Awardees

Marybeth Surratt (Sargent’27), Luke Willett (Sargent’25,’27)

BU affiliation

Surratt: occupational therapy doctoral candidate 

Willett: physical therapy doctoral candidate

What is the honor each received?

The Travis M. Roy Scholarship, which each year recognizes one occupational therapy doctoral student and one physical therapy doctoral student who are passionate about studying issues related to spinal cord injury and paralysis. It is named for Travis Roy (COM’00, Hon.’16), who became a quadriplegic from a BU hockey game injury and who, before his death in 2020, founded the Travis Roy Foundation to fund research and advocate for people with disabilities.

Why was the recognition given?

Surratt: I created a short video about my background working with people with spinal cord injuries, my leadership experience, and my work on interdisciplinary teams.

Willett: The recognition was given for my willingness to learn and collaborate as part of a team in order to be a part of something bigger. Having prior experience with spinal cord injury (SCI) was not a requirement; this scholarship recognizes a student who [those who select the winners] knew would strive to make a change in the field of SCI care and empower those who live with SCI.

Why is it meaningful?

Surratt: Before [Sargent], I worked for an adaptive sports program in Colorado and saw firsthand how powerful outdoor recreation can be for people living with spinal cord injuries, both for mental health and overall well-being. This scholarship gives me the chance to keep exploring the benefits of adaptive sports while also identifying barriers that can limit participation. I’m excited to be working with my PT counterpart, Luke Willett, because PT and OT collaboration is an important part of our professions and allows us to better support people with spinal cord injuries.

Willett: Part of what drove me to be in physical therapy and health care is bettering the lives of those in my community; however, that comes with a lot of schooling, so sometimes that reward of helping others is delayed. Through the Travis Roy Foundation Scholarship, I am able to honor the lasting impact Travis Roy has had on the SCI community while still a student at BU. Being able to get a foot in the door and start helping the community now is a unique and very fulfilling opportunity that excites me for the career that lies ahead.

What’s next for you?

Surratt: As part of the scholarship, we are conducting a community-based needs assessment focused on individuals with spinal cord injuries transitioning from inpatient care to adaptive recreation. We hope to engage with clients with spinal cord injuries, community members, adaptive equipment vendors, and leaders of adaptive programs to identify available resources and to examine the current gaps that exist in bridging the transition between inpatient care and participation in adaptive recreation. Our goal is to better understand and educate the community on where gaps in care and resources can be addressed to improve long-term outcomes, quality of life, and community participation. The findings will be shared in a formal presentation to the Sargent College community to guide future research, education, and advocacy. Postgrad plans are still up in the air, but I’d love to continue working in adaptive sports! 

Willett: I just finished my first clinical rotation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic in Hanover, Mass. I have a full schedule of coursework this fall and spring, and during that time, I will be working on the scholarship project with Marybeth. We are engaging with those living with SCI and those in the SCI community to identify available resources and examine the current gaps that exist in bridging the transition between inpatient care and participation in adaptive recreation. Our goal is to better understand and educate the community on where gaps in care and resources can be addressed to improve long-term outcomes, quality of life, and community participation. In May 2026, we will present our findings to Sargent College. Shortly after, I will go to the Veterans Administration in Palo Alto, Calif., to begin my second clinical rotation in the spinal cord injury wing, where I will continue to grow my knowledge of this field, in hopes of making an even bigger impact.