Scholarships

Tamarack Award

J. Martin Carlson, CPO, FAAOP, established the Tamarack Award at Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC). Three annual awards of $2,000 per recipient are given to NUPOC Masters of Prosthetics & Orthotics (MPO) students who demonstrate excellence in orthotics and submit an original essay that details their commitment to orthotics.

The NUPOC teaching faculty anonymously evaluates and votes for the student awardees in December of the second year of MPO training. Award recipients are students who best exemplify these characteristics:

Clear understanding of the principles of orthotic management
Personal commitment to patient-focused clinical care
Strong interest in advancing the effectiveness of orthotic treatment

The competition is open to all full-time candidates enrolled in the second year of the NUPOC MPO program.

Previous Winners

2025

Skylar Miggliaccio, Jaden Schovanec, Anapaula Avila

2024

Jacob Frehlich, Abby Citterman, Kelbi Magnuson

2023

Kristen John, Courtney Klapka, Will Harris

2022

Cerik Carter, Abby Stepnitz, Emily Weidensee

2021

Anna Atkins, Kevin Clark, Kendra Hercules

2020

Nicolette Chamberlain-Simon, Casey Gruber, Jennifer Pudlo

2019

Kristin Barth, Maureen Connelly, Abbey Senczyszyn

2018

Kyle Miller, Sheila Pach

2017

Samantha Wright, Joshua Zumbrun

2016

Kate Binder

2015

Christian Rae S. Figueroa

About J. Martin Carlson

J. Martin "Marty" Carlson, CPO, FAAOP, owner and chief engineer of Tamarack Habilitation Technologies in Blaine, Minnesota, holds degrees in aeronautics and mechanical engineering and certifications in prosthetics-orthotics. He is a published scientist, teacher, entrepreneur and innovator who developed the Carlson AFO Modification technique, the Gillette orthotic seating system, Tamarack ankle joints and more. Carlson was recognized by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists with the Titus-Ferguson Award (2009) and the Clinical Creativity Award (1997). NUPOC deeply appreciates the generosity of Carlson for bestowing the annual Tamarack Awards at NUPOC.