1. Superior scholastic performance. 

2. Past productivity. 

3. Evidence of potential contribution to physical therapy. 

4. Service to the American Physical Therapy Association. 

The winners will be announced on their website in April and awards will be presented at the national conference this summer in Orlando, Florida.     

Clow acknowledges that she was “completely stunned and tremendously honored to even have been considered for this award.” A student at NVCC since the summer of 2013, she worked first as a student worker and then an Educational Assistant in the Biology Department, later as a Staff Writer, Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief of NVCC's The Tamarack. She served as a student representative for the Student Government Association and the Curriculum and Educational Affairs Committee. She became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and the prestigious NVCC President's Circle in 2014. She has received two A.S. degrees while matriculating at NVCC, one in General Studies in 2015 and the second in Physical Therapist Assistant in 2017. Clow shared her story with enthusiasm. “My path at NVCC has been an incredible one. I truly realized my potential as well as abilities I did not know I had. When I first attended NVCC I was 26, I had just finished a nine-year career as a professional ballet dancer and I was looking to pursue a second career in physical therapy. I had high expectations for my education at NVCC and my experience exceeded those expectations. I received so much more than an education from Naugatuck Valley Community College.”

Regarding her future, she has applied to Charter Oak State College planning to earn a BS in Health Care Administration. She plans to use the Mary McMillan Scholarship funds toward this as well as potentially some continuing education classes in Physical Therapy.

Based on her experience, Clow advises prospective students to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities available at NVCC. "I was able to experience so much as an NVCC student by participating in many activities and clubs on campus. I have grown as a person and a young professional here. Also, I would tell students to pursue their dreams and to never give up. I applied for the PTA Program at NVCC and did not get accepted. However, a couple years later I graduated from that program and received the Marie Smith Memorial Award at our pinning ceremony!"