SLU PT Students Serve with Relay for Life to Support the American Cancer Society

SLU PT Student Service Spotlight - Relay for Life

By Alysa Janke, DPT Class of 2023

This year’s SLU Relay for Life was a huge success! While the shift to a virtual platform proved to be difficult, the members of Relay’s Executive and Event Leadership Teams rose to the challenge and put on an incredible event to support the American Cancer Society. SLU Relay raised $72,295.17, all of which goes toward services like Hope Lodge (free residence for people going through cancer treatment), a 24/7 cancer helpline, and experimental research programs aiming toward curing cancer. 

Relay had a large population of healthcare science majors on their Event Leadership Team this year, including several Physical Therapy and Nursing majors. The Executive Team also had PT representation coming from PY1s Amy Eckardt (Communications Chair), Alysa Janke (Overall Co-Chair), and Alex Suellentrop (Administration Chair). 

The website from Relay’s event is still active, and you can view it at slurelayforlife2021.org. As always, you can check out our Facebook page for information on how you can participate in next year’s Relay!

Story by Kristin Hrasky

SLU PT Student Uses Scholarship to Build Clinical Skills While in Perú

Service Trip Spotlight - Physical Therapy in Perú

by Clarine Stephens (DPT Class of 2019)

The Cheryl Cavallo Scholarship gave me the opportunity to experience physical therapy in a culture completely different from my own. Through the Scholarship, I stayed in Piura, Perú for 3 weeks treating patients in a clinic with a Peruvian physical therapist while learning so much about how culture and society there impact quality of care and access to treatment. I also had the opportunity to treat patients in a hospice, interpret pediatric appointments between an American physician and her patients, and teach massage techniques to cosmetology students at a trade school.

My clinical application skills and my ability to communicate effectively in Spanish improved immensely, both of which will be very useful for me in my professional career. I couldn’t be more grateful for the SLU Program in Physical Therapy and the Cavallo Scholarship for providing me the opportunity to experience all that I did in Perú!

There are two ways to help support the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may participate in the 16th Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K (register here) or donate directly to the fund. The Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K is in memory of Cheryl Cavallo, a long time faculty member in the Program in Physical Therapy who lost her courageous battle to cancer in 2013.  She served as the faculty mentor for the Program in Physical Therapy Student Council for 22 years and tirelessly coordinated this event for 11 years.  She lived the Jesuit mission everyday by giving back to those less fortunate.  All proceeds from the memorial fundraiser will benefit the Cheryl Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to help defray travel costs for students wishing to pursue health care related domestic or international mission trips. For more information, or if you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Michelle Cohen at mcohen17@slu.edu.

Cheryl L. Cavallo, PT, Ph.D.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students who have utilized the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to finance their service trips. Service is an integral part of the Saint Louis University experience. SLU  is currently #4 on Washington Monthly’s list of universities who participate most in community service. To learn more about service at SLU, visit the Center for Service and Community Engagement website at www.slu.edu/service.  

SLU PT Student Focuses on Service - Not Finances - With Help From Scholarship

Service Trip Spotlight - Students Today Leaders Forever

by Kelsi Dilger (DPT Class of 2018)

This scholarship gave me the ability to go out and do the service that I love without having to worry about how I was going to pay for it. It let me put all my focus on helping people, buildings, and gardens get the help that they needed. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I get to provide help to others in need and am eternally grateful for those who contribute to the Cheryl Cavallo scholarship fund and the Hustle for Your Health Run/Walk to make it possible.

There are two ways to help support the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may participate in the 16th Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K (register here) or donate directly to the fund. The Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K is in memory of Cheryl Cavallo, a long time faculty member in the Program in Physical Therapy who lost her courageous battle to cancer in 2013.  She served as the faculty mentor for the Program in Physical Therapy Student Council for 22 years and tirelessly coordinated this event for 11 years.  She lived the Jesuit mission everyday by giving back to those less fortunate.  All proceeds from the memorial fundraiser will benefit the Cheryl Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to help defray travel costs for students wishing to pursue health care related domestic or international mission trips. For more information, or if you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Michelle Cohen at mcohen17@slu.edu.

Cheryl L. Cavallo, PT, Ph.D.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students who have utilized the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to finance their service trips. Service is an integral part of the Saint Louis University experience. SLU  is currently #4 on Washington Monthly’s list of universities who participate most in community service. To learn more about service at SLU, visit the Center for Service and Community Engagement website at www.slu.edu/service.  

SLU PT Student Focuses on Patient-Centered Care in Jamaica

Service Trip Spotlight - FOR U Stroke Camp

by Kelsey Streiter (DPT Class of 2017)

The Cheryl Cavallo Memorial Scholarship gave me the opportunity to travel to Jamaica to participate in an intensive, week long "stroke camp" that benefited individuals whose lives had been altered by neurological injury. I spent my time in Jamaica in the hillside, collaborating with therapists and students to create individualized treatments for the week. In the end, I was able to gain invaluable experience as a student and watch the participants grow and regain function while making memories with amazing people that will last a lifetime. 

Cheryl L. Cavallo, PT, Ph.D.

There are two ways to help support the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may participate in the 16th Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K (register here) or donate directly to the fund. The Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K is in memory of Cheryl Cavallo, a long time faculty member in the Program in Physical Therapy who lost her courageous battle to cancer in 2013.  She served as the faculty mentor for the Program in Physical Therapy Student Council for 22 years and tirelessly coordinated this event for 11 years.  She lived the Jesuit mission everyday by giving back to those less fortunate.  All proceeds from the memorial fundraiser will benefit the Cheryl Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to help defray travel costs for students wishing to pursue health care related domestic or international mission trips. For more information, or if you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Michelle Cohen at mcohen17@slu.edu.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students who have utilized the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to finance their service trips. Service is an integral part of the Saint Louis University experience. SLU  is currently #4 on Washington Monthly’s list of universities who participate most in community service. To learn more about service at SLU, visit the Center for Service and Community Engagement website at www.slu.edu/service.  

SLU PT Student Uses Scholarship to Pay it Forward

Service Trip Spotlight - Pay it Forward

by Claire Kelly (DPT Class of 2018)

The Cavallo Scholarship has had a major impact on my time here at SLU, because it has allowed me to go on the Pay it Forward spring break trip multiple times. On these trips I was able to meet new people at SLU and across the country and was able to serve a variety of different communities across the United States. Without the Cheryl Cavallo Scholarship, financing the trips would have been very difficult; I am forever grateful that I received this scholarship opportunity, and I encourage all those who are thinking about applying to do so! 

There are two ways to help support the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship Fund. You may participate in the 16th Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K (register here) or donate directly to the fund. The Annual Hustle for Your Health 5K is in memory of Cheryl Cavallo, a long time faculty member in the Program in Physical Therapy who lost her courageous battle to cancer in 2013.  She served as the faculty mentor for the Program in Physical Therapy Student Council for 22 years and tirelessly coordinated this event for 11 years.  She lived the Jesuit mission everyday by giving back to those less fortunate.  All proceeds from the memorial fundraiser will benefit the Cheryl Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to help defray travel costs for students wishing to pursue health care related domestic or international mission trips. For more information, or if you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Michelle Cohen at mcohen17@slu.edu.

Cheryl L. Cavallo, PT, Ph.D.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students who have utilized the Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship to finance their service trips. Service is an integral part of the Saint Louis University experience. SLU  is currently #4 on Washington Monthly’s list of universities who participate most in community service. To learn more about service at SLU, visit the Center for Service and Community Engagement website at www.slu.edu/service.