When Anthony Bloore applied for a scholarship from the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, he had a critical need for financial assistance. “It was an absolute shot in the dark,” he said. “I wrote up my story… and forgot about it.”
Months later, that shot in the dark changed his life. Bloore, a 28-year-old Physical Therapist Assistant major at Onondaga Community College, was selected for the prestigious scholarship. Since 2017, only 11 Distinguished Lee Scholars have been named - and Bloore is just the third two-year college student to earn the honor. The recognition was humbling, and the impact was immediate. “It was a huge help. I was working at the time, and it gave me the ability to not have to work, but still afford rent and to focus on school.”
At the time, Bloore was deep into a demanding clinical rotation, working full days in a healthcare setting while balancing the pressures of school and daily life. “Things were tight. That extra cushion meant the world, just knowing you had that safety net."
But for Bloore, the scholarship was about much more than financial support. “I told them during the interview, ‘this money you give me isn’t just for me. It’s going to impact every person I treat in the future. If I ever go into teaching, it will affect every student I teach. It’s bigger than just me.'”
That perspective is exactly what set Bloore apart. Tammy Lytle, who is the Program Director of OCC’s Physical Therapist Assistant major, saw his impact right away. “From the beginning of the program, Anthony stood out for his consistently warm, welcoming, and friendly demeanor,” she wrote in her letter of recommendation. “His peers gravitate toward him because he is approachable, steady, and genuinely supportive.” Lytle also noted his natural ability to connect with patients, especially older adults, with “comfort, patience, and respect that is rare in a developing clinician.”
Being the person who helps people improve their lives is a role Bloore takes seriously. “You see someone at their lowest, and you help them come back,” he said. “You have to be their optimism for the time you have with them. You have to make a difference.”
It's taken Bloore several years to find his passion and purpose. Ten years ago, he graduated from Carey High School on Long Island. He proceeded to earn a bachelor's degree, and go on to work in a lab. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that path, he pivoted to blue-collar work, but quickly realized something was missing. “I wanted fulfillment out of my career. Something that wasn’t just a paycheck.”
That search led him to Onondaga Community College, where he discovered the Physical Therapist Assistant program after shadowing professionals in the field. “I loved it right away. It’s demanding, but it’s rewarding in a way that’s hard to describe.”
Bloore will receive his associate degree this month, then move on to his final clinical experience, his licensing exams in the fall, and a career helping patients recover. He'll do so determined to make the most of the opportunity he's been given. “I want to be an ambassador for this scholarship and set a good example.”
