2024 Annual Celebration of Scholarship recognizes student, resident recipients
Published: January 16, 2024 by Dylan Allen
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