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UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry will be closed Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, in observance of winter break.

The School of Dentistry will reopen Thursday, Jan. 2, and clinical operations resume Monday, Jan. 6. The Urgent Care Clinic will reopen by appointment only.

2023 Annual Celebration of Scholarship recognizes student, resident recipients

Published: January 27, 2023 by Kyle Rogers

Closeup of the 2023 Celebration of Scholarship program.
UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry student and resident recipients were recognized during the 2023 Annual Celebration of Scholarship on Jan. 26. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

Students and residents of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry were recognized during the 2023 Annual Celebration of Scholarship on Jan. 26 in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center. Scholarships are applied to the 2022-23 academic year.

In his opening remarks, Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, noted the growth of scholarships thanks to the generosity of many through the years to support the School of Dentistry’s students and residents.

“A decade ago, we had less than 20 endowed funds that distributed about $48,000 a year in scholarships to students and residents,” Valenza said. “Today, we have nearly 50 funds yielding approximately 120 scholarships totaling over $250,000.

“Why is this important to know? I think it’s important to recognize the passion that so many have had to support those that have followed them here at [the School of Dentistry], to give back to the institution that provided their education and experience, and of course I hope that all of you will consider doing the same.”

Kevin Morano, PhD, UTHealth Houston senior vice president for academic and faculty affairs, congratulated the recipients and acknowledged the impact of scholarships for students and residents. “[Scholarships are] recognition for your hard work and everything you are doing for the School of Dentistry.”

Brad Jennings, DDS, MDS, an orthodontist in Houston, served as the luncheon’s keynote speaker. Having recently turned 40 years old, Jennings reflected on entering the “second half” of his dental career and how quickly the years have gone by. He also impressed the need to be a part of organized dentistry.

“It’s so easy for you to say you’re too busy [for organized dentistry] or I’ll let somebody else do that, but I ask you to not be that person,” Jennings said. “Give back, and fill the well where you have taken. All of you are going to be learning or taking knowledge, but give it back one day. Whether you donate back to the dental school or mentor a kid through a dental society, find a way to give back, so that we can keep our profession where it needs to be.”

Robert D. Spears, PhD, associate dean for student and academic affairs, emceed the presentation of scholarship, announcing each scholarship and recipient, and Ralph A. Cooley, DDS, assistant dean for admissions and student services, provided closing remarks.

Recipients are as follows:

  • Hanan AbdelGilil
    Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Alexis Adams
    Raymond Kenneth Morrow, DDS & Yen Hoang Morrow Scholarship
  • Abisola Akingbade
    Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship
  • Ali Al Hatem
    Delta Dental Scholarship for Dental and Dental Hygiene Students
  • Dominique Angibeau
    Carus Dental Fund Scholarship
  • Andrew Augustine
    Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • John Beck
    and Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship
  • Noah Blackwell
    Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Logan Bliss
    Kenneth H. Porter Operative Dentistry Scholarship
  • Casandra Castillo
    Carus Dental-Dental Hygiene Endowed Scholarship
  • Rosha Chittuluru
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Garrett Conlan
    Kinnari M. Prajapati, DDS Scholarship
  • Payton Cook
    Heyl G. Tebo Endowed Scholarship
  • Trinity Curry
    The Dental Hygiene Class of 2003 Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Meghna Dara
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Allison Day
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Van DeMille
    The Corina Diaz & Walter Bajsel Endowed Scholarship
  • Esmerelda Diaz
    Carus Dental Fund Scholarship
  • Carlye Dierckman
    Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Victoria Diggs
    The Dr. Milton and Florence Yellen Scholarship Fund
  • Lily Dinh
    Shirah May Hall Memorial Scholarship in Dental Hygiene
  • Ethan Ellis
    William “Sam” Leifeste, DDS Memorial Scholarship
  • Julian Fernandez
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Dominick Fierro
    Nhan Hien Endowed Scholarship
  • Caroline Gekas
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Mykah Guy
    Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • Abigail Hafner
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Haylee Hardy
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Jack Harlan
    Erbert W. D’Anton, DDS Memorial Scholarship
  • Nicole Harari
    Schwinn Family Endowment Scholarship
  • Nathalie Heimeyer
    James H. Wuensche Scholarship
    Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship
  • Bridget Hibbler
    Schwinn Family Endowment Scholarship
  • Nour Hilal
    President James T. Willerson/Nancy Beamer Willerson Scholarship
  • Rebecca Hobbesland
    Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship
  • Laura Huynh
    UTSD Faculty Scholarship
  • Trixie Intal
    Thuc La, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Alhagie Jallow
    Thuc La, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Sanjna John
    John D. Lee, DDS Scholarship
  • Mohammad Khan
    Kenneth H. Porter Operative Dentistry Scholarship
  • Renee Kono
    Gao Family Scholarship
  • Raven Landry
    UTSD Student Emergency Scholarship
  • Helen Liu
    and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Endowment Scholarship
  • Mayan Kalo
    Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship
  • Colin Kappel
    UTSD Faculty Scholarship
  • Clara Kohlmetz
    Triolo Leadership in Dentistry Scholarship
  • Rawan Layth
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Ryan Lee
    Bradford Willis Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Skylar Mai
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Joshua Mathew
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Judy McNeill
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Zach Montz
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Keaton Moore
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Nicole Moore
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Brenda Munoz
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Mary Myrick
    Thomas L. Willis, MD, DDS & T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Tala Nassar
    Frederick C. Elliot/Severin Knutson/Rupert Estel Hall Dental Student Scholarship
  • McCluer Neuroth
    Carus Dental Fund Scholarship
  • Christine Nguyen, DMD
    Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship
  • My Duyen Nguyen
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Oghenesuvweh Ogbevire
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Madeline Oles
    Gene Stevenson, DDS, Memorial Award in Evidence-based Dentistry
  • Nicholas Pace
    Kamila M. Husain, DDS & Nomaan K. Husain, JD Scholarship
  • Samantha Paredes
    Gene Stevenson, DDS, Memorial Award in Evidence-based Dentistry
  • Sydney Pham
    and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Endowment Scholarship
  • Emma Pickup
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Natalie Pruneda
    Ramirez-Rathmell South Texas General Dentistry Scholarship
  • Salem Rabadi
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Anthony Rafaile
    and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Endowment Scholarship
  • Kristen Ramirez
    Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship
  • Carolina Ramos
    Frederick C. Elliot/Severin Knutson/Rupert Estel Hall Dental Student Scholarship
  • Kayla Rankin
    Thomas L. Willis, MD, DDS & T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry
  • Reid Risinger, DDS
    Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship
  • Anissa Rodriguez
    Bob and Tonya Foster Scholarship
  • Itzel Romero
    Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • Brittyn Rushing
    Dosch Endowment Scholarship
    UTSD Faculty Scholarships
  • Parnian Salehi
    Houston Asian American Dental Society Scholarship
  • Francesca Scalise
    Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship
  • Mostefa Sheikhi
    Carus Dental Fund Scholarship
  • Michael Smith
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Ramzi Smith
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Sergio Solis
    Frederick C. Elliot/Severin Knutson/Rupert Estel Hall Dental Student Scholarship
  • Angela Suryakusuma
    Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship
  • Zach Taylor
    and Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship
  • James Tidwell
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
  • Nicholas Tipton
    Bob and Tonya Foster Scholarship
    Donald Charles Kroeger Student Research Scholarship
  • Mason Tobola
    Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship
  • Kathy Tran
    Lawrence Warren Maher, Jr. DDS Memorial Scholarship
  • Tiffany Tran
    Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Brittany Trinh, DDS
    Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship
  • Austin Truong
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Marwah Tukdi
    Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • Arturo Vallejo
    Thuc La, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Avery Valls, DDS
    Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship
  • Yanzel Vanegas
    Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship
  • Stefany Vasquez
    The Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Association Ushma Ramaiya Memorial Scholarship
  • David Vindel Brower
    Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Endowed Memorial Scholarship
  • Heather Whitmire
    Thuc La, DDS Endowed Scholarship
  • Russell Wilson, DDS
    Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship
  • Emma Wolfe
    Schwinn Family Endowment Scholarship
  • Adam Ybarra
    UTSD Alumni Association Endowment Fund Scholarship
  • Mary Younan
    Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Valeria Zamarripa
    Delta Dental Scholarship for Dental and Dental Hygiene Students,
    The Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Association Ushma Ramaiya Memorial Scholarship
  • Cesar Zapata
    and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Endowment Scholarship
  • Cara Zou
    Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship
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