The Tennessee Physician Assistant Foundation awards the following scholarships to PA students each year. Scholarship applications are accepted between April 1 and June 30, with scholarships being awarded in October during FallFest, TAPA’s fall continuing medical education (CME) conference

• The James Montag, Jr. Scholarship
  

  This scholarship is presented by PA James Montag, Jr., honoring those PA students who have given military service to our country. Jim graduated from the University of California-Davis in 1995 with a dual PA/NP degree. He practiced for many years in cardiovascular surgery and currently practices in primary care at the clinic he owns in Jonesborough, Tenn. Jim is a military veteran who served in the United States Air Force, including in the 1^st Special Operations Squadron (MAC) Clark Air Base. He has been involved in TAPA leadership, serving as TAPA’s Tri-Cities Region Director from 2005-2009, and he served on the Committee on Physician Assistants (predecessor to the Board of PAs) from 2008-2016. Jim is a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA and is a life member of the AAPA Veterans Caucus. Scholarship applicants must have military experience.

• The J.C Carey Memorial Scholarship
  This scholarship is given in memory of PA J.C. Carey. He was much loved by his friends and PA colleagues for his strength of character, clinical competence, and endless compassion. He provided tirelessly for the medical and mental health needs of his rural community, and he believed in truly being a part of the community and knowing his patients on a personal level. He passed that knowledge on to his students by presenting real life situations that the student could confront in the safety of the classroom with his guidance and sense of humor leading the way. J.C. was an institution in TAPA and the PA profession. He sat in his same seat at every conference, worked to gain prescriptive privileges for PAs in Tennessee, and showed the world what a PA should and could be.

• The Presley PA Mom Memorial Scholarship
  

  This scholarship is in memory of Linda Presley, mother of PA Johnny Presley and the many other PA students that she touched. She opened her home to PA students to not only make them feel like they were at home, but a true part of the family. She often feed students dinner and took them to church with her. She not only raised a PA in her son Johnny, but she was a mother to all PA students who were lucky enough to call her mom. Each year, two PA students will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the name and memory of Linda Presley “PA MOM”. Priority is given to those students planning to practice in rural health.

• The C. Steven Clifton Memorial Scholarship
  

  This scholarship is given in memory of PA Steve Clifton. After serving in the U.S. Army, he began his healthcare career as a respiratory technician before going back to school to become a PA. Throughout his career, he was actively involved with TAPA, serving as the Chattanooga Region Director and as a member of TAPA’s CME Committee. Steve spent many early mornings at TAPA conventions, making sure the Exhibit Halls at Spring Fling and FallFest were robust, fun events. At 6 a.m. each morning, Steve would be there to greet exhibitors and make sure they were having a good time. He was a one-man ambassador for TAPA. To recognize Steve’s mid-life embrace of the PA profession, priority is given to students who are seeking a career change by pursuing a PA degree after working in a different field.

The scholarship application window opened April 1, and the deadline to submit a scholarship application is June 30.