Sophia Leach this month became the first Three Rivers College student ever to be honored with the prestigious Gulstad Full-Tuition Transfer Scholarship to attend Central Methodist University. In a special presentation at Three Rivers on April 16, Leach was honored by a number of officials from both institutions.

“It is a pleasure to honor a student whose commitment to her studies at Central Methodist University has been truly exceptional,” said Dr. Rita Gulstad, CMU provost and namesake of the scholarship.

The Gulstad Scholarship honors excellence in community college graduates who transfer to CMU online or statewide. It is offered to eligible community college students looking to transfer to CMU to finish their degree. The Gulstad Scholarship celebrates the outstanding quality of education provided by CMU’s community college partners and reflects its namesake’s commitment to bridging the gap between these institutions and CMU, ensuring that students have the support they need to succeed.

“After graduating from Three Rivers College, I knew I wanted a bachelor’s program that would strengthen my clinical reasoning while allowing me to continue working. CMU’s fully online OTA-bachelor’s program stood out because it offers the flexibility I need as I begin working PRN as a COTA, while still maintaining the academic rigor that will prepare me for advanced practice,” Leach said. “Looking ahead, earning my OTA-bachelor’s degree is not the endpoint; it is the foundation for my next steps. After completing the program, I plan to pursue my OTR through either a master’s or doctorate program.”

Through the partnership between CMU and Three Rivers, bachelor’s completion programs and master’s programs are offered on the Three Rivers Campus at Poplar Bluff, its locations across Southeast Missouri, and online.

For more information about the Three Rivers Career and Transfer Center, call 573-840-9712.

To learn more about the Gulstad award and a variety of other scholarships offered by CMU, visit https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/financial-aid/scholarships.html.