PA Hunro Family Scholarship
The PA Hunro Family Scholarship is awarded to deserving future PAs who demonstrate healthcare experience prior to PA school, intention to improve public health, and represent a diverse, cultural perspective that will add value to the cultural sensitivity and competency needed in medicine today.
This scholarship was established in honor of PA Sokan Hunro, a Cambodian-American refugee who immigrated to California in 1982 after surviving the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Starting with very little, he obtained his GED and associate degree from Long Beach City College, and went on to complete advanced degrees from Charles Drew University’s PA program in 1988 and Masters of Public Health from Loma Linda University in 1993.
Over a professional PA career of 35 years, PA Hunro practiced in various specialties including addiction medicine, pediatrics, and occupational medicine. He has led and actively contributed as a PA for medical missions in Cambodia, Haiti, and the US-Mexico border. His professional work and volunteerism inspired his son to also pursue a career as a PA. Together, father and son co-founded Project Thank You, America, a community volunteer service that serves Thanksgiving meals to hungry and homeless communities in the Inland Empire, and instituted a public library in PA Hunro’s Cambodian village to encourage literacy and English-learning among the children of the village.
The PA Hunro Family Scholarship was established by PA Aaron Hunro in honor of his father, Sokan Hunro. As a previous CAPA student scholarship recipient, he wanted to highlight his father’s exemplary work with patients and the community while “paying it forward” to hard-working PA students who will go on to also pave their own inspiring pathways in the profession.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants of the PA Hunro Family Scholarship must:
- Self-describe their background as African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, Native American, Latina/o/x, White/Caucasian, Multiracial, and/or LGBTQIAP+
- Be a California resident
- Be a student enrolled in a California ARC-PA or successor agency-approved PA program
- Be a CAPA Student or Interim Student Member
- Maintain good academic standing within their PA program, as defined and confirmed by the PA Program Director in a letter
- Demonstrate financial need, in the form of receiving program or general financial assistance
- Confirm on the scholarship application intent to practice medicine as a PA, take the NCCPA Board examination within 60 days after graduation, and serve as a CAPA volunteer leader for at least one year within five years of graduation.
Application Enclosures
- CAPA Student Scholarship Application: Past recipients of CAPA or CAPA Foundation scholarships are ineligible to apply.
- Essay (MS Word or PDF format & MAX 500 words or 1 page) that encompasses the following:
- Describe the activities you performed to promote the PA profession, e.g. involvement in your community, your school, a student organization, or CAPA.
- Explain why diversity is important to the PA profession.
- Describe your personal and professional goals.
- Why do you believe you should be awarded this scholarship?
- Confirmation letter from the PA Program Director of your academic standing.
- Financial statements demonstrating receipt of support from your school Financial Aid Office or other entity. All statements will be handled and kept confidential.
This scholarship will provide a $2,000 award to a selected PA student.
If you prefer to submit via email, click here to download the application. Submit completed with all enclosures to capa@capanet.org.
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025
Donate to the PA Hunro Family Scholarship Fund
Support the next generation of Physician Associates by contributing to the PA Hunro Family Scholarship Fund! Your donation helps provide aspiring PAs with financial assistance, ensuring they can focus on their education and future careers in healthcare. Together, we can make a lasting impact.