Massage-Student Scholarship
Program Launched

A new scholarship program will award $500 to six students of massage therapy each year. BIOTONE, a manufacturer of massage and spa-therapy products, and the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) announced on Feb. 1 their partnership in the Edu-Scholarship Fund.

The program will provide BIOTONE-funded scholarships once a year to selected COMTA-accredited schools, according to a press release. The scholarships will then be awarded to promising massage students.

"There are enormous opportunities for the massage professional today as massage continues to gain in popularity and take its place as part of mainstream health care," said Jean Shea, BIOTONE founder and CEO. "BIOTONE is very committed to supporting students and the schools to prepare for the evolving requirements these new opportunities present."

The initial awards of six $500 scholarships were made by BIOTONE and COMTA at the American Massage Therapy Association Council of Schools 2007 Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting held January 25-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Criteria for this year's selection included a school's length of accreditation and standing. Students applying for the scholarships currently must be enrolled in a school's massage-therapy program and have achieved the midway point in their curriculum. Awards are based on a student's academic performance, future massage therapist potential and leadership in community activities. Special circumstances also will be considered. All funds must be used for tuition and other school and other education related expenses.

The six schools that received awards were: Cortiva Institute-Brenneke School of Massage, in Seattle, Washington; the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, in Newington, Connecticut; Carlson College of Massage Therapy, in Anamosa, Iowa; the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts, in Hudson, New Hampshire ; Allegany College of Maryland-Therapeutic Massage Program, in Cumberland, Maryland; and Synergy Healing Arts Center & Massage School, in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.