Rizing Tide Scholars

To combat the lack of diversity in the physical therapy profession, the Rizing Tide foundation annually supports a group of high-achieving individuals who are pursuing a career as a physical therapist and who come from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Learn More About Our Scholarships!

Crest Scholarship

Surge Scholarship

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Celebrating the scholars who embody Rizing Tide’s mission to advance diversity, equity, and excellence in physical therapy.

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Crest Scholars Crest Rizing Stars Surge Scholars Surge Rizing Stars

Crest Scholars

2025 Crest Scholars

Rizing Tide annually awards the Crest scholarship to first- or second-year DPT students who are pursuing a DPT degree either part-time or full-time.

Soleana Demapan Villanueva

Hawai'i Pacific University

Soleana D. Villanueva is a doctor of physical therapy student at Hawai‘i Pacific University and a proud Chamorro from Saipan. With a background in community health, she is passionate about advancing equitable care that respects indigenous protocols for underserved Pacific Islander communities, particularly those in geographically isolated regions. Her interest in PT began after witnessing her mother’s recovery from a stroke and the empowering role she was encouraged to play in her rehabilitation. Today, she views PT as a way to provide her community with clinical best practices and culturally-grounded research. As a mother of two and military spouse, Soleana is committed to service, empathy, and inclusion, and is honored to sit among the 2025 Rizing Tide Crest scholars.

Felicia James

University of New Mexico

Yá’át’ééh, Felicia James dashí’jíní, Tł’ízíłaní nishłį Tó’aheedlíinii bá shíshchíín Tó’áhaní dashicheii ‘Áshįįhí dashinálí. Kitsiil’ídęę’ naashá.
Felicia James is a first-year DPT student at the University of New Mexico, originally from Kitsiil'í, AZ, located on the Navajo Reservation. Her motivation to pursue her doctorate degree in physical therapy lies within her love for her people. Working and living on the Navajo Nation in Kayenta, AZ, as a rehabilitation assistant, she saw and experienced first hand the need for physical therapy services for the Diné people. Felicia is passionate about bridging access to physical therapy on the Navajo Nation through language and culture.

Amanuel Nigatu

University of Minnesota

Amanuel is a second-year DPT student from Minneapolis, Minnesota. A lifelong Minneapolis resident and second-generation Ethiopian, Amanuel is passionate about serving the communities that made him the person he is today. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities summa cum laude with a BS in kinesiology before returning there for PT school. He was drawn to physical therapy by its ability to help shape how people connect with the world around them. Amanuel is committed to expanding the accessibility of PT to communities unfamiliar with it, like his own East African community.

Elias Rivas

University of Texas at El Paso

Elias is a second-year DPT student at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he also earned his B.S. in Rehabilitation Sciences. Passionate about serving others, Elias is committed to supporting underserved populations in El Paso and the military community it houses. As a certified personal trainer for over three years, he developed a deep appreciation for movement, rehabilitation, and the science behind physical therapy. Additionally, his research involvement at the PRIME PT Lab focuses on chronic pain and pain management within predominantly Hispanic populations. Elias is dedicated to giving back to the communities that shaped his journey.

Kaira Torres

Temple University

Kaira Torres is a second-year doctor of physical therapy student at Temple University and a proud Temple alumna. She is the daughter of a Dominican mother and a Colombian father and a proud older sister. Kaira is passionate about pelvic health and hopes to make this area of care more accessible to marginalized Brown and Black communities. Fueled by her family, friends, and mentors, Kaira strives to educate underserved women and empower them to be active participants in their birth and postpartum journeys.

Gabriela Garza

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Gabriela Garza is a second-year DPT student at the University of Texas Medical Branch. While at Baylor University, she joined the Latinx Association for Science and Health, a student organization that became a bridge for her cultural and professional identity. As a student leader, Gabriela worked to uplift minority students and serve underserved communities in the Waco area. Now, she is strengthening her Spanish to better serve patients facing language barriers. She aspires to establish a multi-clinic rehabilitation center, offering culturally competent and accessible care to underserved communities.

Javonte Butler

Belmont University

Javonte Butler is a first-year DPT student from Jackson, TN. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Middle Tennessee State University. Javonte is also a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach who has a passion for lifelong learning, fitness, and servanthood! He has always nurtured a passion for helping others. Javonte’s goal is to bridge the gap between access to high-quality care and underserved communities while also acting as a role model for young people to look up to!

Nellie Blanco

Duke University

Nellie is a first year DPT student at Duke University who is originally from Florida but is enjoying the weather in North Carolina. Nellie loves her Salvadoran and Puerto Rican heritage. During her free time, Nellie enjoys scrapbooking, reading her Bible, riding her bicycle, and giving back to her community. She is very eager to learn about all of the different specialties in physical therapy—but she already loves geriatrics because she worked in cardiac rehab for three years!

Nyhri Mudie

Mercer University

Nyhri Mudie is a first-year DPT student at Mercer University. She grew up in Woodstock, GA, and earned her Bachelors of Science in Sports Medicine from Howard University. She first fell in love with physical therapy after spending a summer shadowing physical therapists in Cartago, Costa Rica. It also sparked her passion for global health equity. She is committed to advancing the field of global healthcare and educating others on the importance of physical therapy being made accessible worldwide.

Zion Segears

Virginia Commonwealth University

Zion Segears is a first-year doctor of physical therapy student at Virginia Commonwealth University whose personal rehabilitation journey shaped his career path. A 2025 VCU summa cum laude graduate in exercise science, he has committed his academic and leadership efforts to advancing healthcare representation for minority communities. His leadership in the Developing Men of Color student organization at VCU fostered mentorship, wellness programming, and inclusive outreach. As a VCU undergraduate research assistant, he explored health disparities and the relationship between cardiovascular disease and chronic stress. Zion aims to combine clinical expertise with cultural sensitivity to deliver transformative, community-centered care.

Crest Rizing Stars

2025 Crest Rizing Stars

Rizing Tide annually awards the Crest scholarship to first- or second-year DPT students who are pursuing a DPT degree either part-time or full-time.

Caroline Jung

University of Washington

Caroline Jung is a second-year DPT student at the University of Washington. Watching her late grandmother manage Parkinson‘s disease through exercise is what first drew her to the physical therapy field. After personally experiencing career-ending gymnastics injuries, Caroline realized just how deeply the rehabilitation process stretched her mentally. These experiences solidified her commitment to pursuing the physical therapy profession and supporting folks through the highs and lows of their unique journeys. Caroline is dedicated to improving the diversity within the physical therapy field and hopes to mentor BIPOC and queer students as a future clinician.

Chidera Samuela Ibewuike

University of Central Florida

Chidera Ibewuike is passionate about helping others and growing in the healthcare field. She has worked as a certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, EMT, and combat medic in the U.S. Army—experiences that shaped her love for service and teamwork. After earning her bachelor’s degree in medical biology, she set her sights on becoming a physical therapist. Chidera enjoys giving back through community service, spending time with others, and sharing her love for learning. Outside of school and work, she enjoys playing tennis, dancing, and meeting new people.

Ariana Smith

Texas State University

Ariana is a dedicated second-year DPT student from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who sought to combine her varying creative passions with a deep desire to serve others. Ultimately, her experiences of neglect during her own physical therapy treatment inspired her to become a PT who provides holistic care while prioritizing personal humanity. Motivated to accomplish this worldwide, she earned a B.S. in Psychological Sciences from Xavier University of Louisiana, later supporting autistic children in their pursuit of independence as a behavior technician. As a leader, Ariana continues to work toward her goal of changing lives by empowering others to live purposefully.

Marcella Brown

University of Texas at El Paso

Marcella learned the meaning of care by watching the people she loved fight for their health. After losing her brother to cancer and watching her parents face chronic illnesses, Marcella Brown carries a deep understanding of how inequities in healthcare affect lives, especially in marginalized communities. Now a second-year physical therapy student, she turns empathy into action as community service coordinator for her cohort and administrator for her campus pro-bono clinic. She plans to specialize in orthopedics, support female athletes, and inspire first-generation college students. As a Rizing Tide Crest scholar, she strives to inspire belief in every person’s strength and potential, empowering them to chase possibilities they never thought were within reach.

Myles Smith

Langston University

Myles Smith is a second-year DPT student at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. He is a former collegiate track and field (T&F) athlete at Western Washington University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology. Myles has coached in multiple athletic performance settings, ranging from Division I Strength and Conditioning to coaching high school T&F at Booker T. Washington High School. While attending Langston, Myles has developed a sincere passion for learning about physical therapy in rural settings and is focused on expanding opportunities for health in relation to rural health and agriculture.

Rachel Cheung

University of Illinois, Chicago

Rachel is a second-year doctor of physical therapy student at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Growing up in the Chinese community, she witnessed the health disparities impacting underserved populations and is dedicated to closing that gap. As a member of the DPT program’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program trainee, Rachel works to advance health equity for children. Because of her passion for becoming a pediatric physical therapist, Rachel strives to guide children and families through culturally sensitive care and education that promote lifelong health and well-being.

Gabriela Rey

University of Miami

Gabriela Rey is a second-year DPT student at the University of Miami who is passionate about challenging herself growing into a well-rounded clinician. Inspired by mentorship, her Cuban heritage, and first-hand experience with health disparities, she seeks to combine her enduring passion with deep compassion to deliver care that honors the whole person: body, mind, and culture. Gabriela aims to provide personalized, adaptable care that restores both physical function and autonomy, ensuring every patient feels seen, heard, and empowered.

Alexis Colliard

New York University

Alexis Colliard, a first-year DPT student at New York University, graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a B.S. in Health Science and membership in the Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Tau Sigma, National Health Science Honor Society. Her introduction to physical therapy began at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, where her love for dance and multiple experiences accompanying family to PT appointments sparked a lasting passion for the field. Alexis aspires to specialize in pelvic floor or sports PT—focusing on dance and gymnastics—and envisions either working with Team USA at the Summer Olympics or touring as an artist’s physical therapist.

Christian Johnson

Whitworth University

Christian is a first-year DPT student attending Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He is originally from Colorado, but attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Growing up, he spent time playing soccer and basketball where he learned to love sports and fitness. Now, Christian hikes, camps, fishes, and lifts weight to stay busy in his free time. He aspires to become a physical therapist because of how impactful the profession can be in people's lives. Christian believes in holistic healthcare and the importance of every person having a positive community to inspire growth.

Torian Kelly

Lincoln Memorial University

Torian Kelly is a first-generation college student from a low-income household in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, who entered Ole Miss knowing he wanted to pursue physical therapy. His path to the PT profession took shape early on as he watched his brother recover from a severe accident, ultimately leading him to earn a degree in exercise science while competing as a Division I football player. Torian’s love for working out and studying how the body moves, what improves performance, and what holds it back strengthened his commitment to the field. Now a first-year DPT student at Lincoln Memorial University, Torian’s dream is to work with professional athletes and help them recover stronger while performing at their best.

Surge Scholars

2025 Surge Scholars

Rizing Tide annually awards the Surge scholarship to graduating physical therapy students or licensed physical therapists who are entering—or have just begun—a residency program.

Gabriela Rodriguez, DPT

University of Central Florida and Orlando Health Neurologic Residency Program

Dr. Gabriela Rodriguez is a resident of the University of Central Florida and Orlando Health Neurologic Residency Program. She received her bachelor’s in sport and exercise science and doctor of physical therapy (DPT) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) where she received the UCF DPT Outstanding Researcher Award. She’s worked in the UCF CNS and ALIVE Labs having co-authored multiple publications. Gabriela served as a student-assisted workout trainer, engaged in GoBabyGo community outreach, health screenings, and is a member of the newsletter team for the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy’s Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group.

Maya Jones, DPT

Baylor Scott & White Institute's Women's Health Residency

Dr. Maya Jones is a women’s health physical therapy resident at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation. A proud graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s doctor of physical therapy program, she is dedicated to providing inclusive, comprehensive care across the full spectrum of women’s and men's health. Maya is deeply passionate about increasing diversity within the physical therapy profession and mentoring pre-PTs and SPTs to foster future leaders in the field. As a Rizing Tide scholar, she aims to advance equitable access to pelvic health services and empower underrepresented voices in healthcare.

Juan Avelino, DPT

Brooks Rehabilitation Orthopedic Residency

Juan Avelino is a doctor of physical therapy student at Florida A&M University and an incoming Orthopedic resident at Brooks Rehabilitation. A former Division I track-and-field athlete, he is passionate about orthopedic and sports rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, and service to others. Juan aspires to serve as a navy physical therapist, combining his commitment to military service with his dedication to advancing musculoskeletal care for active-duty personnel and veterans. As a 2025 Rizing Tide Surge scholar, he strives to exemplify leadership, clinical excellence, and advocacy for diversity and representation within the physical therapy profession.

Surge Rizing Stars

2025 Surge Rizing Stars

Rizing Tide annually awards the Surge scholarship to graduating physical therapy students or licensed physical therapists who are entering—or have just begun—a residency program.

Zoë Dickerson

Baylor Scott & White Oncology Residency

Zoë received her doctor of physical therapy (DPT) from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2023. She began her oncology physical therapy residency with Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in August of 2025. Zoe is passionate about cancer rehab and the expansion of cancer education.

Do Kyung Yun, DPT

Greater Los Angeles VA Orthopedic Residency Program

DK Yun is a physical therapist from Los Angeles, CA, who earned his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He has a background in education and community organizing. Before becoming a physical therapist, he taught middle school through AmeriCorps and at a bilingual school in Honduras dedicated to serving children living in impoverished communities, and he worked as a community organizer fighting for labor and immigrant rights. He is currently completing an orthopedic residency with the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs and is grateful to be able to serve the veteran community.