Terry is enrolled in the physical therapy program at the Jordan Applied Technology Center - West Jordan on the West Jordan campus of Salt Lake Community College.

"It's a prep for physical therapy school," said Terry, a West Jordan High School senior. "It's unique because you get training, high school and college credit, and you make connections with physical therapists. You're killing four birds with one stone."

The program, run by Mountain Land Physical Therapy, teaches high school students the basics of physical therapy. The students receive practical experience in a clinic as well as an understanding of the profession.

Also, students receive both high school and college credit for the classes.

Physical therapist Chris Harper started the program in 2002. The Jordan Applied Technology Center offered him an on-site clinic inside the school in exchange for daily teaching from him and other therapists.

The partnership between Mountain Land and the technology center benefits both parties.

"We've got physical therapists in the career and doing the business who I couldn't afford to have," said technology center Principal Todd Quarnberg. "It functions as a business and provides education. That's unique."

Many private businesses support public education through sponsorships and grants. Mountain Land goes beyond that, sending professionals into the classroom and taking students into the workplace.

"We really provide a quality education for these students," Harper said. "You would think that a private business and education wouldn't marry too well, but it really has."

The program is set up to help the students learn about the field before entering it. In the mid-1990s many physical therapy schools moved from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree as required education. Now many programs require doctoral degrees.

"This pioneering program is the first of its kind in Utah and possibly in the United States," Harper said. "PT schools are raising the bar for admissions, and we're raising the bar on the other end."

The program accepts 50 students who work each day in a classroom or in one of 10 outpatient clinics. They learn not only about physical therapy, but also about occupational therapy and speech language pathology.

At last year's Health Occupation Students of America Competitions, students from this program filled nine out of the 10 spots that went to a national competition in Orlando, Fla.

"They're cream-of-the-crop students that come into this program," Harper said.

Students stay busy year-round with internships, orthopedic therapy assistance and learning medical terminology. They receive four college credits.

The students are not allowed to physically work with the patients, but they get to observe and perform other duties.

"The program gives you a lot of experience in the clinic," said Alair Kowallis, a West Jordan High School student. "We'll have over 150 hours in the clinic by the time we're done, so we're really qualified."

Many students leave the program ready to start work in the field.

"They love to hire students who have gone through our program," said Josh Fuhriman, a physical therapist and instructor at the school. "The students can hit the ground running."

Harper's primary purpose with the program is to educate the students, and subsequently, the public.

"What keeps me doing it is giving people an awareness about the profession," Harper said. "(The students) get excited about it. They teach their families."