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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Natalie Wilgers, nwilger@k-state.edu
News releases prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

K-STATE STUDENT FROM PALMER RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FROM PILOT CLUB OF MANHATTAN TO HELP HER PURSUE CAREER AS PHYSICAL THERAPIST

MANHATTAN -- A scholarship from the Pilot Club of Manhattan will help a Kansas State University student from Palmer with her goal of becoming a physical therapist. Natalie Wilgers wants to help people affected by strokes -- something she has dealt with firsthand.

The $1,400 scholarship from the local Pilot Club was made possible by the Pilot International Foundation. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pilot International, a nonprofit service organization with a focus on prevention and education regarding traumatic brain injury and brain-related disorders. The foundation offers a scholarship program for students pursing careers to assist people affected by brain-related disorders.

Wilgers, now 18 and a freshman in kinesiology and pre-physical therapy at K-State, was 9 years old when she had a stroke, which her doctors think was most likely caused by a brain tumor -- although the exact cause is not known, she said.

The stroke affected Wilgers' left leg and right arm. Wilgers said physical therapy played a big role in her recovery.

"I was in physical therapy for three months after my stroke. My physical therapist inspired me to want to be a physical therapist," she said. "I've been pretty lucky. I have a slight limp but my heath is fine."

Wilgers is the daughter of Bill and Sharon Wilgers and a 2007 graduate of Linn High School. She is a K-State honors list student and is a member of the university's Pre-Physical Therapy Club, Kinesiology Student Association and American Red Cross Club. She also has been a Sunday school teacher at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Palmer for three years.

To become a physical therapist, Wilgers will first earn her undergraduate degree from K-State and will then attend physical therapy school for three years.

More information on the Pilot International Foundation's scholarship programs is available at http://www.pilotinternational.org