Queennie Baquir Receives the 2022 NHI/Stopain® Clinical Melissa Wheeler AMTA Scholarship
NHI Santa Ana graduate Queennie Baquir with her congratulatory poster at the 2022 AMTA National Convention
Congratulations to NHI Santa Ana graduate, Queennie Baquir! A recent graduate of NHI’s Core Massage Therapy Training Program, Queennie was selected as the 2022 recipient of the National Holistic Institute/Stopain® Clinical Melissa Wheeler AMTA Scholarship.
The Melissa Wheeler AMTA Scholarship, sponsored by National Holistic Institute (NHI) and Stopain® Clinical, covers the cost for one NHI senior or graduate to attend the annual American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) National Convention, providing the recipient with access to industry leaders, educational sessions, networking venues and hands-on experience with professional products. The scholarship is named after Melissa Wheeler, a long time NHI instructor and 2010 AMTA Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year.
Queennie Baquir at the AMTA 2022 National Convention
This year’s AMTA National Convention occurred on August 25-27 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hear from Queennie, as she speaks of her incredible experience.
The Knowledge and Connections I Gained from the AMTA Convention was Life-changing
I am still stunned at being the 2022 NHI/Stopain® Clinical Scholarship Recipient. The knowledge and connections I gained from the AMTA National Convention in Cleveland was life-changing and reaffirming as a new graduate and newly certified massage therapist. To be honest, I did not think I would win. Seeing the posters of the AMTA National Convention all over school made me hopeful that one day I too would be able to attend.
Left to Right: Cynthia Ribeiro, Former AMTA National President, Jerome Perlinski National Teacher of the Year and NHI ANMT Program Founder; April Villareal, NHI Studio City Campus Manger, Adrienne Asta, Massage Therapy Foundation President; Steve Albertson, AMTA National Immediate Past President; Queennie Baquir; Tim Veitzer, NHI President; Teresa Matthews, Stopain® Clinical Education Specialist; Phil Okazaki, AMTA-CA Chapter President, NHI Senior ANMT Program Instructor and Curriculum and Marketing Specialist; Aresa Pruitte, Massage Warehouse Key Accounts Manager; Guy Flynn, Stopain® Clinical Director, Brand Development; Doug Nelson, Past President of Massage Therapy Foundation and Patrick Inuk Kim, Massage Warehouse VP of Marketing
Being awarded the 2022 NHI/Stopain® Clinical Scholarship made my wish a reality. I was floored at the incredible speakers, presenters, instructors and delegates and was in complete awe of the remarkable community of massage therapists across the nation. I was star-struck at being able to cross paths with experts whose names and work I had only read about in textbooks. Their passion for the field and of the awe-inspiring esteem they have for elevating massage therapy as a whole changed my view of therapeutic bodywork forever.
I Want to be Part of the 30 Year Club AND Add to the Field as a Whole
This convention ascertained that I made the right choice when I signed up to be a student at NHI. My goal has always been to be part of the 30 year club as a massage therapist. After attending the AMTA National Convention and meeting such amazing and extraordinary practitioners, my goal has evolved: I want to be part of the 30 year club AND add to the field as a whole. I am so thankful to NHI and Stopain® Clinical for believing in me and for awarding me this unbelievable experience to attend my first AMTA National Convention. This definitely will not be my last!
In addition, I want to say a special thank you to AMTA, Massage Therapy Foundation, and Massage Warehouse. The work that you do paves the way for new massage therapists like myself and because of you, my future is brighter than ever.
To future NHI students and alumni, if you truly love the work you do, then be involved in the massage therapy community. It is the best way of helping others find work they love too!
Get the details on how to pursue a career in massage therapy with National Holistic Institute. Complete this form to connect with an admissions representative today.