Kansas Physical Therapy Association Student Special Interest Group
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2020 Board of Directors

           Nick Pippert, Chair Person

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What school do you attend and what year are you in school?
I am a 3rd year DPT student at the University of Saint Mary.

Why did you choose physical therapy?
I chose Physical Therapy because of a personal experience I had with it. I played soccer in high school, and I aspired to play at the collegiate level. Unfortunately, I sustained a knee injury in the season leading up to my Freshman year of collage. The only thing on my mind at that time was getting back to the field. Fast forward a year to a successful knee rehabilitation, and I was ecstatic when I was released for full contact sport. However, at this point I had come to the realization that college soccer was not for me, but I had a new dream in sight. I wanted to become a Physical Therapist and help people get back to doing the things that they loved as my therapist had helped me do. 

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?
I want to be a part of the APTA Kansas SSIG for two reasons. I wanted to give myself an additional opportunity to make connections and gather knowledge. Every therapist conducts therapy differently, and the more versions I see the better and more informed my craft will become. It is this life-long process that will ultimately have an impact in my patient's lives.
Secondly, I want to facilitate communication between students, their institutions, and even their fellow Physical Therapists. Everyone, especially patients, benefit from a richer dialogue to transfer the best clinical and interpersonal skills which creates a better therapy experience.


What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
Outside of school I enjoy all things exercise. I love to run, lift weights, and experiment with movement. I even picked up inline skating recently! I also enjoy listening to music; my favorite genre is electronic. I will often pass time by reading or playing video games too. 

            Samantha Schoon, Vice Chair Person

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What school do you attend and what year are you in school?
I am a 2nd year DPT student at the University of Saint Mary.
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​Why did you choose Physical Therapy?
I chose Physical Therapy because I want to help people recover and get back to their best possible function. At a point of injury, people are often at a low point. They are not able to do everything they would like to. So, I would like to be able to help them get back to doing not only what they need to do but also what they love to do.

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?
I wanted to be a part of the KPTA SSIG since I attended the Midwest Student Conclave during my first year of physical therapy school last year. As a student I feel that it is important to get involved as much as possible and be aware of how our future profession is growing and evolving. The KPTA does both of these in many ways, but two main ways are encouraging people to take part in advocacy and holding a yearly conference to help students stay informed.
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What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
Outside of school I love to spend time outdoors. This usually involves going on walks, throwing a frisbee or football with my family, and playing with my dogs.

                   Jackson Mores, Secretary

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What school do you attend and what year are you in school?
I am a 3rd year DPT student at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Why did you choose Physical Therapy?
During a high school football practice I sustained a concussion and later developed post-concussion syndrome which I battled on-an-off over 6 months. It wasn't until college that I realized my concussion symptoms could have been rehabilitated through Physical Therapy as well as had my state implemented return-to-learn legislation. This sparked my interest in Physical Therapy and public health advocacy - I've been hooked ever since!

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?
My passion for both the APTA and KPTA was sparked after having attended several national, state, and local conferences. These experiences encouraged me to get more involved and naturally, it felt important to become a part of the KPTA SSIG. What excited me to become a part of this organization was to help improve the SPT and SPTA experience as well as to inform, encourage, and support ongoing PT advocacy efforts.

What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
When I'm not in the classroom you can typically find me running or strength training, working in the yard, cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, or spending time outdoors with my wife, Kaitlyn.

           Joe Augustine, Treasurer

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What school do you attend and what year are you in school?
I am a 2nd year DPT student at the University of Saint Mary. 

​Why did you choose Physical Therapy?

I chose Physical Therapy because I enjoy helping people become stronger and healthier version of themselves.

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?

I wanted to be a part of the KPTA SSIG because I wanted to help make a difference in Physical Therapy and the greater community.

What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?

Outside of school, I enjoy lifting weights and playing volleyball.

           Anhar Sabri, Director of Membership

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What school do you attend and what year are you?
I am a 2nd Year DPT student at the University of Saint Mary.

Why did you choose Physical Therapy?
I chose Physical Therapy because I always wanted to work with people with disabilities and originally I wasn't exactly sure how and in what aspect until I got introduced to the Physical Therapy field and then it quickly became my passion. I love the idea that through rehabilitation and movement, I can help people get stronger and better in order to help them get back to do the things they enjoy doing.

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?
I wanted to do more as a student and get more involved outside of school. Being part of the KPTA SSIG board is a great opportunity to get involved in the profession and connect with students from different schools. I believe that through networking and leadership, we can better learn, serve, and advocate for our profession.

What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also like to read novels and doodle as it helps me relax and focus.

           Kayla Tweedt, Director of Public Relations

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What school do you attend and what year are you?
I am a 2nd year DPT student at the University of Saint Mary.

Why did you choose Physical Therapy?
I always knew I wanted to go into medicine. I waited to go back to school and worked in an ER for about 6 years as a patient care tech, at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for 3 years as an autopsy tech, and at Courage League Sports for 1 year as a program assistant for adults and children with special needs and disabilities. All of these experiences allowed me to see a variety of different areas of medicine. Then about 4 years ago I started focusing on my health and fitness, and I fell in love. I wanted to do something where I could combine my passion for medicine and my love of health and fitness. That is when I decided on Physical Therapy. Since making this decision I have not looked back, and I know I am doing what I was put on this earth to do. 

Why did you want to be a part of KPTA SSIG?
Seeing as I was a non-traditional student in my undergrad, I wasn't too involved in anything outside of my normal classes and work. I told myself when I started graduate school, I wanted to be more involved. I chose to be a part of the APTA Kansas SSIG for the ability to network with other students and professionals, and to play a role in the ever changing world that is Physical Therapy. I want to do what I can to help make PT and PTA school a better experience for all involved.  

What is a hobby you enjoy outside of school?
Outside of school I enjoy weightlifting/powerlifting, cooking, spending time with my dogs (Cooper and Ellie) and my boyfriend (Justin). I also am a team gymnastics coach at Pinnacle Gymnastics in Shawnee, Kansas. Sometimes I get the luxury of playing on the equipment and pretending like I'm a gymnast again. 

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  • Home
    • About SSIG >
      • NSC Scholarship
      • Membership
    • Board of Directors >
      • Current Board of Directors
      • Bylaws
      • Previous Conclaves >
        • 2016 Midwest Conclave >
          • 2017 Midwest Conclave
        • 2019 Midwest Conclave
      • Upcoming Events
    • Remote Learning Tips
  • News
  • Links
  • SPT/A Spotlight
  • 2021 Midwest Conclave