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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 />

33

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