National Holistic Institute and Biofreeze Announce Winner of the 2015 AMTA Convention Scholarship: Raymond Orona
National Holistic Institute and Biofreeze proudly announce that Raymond Orona, an Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Graduate and Massage Therapy Ambassador at the NHI Santa Ana campus, has won the 2015 NHI/Biofreeze AMTA Convention Scholarship, honoring 2010 AMTA/Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year and NHI staffer Melissa Wheeler.
Raymond will receive complimentary registration, airfare, and hotel for the 2015 American Massage Therapy Association National Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this August compliments of NHI and generous underwriting from Biofreeze. While at the convention, Raymond will attend numerous continuing education classes as well as special events as a representative and honoree of NHI and Biofreeze.
Many inspirational and compelling applicants submitted essays and letters of recommendation. The scholarship committee expressed desire to send them all. However, with over 3.9 GPA, a creatively written essay, and two glowing letters of recommendation, Raymond demonstrated himself as a standout graduate and Massage Therapist.
In anticipation of attending the conference Raymond writes in his scholarship essay, “As an up and coming massage therapist, having the privilege to observe quality education, speak with leaders in the massage therapy profession and try new products from the exhibit hall will help me grow.”
Raymond plans to bring as much of the convention experience back with him for his clientele who often have compromising health concerns, “I hope to learn so much from the classes offered at the AMTA Convention, so that I may better facilitate my clients’ recovery.” Raymond graduated as a professional Advanced Neuromuscular Massage Therapist and Health Educator with 1350 hours of training from NHI in February of 2015. His training has also enabled him to become certified by the California Massage Therapy Council and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
The NHI/Biofreeze AMTA Convention Scholarship is open to students and graduates from all 7 NHI campuses that participate in NHI’s Massage Therapy Ambassador program and was the brainchild of NHI veteran teacher Melissa Wheeler. After being named the 2010 AMTA/Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year, Melissa envisioned a way others could experience the same sort of inspiration provided to her by attending massage conventions throughout her career. She knew many students and graduates beginning their careers did not have the means to attend and, thus, the idea of a scholarship was born. With a multi-year financial commitment from Biofreeze, NHI and Melissa Wheeler hope this annual scholarship will help Raymond Orona and other future massage therapists have work they love!