Marquette Challenge

The Marquette Challenge is the signature service project of Marquette University Physical Therapy (MUPT). It is a nationwide, grassroots fundraising initiative in support of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (FPTR).  Every year, students from MUPT make a monetary contribution to the FPTR and challenge other students to do the same. Physical therapy and physical therapy assistant programs from across the country participate. The school that contributes the most money wins the Marquette Challenge and co-hosts it with MUPT in the subsequent year.

The 2025 winner was the University of Delaware.  Boston University and Virginia Commonwealth University took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.  In total, The 2025 VCU-Marquette Challenge raised over $190,000 bringing the running total to over $5 million.

Students at MUPT hosted the first Marquette Challenge in the 1988-89 academic year when they realized that they were the only student group donating to the FPTR. Since then, the Challenge has become an annual tradition of friendly competition in support of the FPTR, which is the only national nonprofit solely dedicated to funding physical therapy research. The Marquette Challenge helps the FPTR fund clinical research and a rigorous scientific review process for funding. Consistent with our Jesuit tradition, it also provides an opportunity for emerging professionals to develop their skills in servant leadership.

Get On the List!

If your school wishes to step up to the 2026 Delaware–Marquette Challenge and raise money for PT research, contact the following student coordinators at MUChallenge_All@marquette.edu. You can also check out the Marquette Challenge website to learn more.

Marquette Challenge Coordinators

Jocelyn Birrueta Carrera, SPT

Tess Brinkmann, SPT

Andrea Penesis, SPT

Marquette University Faculty Advisor

Jacob J. Capin PT, DPT, PhD, MS