Virginia Commonwealth University takes top honors in student-led Marquette Challenge

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) took first place in this year’s Marquette Challenge, a student-led fundraiser to support the mission of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR). The top fundraising school earns co-naming rights for the next year’s Marquette Challenge and will host the Marquette Challenge traveling cup, a trophy inscribed with the names of the schools that have taken top honors since the Marquette Challenge began in 1989.

The top three schools for the 2021-2022 Challenge were VCU ($23,053.72), the University of Delaware ($20,050.04), and the University of Miami ($17,344.30). PT and PTA contributions have added up to significant funding for physical therapy research. Thousands of students from hundreds of schools have participated in raising more than $4.6 million for their future profession. Seventy-nine schools participated this year, overcoming many COVID-related restrictions to hold creative events across the US and raising a collective $170,221.98.

Research guides how PTs and PTAs deliver care, how students learn, and how professionals are paid for services. In the past 32 years, students have made a big difference in sowing the seeds for critically needed physical therapy research.

Special thanks to our Marquette Challenge title sponsor, HPSO/CNA, and Awards Ceremony contributing sponsors, APTA Academy of Leadership and Innovation; APTA Acute Care; APTA Hand & Upper Extremity; APTA Kentucky; APTA Home Health, An Academy of APTA; APTA New York; California Physical Therapy Fund; and Rehab Essentials.