholarship is granted to the qualified applicant who holds a degree and is a foreign-trained medical doctor.
Eligible applicants for this award must hold a degree from an International University and can provide documentation that supports he/she has been trained and practiced medicine in another country for a minimum of 2 years. It is understood the recipient will undertake the complete Full-time Massage Therapy Program without educational credits, to ensure all aspects of competencies have been studied as determined by the National Competencies Standards for Massage Therapy in Canada.

(4) Academic and Clinical Performance Awards
The following performance awards are in addition to any ‘Entrance Scholarship’ earned by the student.
  • (1)     Honours Achievement
    Every student has the opportunity to graduate with ‘honours’ standing which is achieving an 85.0% grade average over the entire program. It takes commitment, dedication, persistence, and a sense of purpose to become an ‘honours’ graduate.

The ‘honours’ graduate’s diploma acknowledges this accomplishment for all future clients to recognize that they are being treated by a highly knowledgeable ‘top performer’.

  • (2)     “Scott & Sparkes Award” for Excellence in Clinical Technique
    In each graduating class, there will be one student who earns the top performance award for the ‘hands-on’ or practical application of massage techniques and outstanding professionalism in clinical settings; as determined by the supervising faculty and final examiners. The award is named after the two founding program directors, who have helped set the high standards of clinical practice the Academy’s graduates take forward into their careers as registered massage therapists.

The award is presented at the Graduation ceremonies and the award winner must be present.

  • (3)     Executive Director’s Award
    In each graduating year, the Education Committee reviews all graduating students to determine, if there is an individual(s) who has achieved the highest academic standings for the period and also has placed in the top quartile of students in clinical technique standings.

The recipient is recognized at the Graduation ceremonies and presented with a quality award for display to future clients. The award is not necessarily granted to each graduating class and the award winner must be present at the graduation ceremonies

  • (4)     President’s Award
    Periodically, there is usually one student who generally performs at the Top. The President’s award is determined by a panel that selects the person, who has exemplified the characteristics of professionalism and overall achievement. The Education Committee selects the student who exhibited the following characteristics:
    •    Consistently demonstrated strong academic and clinical technique performance
    •    Displayed positive leadership qualities within the student body and the overall Academy
    •    Maintained professional-client relations during clinics and off-site activities
    •    Participated in or completed volunteer work within the general community and/or the student body (e.g. tutoring or mentoring other students).

The recipient receives a prestigious award at the Graduation ceremonies. This award is not necessarily granted each year, as it is important to maintain the standards of the criteria, in order to honour all of those who have earned the reward in the past. Graduates from the 3 academies are eligible for this award.

 (5) The Dorothy Ruddy Bursary  

 Dorothy was born in 1925 in Ottawa.  She was an only child and was doted upon by her father and Mother.  In 1943, Dorothy married Jack Ruddy, a farmer whose family owned a large farm in Arnprior.  Dorothy did not grow up as a farmer’s daughter and had much to learn about life on the farm, with her wonderful husband Jack.  

Their marriage was blessed with two children in short succession, Helen and Patrick.  Tragically, when Patrick was only 4 months old, Jack died, leaving Dorothy with two under two and a bleak future on the farm.  Unable to carry on the massive chore list that goes along with owning a variety of livestock and cash crop management, the Ruddy family would be obligated to take over the family home, where Jack and Dorothy had just begun their little family. 

Dorothy left the farm with her precious children and moved back to Ottawa, and to her family home.  Immediately Dorothy looked for work to support herself and her children.  Never one to let others do it for her, she returned to work when her youngest was only 5 months old.  Even with a broken heart and mounting responsibilities, Dorothy reinvented herself in Ottawa and became a government worker at the tender age of 22. 

This bursary would have made this humble and capable woman blush with pride.  Recognizing the difficulties of single parents with children, returning to school to develop a new profession, is something Dorothy would well understand.   

In her name, The Dorothy Ruddy Bursary will be awarded to a student, of any age, returning to school as a single parent with children who live with them, 12 years old or under.    

To apply for the bursary of $250 which will made on your behalf to the International Academy of Apply Health, please provide a video registration to Bursary@intlacademy.com.
 

Please include the following information in your video: 

  • proof of enrollment in the Registered Massage Therapy Program   
  • a short video (under 5 mins) introducing yourself and your children  
  • explain why you’ve chosen Massage Therapy as your new career path  

The Winner will be notified before the start of the first semester, and the tuition will be made directly to the Academy itself

(6) Kinesiology Scholarship $2,500

The Academy recognizes the value of the prior education an applicant has received in their Kinesiology program. It is also recognized that each Kinesiology program is slightly different in content and in the depth of coverage in some subjects. As such the Academy’s approach is to treat all Kinesiology graduates equitably and fairly. The approach ensures that all competency aspects of the massage therapy program are presented to the applicant and thus creates a less stressful and a highly positive learning experience which best prepares the student to undertake the provincial registration examinations and, to work in their new chosen profession.

The Academy scholarship is available to a Kinesiology graduate of a Canadian University. It is granted upon acceptance by the Academy with the sole condition being that the full program is undertaken as presented. The goal is one of helping the applicant to achieve their highest potential in their studies and skill development.