2023 Annual Celebration of Scholarship recognizes student, resident recipients
Published: January 27, 2023 by Kyle Rogers
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