By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Seth Hagan, a third-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, has been named one of 11 national scholarship award winners for 2022 by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.

“I’m very thankful,” he said. “Humble and grateful.”

Hagan, 24, is a native of Goshen, Ky., and attends the DPT program at Kentucky’s Hazard campus. A former athlete at Centre College, he was naturally interested in neuroscience and biology, and on a study abroad trip to Uganda and Eastern Africa, he was able to observe their own medical techniques.

“Groups of people were marginalized from their medical care system in Uganda,” Hagan said. “So, I came back to America trying to figure out how I would combine my athletic experience with my love for the human body. Seeing the needs over in Uganda, and reflecting on that, and then seeing the needs here in America, that’s kind of what got me interested — it was the accumulation of those aspects.”

The award comes with a $1,000 scholarship.

“Seth has been fully engaged in his education as he prepares for a future career in physical therapy and healthcare,” wrote the two administrators who nominated Hagan: Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, and Karen Badger, PhD, MSW and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Education in the College. “A review of his resume will show that he has contributed to service activities throughout his educational journey and provided leadership for these efforts.

“He has engaged in clinical experiences, research, and service to others while achieving academic excellence, earning the respect of his faculty and peers and clearly showing the characteristics and dedication necessary to be a caring, competent healthcare professional,” they continued. “He also invests in relationships and teamwork and appreciates the talents and contributions of others, along with opportunities received. A leadership example of this is a recent occurrence during which Seth took charge of organizing and creating a ‘thank you’ video to provide to the funder of a grant the program received to support student membership.”

Once Hagan had applied for the scholarship, he admitted he did not count the days until he would be notified; in fact, he said he forgot about it. Then the notification came in the mail.

“I was ecstatic,” he said. “As soon as I got word about it, I was emailing my parents and telling people. They were all super proud. That was cool.”

But in the end, it just reaffirmed what he set out to do when he returned from Uganda years ago.

“It just reminds me to continue to work hard,” he said. “To continue to make a difference in healthcare, and to be the best physical therapist I can be.”