Report to the Community - Samuel Merritt University
Report to the Community - Samuel Merritt University
Report to the Community - Samuel Merritt University
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ePort <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> community 2010 — 2011<br />
way of giving back <strong>to</strong> educational institutions and nonprofit<br />
organizations that have meaning <strong>to</strong> us,” he said. “i<br />
am where i am only because of education.”<br />
pradip and rekha were pleased <strong>to</strong> see <strong>the</strong>ir daughter,<br />
shefali, take her own path in<strong>to</strong> a health sciences<br />
profession. she graduated in 1999 with a master’s degree<br />
in occupational <strong>the</strong>rapy from samuel merritt university.<br />
after her fa<strong>the</strong>r’s accident, shefali left her practice as an<br />
occupational <strong>the</strong>rapist <strong>to</strong> help run <strong>the</strong> family business, but<br />
her mo<strong>the</strong>r believes shefali’s education and experience<br />
dramatically assisted in pradip’s recovery. “i felt glad that<br />
shefali was an occupational <strong>the</strong>rapist because that helped<br />
in my husband’s rehab.”<br />
<strong>the</strong> family also decided <strong>the</strong> education of <strong>the</strong>se muchneeded<br />
professionals held an important place in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
hearts. in 2007, <strong>the</strong> choksi’s established <strong>the</strong> Pradip and<br />
Rekha Choksi Occupational Therapy Endowed Scholarship<br />
Fund. despite its name, <strong>the</strong> fund also benefits physical<br />
<strong>the</strong>rapy students. scholarships are granted <strong>to</strong> students<br />
based on <strong>the</strong>ir academic achievement and financial<br />
need. it also requires recipients <strong>to</strong> be actively involved in<br />
<strong>the</strong> community. “study a lot, work hard, and donate,” is<br />
pradip’s advice.<br />
rekha hopes this scholarship will enable future skilled<br />
occupational <strong>the</strong>rapists and physical <strong>the</strong>rapists <strong>to</strong> help<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs through <strong>the</strong>ir health struggles in a thoughtful,<br />
professional and caring way.<br />
shefali agrees. “i’m proud of my parents’ generosity, even<br />
in <strong>the</strong> face of personal adversity.”<br />
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