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2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship recognizes student, resident recipients

Published: January 16, 2024 by Dylan Allen

The 2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship awarded over $230,000 to student and resident recipients.
The 2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship awarded over $230,000 to student and resident recipients. Photo by Dwight Andrews.
Judith B. Craven, MD, MPH, delivered the keynote address on behalf of herself and her late husband, Moritz Craven, DDS ’60, during the 2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship.
Judith B. Craven, MD, MPH, delivered the keynote address on behalf of herself and her late husband, Moritz Craven, DDS ’60, during the 2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship. Photo by Dwight Andrews.

The UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry hosted the 2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship on Jan. 11 in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center, awarding over 130 students and residents with support for their studies in the 2023-24 academic year.

In accordance with the reception’s theme, “An Evening of Gratitude”, the growth of the generous support throughout the years has shown the passion and enthusiasm of individuals willing to give back to the school, surpassing $230,000 in total gifts for the current semester. 

Robert D. Spears, PhD, associate dean for student and academic affairs, kicked off the reception by setting the tone of gratitude for the remainder of the evening and extinguished any doubts among students’ credentials for their scholarships.

“Trust us, you were selected for reasons, and every one of you is deserving of the honor and the award that you have received this evening,” Spears said.

Judith B. Craven, MD, MPH, delivered the reception’s keynote address on behalf of herself and her late husband, Moritz Craven, DDS ’60. Having served in numerous volunteer, community, and civic positions across Houston, as well as paved paths for others like herself in the medical community, she discussed the value that she and her husband shared for helping students achieve their academic and professional goals.

One way they displayed that value was through the establishment of the Craven Scholarship, one of the many scholarships awarded throughout the evening. 

“Rather than just investing in things, we wanted to invest in people and make a difference,” Craven said. “So, this scholarship is one of the most important things we’ve ever done.”

Ralph A. Cooley, DDS, assistant dean for admissions and student services, closed the ceremony defining gratitude as “the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for, and to return kindness,” and he encouraged the scholarship recipients to incorporate it throughout their lives. 

“Let’s carry that same attitude of gratitude throughout the entire semester and throughout your careers.”

Recipients are as follows:

Hannah Abdullah

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Ayushi Agarwal

  • Nhan Hien Scholarship

Colby Allen

  • Kenneth H. Porter Memorial Scholarship in Operative Dentistry

Angela Angelova

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Christine Anusim

  • And Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship
  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Eric Arroyo

  • Shirah May Hall Memorial Scholarship in Dental Hygiene

Deena Awad

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Bridget Bedore

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Logan Bliss

  • Women Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Hakeem Bombata

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Lorraine Byrd

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Peyton Cain

  • Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Severin Knutson, Rupert Estel Hall Dental Scholarship

Beatriz Calzadilla

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

Kimberly Chapa

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship

Kelly Dang

  • Dental Hygiene Class of 2003 Scholarship

McThilda Dao

  • John D. Lee, DDS Scholarship

Allison Day

  • Kinnari M. Prajapati, DDS Scholarship

Adam De Sequera

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Celeste Del Pillar

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Dr. Stacey Diep

  • Heyl G. Tebo Scholarship

Diana Do

  • Shirah May Hall Memorial Scholarship in Dental Hygiene

Jacqueline Duquemin

  • Women Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Emily Epperson

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Julian Fernandez

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Kaitlyn Fisher

  • Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Scholarship

Dr. Gabriella Gallo

  • Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship

Adrianna Garza

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Scholarship

Anthony Garza

  • Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Severin Knutson, Rupert Estel Hall Dental Scholarship

Caroline Gekas

  • Thomas L. Willis, MD, DDS and T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry

Gianna Giacomel

  • Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Scholarship

Sydney Gibson

  • Schwinn Family Scholarship

Lauren Gillespie

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • James H. Wuensche Scholarship

Joelle Goldman

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Chase Gordon

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship

Joseph Green

  • Craven Scholarship
  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Annalee Guilford

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation

Ruchira Gundlapally

  • Women Rotary Club Scholarship

Haylee Hardy

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Madison Henderson

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Vuong Ho

  • Houston Asian American Dental Society Scholarship

Elizabeth Hunter

  • Delta Dental Scholarship

Nhi Huynh

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Eman Jandali

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Tyler Johnson

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Ethan Kerim

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Dr. Kim Kierszenson

  • Joel J. Vela Pediatric Dentistry Scholarship

Aemin Kim

  • And Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Ashley King

  • Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Scholarship

Brock Kittle

  • Bob and Tonya Foster Scholarship

Caitlyn Krebs

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Michael Landavazo

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Raven Landry

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship

Erin Lee

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Jae Ryung Lee

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Melissa Liu

  • Gao Family Scholarship

Nghiep Ly

  • University of Texas School of Dentistry Faculty Scholarships

Nicholas Magana

  • And Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Derekneka Magee

  • Delta Dental Scholarship

Meagan Mai

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Skyler Mai

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Umar Malik

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Joshua Mathew

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Roshan Mathew

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Loren Matrone

  • And Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Dr. Megan Meyer

  • Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship

Dr. Zahra Meykadeh

  • Heyl G. Tebo Scholarship

Deep Modi

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Dr. Brittany Moleta

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Keaton Moore

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

Nicole Moore

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Sherilynne Moore

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Hedyeh Mosaffa

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Brenda Navarro

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Thy Thy Nguyen

  • Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship

Tiffany Nguyen

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

Lauren Ohlman

  • And Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Victoria Okanlawon

  • Nhan Hien Scholarship

Sarah O’Connor

  • Bob and Tonya Foster Scholarship

Nicolas Pace

  • Corina Diaz-Baisel and Walter Baisel Scholarship

Omkar Patel

  • Delta Dental Scholarship

Dr. Angela Pelechac

  • Heyl G. Tebo Scholarship
  • Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship

Emma Pickup

  • Lola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship in General Dentistry

Trevor Plihal

  • Lola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship in General Dentistry

Rachel Porter

  • Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Severin Knutson, Rupert Estel Hall Dental Scholarship

Mason Proctor

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

Justin Quackenbush

  • Delta Dental Scholarship

Miguel Ramirez

  • Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Scholarship

Carolina Ramos

  • Ramirez-Rathmel South Texas General Dentistry Scholarship

Basma Rassam

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Puria Razinobakht

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Arya Reddy

  • Triolo Leadership in Dentistry Scholarship

Brianna Reilly

  • Frederick C. Elliott, DDS, Severin Knutson, Rupert Estel Hall Dental Scholarship

Julieta Rey

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Dr. Dane Risinger

  • Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship

Andrew Roberts

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Itzel Romero

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship
  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Keaton Russo

  • And Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Emmanuel Sackey

  • Craven Scholarship
  • James T. and Nancy B. Willerson Scholarship

Naomi Samuel

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Francesca Scalise

  • Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship

Branden Scott

  • Schwinn Family Scholarship

Aysha Shabbir

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Katherine Shei

  • Erbert William “Danny” D’Anton, DDS Memorial Scholarship

Aryasb Shenavari

  • Raymond Kenneth Morrow, DDS, and Yen Hoang Morrow Scholarship

Colton Shepherd

  • And Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Celee Smith

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Colin Smith

  • UTSD Alumni Association Founders Fund Scholarship

Joel Sneed

  • Gene Stevenson, DDS, Memorial Award in Evidence-based Dentistry

Mia Soto

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Ryan Stier

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Angela Suryakusuma

  • Delta Dental Scholarship
  • Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD, Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry

Katheryn Swigart

  • And Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Katelin Taylor

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Meagan Thigpen

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

James Tidwell

  • Kenneth H. Porter Memorial Scholarship in Operative Dentistry

Mason Tobola

  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship
  • William “Sam” Leifeste, DDS Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Blake Tolison

  • Milton Yellen and Florence Yellen Scholarship

Andrew Tran

  • Donald Charles Kroeger Student Research Scholarship

Kathy Tran

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Vivian Tran

  • Schwinn Family Scholarship

Marwah Tukdi

  • Women Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Kylee Updike

  • Kamila M. Husain, DDS, and Nomaan K. Husain, JD Scholarship

Saima Valliani

  • Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Association Ushma Ramaiya Memorial Scholarship

Yanzel Vanegas

  • Gary S. Leff DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • UTSD Office of Student & Academic Affairs Scholarship

Mauricio Vasquez

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Olivia Vega

  • Lawrence Warren Maher, Jr., DDS Memorial Scholarship
  • Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation

Lauren Villarreal

  • University of Texas School of Dentistry Faculty Scholarships

Anna Wang

  • Lola B. and James R. Ballinger, DDS Scholarship in General Dentistry

Dr. Nicholas Ward

  • Pauline C. “Jackie” Duke Orthodontic Residency Scholarship

Andrew Wilkins

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Gary Wischkaemper

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Jiabao Xu

  • Gene Stevenson, DDS, Memorial Award in Evidence-based Dentistry

Cara Zou

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship
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