2027 Arthur W. Pense Scholarship Application Survey

Scholarship for Nursing, Physical or Occupational Therapy Degree Program Students

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 12, 2027

About the Scholarship: Two scholarships in the amount of $3,000 are presented annually. The scholarship is distributed to the selected recipients in installments. Up to $1,500 per semester may be distributed any year the student is enrolled in college. Funds are distributed as a reimbursement of expenses via direct deposit. The funds must be claimed within a four-year period from the time the scholarship was awarded. Proof of full-time enrollment and expenses must be provided to request a distribution.

About Dr. Arthur Pense: This scholarship honors Dr. Arthur W. Pense, NYS Assistant Commissioner of Mental Hygiene from April 1, 1944, to April 15, 1961. As Assistant Commissioner, Dr. Pense was responsible for programs provided to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through the state of New York. Dr. Pense was widely recognized as an outstanding administrator and friend of The Arc New York. It was under his leadership that local services for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities were developed using community mental health programs.

Eligibility Criteria:

Students must be accepted into a degree program related to nursing, or physical or occupational therapy at the time of application. Students may include a 2–3 month fieldwork program as part of their degree/eligibility
Students must be a New York State resident
Students currently receiving a scholarship through The Arc New York are not eligible to be selected to receive additional scholarships and should not apply

Application Requirements:

Completed application
One signed letter of recommendation from an Academic Instructor. The letter must be written for and in relation to the scholarship application and must be written on college/education program letterhead. Letters not meeting these criteria will not be considered for review

1.Contact Information(Required.)

Name

College/University

Permanent Address

Permanent Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Phone Number

2.Have you previously been selected to receive a scholarship through The Arc New York?(Required.)

Yes

3.If so, in what year was it awarded?

4.Please describe your education plans. How will your continued education positively impact your involvement in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities?(Required.)

5.Please provide a brief statement indicating how you became interested in becoming a professional in the field of in the field of physical or occupational therapy.(Required.)

6.Describe your experiences with people who have intellectual or other developmental disabilities. Please include both volunteer and employment or academic experiences.(Required.)

7.Describe your most meaningful achievement and how it relates to your field of study and future goals.(Required.)

8.What do you feel is the most important issue facing the field of physical and occupational therapy today? If you had the power to impact this issue in a positive way, what specific changes would you make?(Required.)

9.Upload Letter of Recommendation

If you don't have a digital copy of your letter available at this time, you can email or mail it separately to the address below

No file chosen

10.Digital Signature - Please type your full name and the date into the field below as your electronic signature (ex. Jane Doe, 8/14/26)(Required.)

All fields must be completed for the application to be considered.

Please send any additional documentation to The Arc New York State Office via email.

Email questions and additional application materials to scholarships@thearcny.org