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2026 Annual Celebration of Scholarship recognizes student, resident recipients

By Dylan Allen February 03, 2026
An event speaker addresses a seated audience at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry.

The growth of the generous support throughout the years reflects the passion and enthusiasm of individuals committed to giving back to the school, surpassing $375,000 in total gifts for the current semester. Photo by Shyam Tailor.

A person stands at a podium giving remarks in front of a UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry backdrop.

Alumnus Joel J. Vela, DDS ’93 ’97, owner and operator of Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry, delivered the reception’s keynote address. Photo by Shyam Tailor.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry hosted the 2026 Annual Celebration of Scholarship on Jan. 29 in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center, awarding over 120 students and residents with support for their studies in the 2025-26 academic year.

In accordance with the reception’s theme, “An Evening of Gratitude,” the growth of the generous support throughout the years reflects the passion and enthusiasm of individuals committed to giving back to the school, surpassing $375,000 in total gifts for the current semester.

Alumnus Joel J. Vela, DDS ’93 ’97, owner and operator of Bellaire Pediatric Dentistry, delivered the reception’s keynote address. His remarks set the tone for the evening by discussing his imperfect path to earning his dental degree, and how both expected and unexpected turns shape a dental professional’s journey.

“Recognize, acknowledge, and embrace the opportunities that you’ve experienced in your lives,” he said. “The good ones and not-so-good ones. Use those opportunities to be a better you.”

Building on that message, Vela shared how mentorship, persistence, and community support guided his own trajectory from student to practitioner. His story reminded recipients that scholarships not only alleviate financial pressures but also empower students to grow, build confidence, and develop their professional identities.

“Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn. You don’t lose — you learn,” he said.

Since earning his dental degree, he’s been a member of and has served in leadership positions of the Greater Houston Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He also maintains active membership in the Houston Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and holds a fellowship in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

During the scholarship recognition, Robert Spears, PhD, MS, associate dean for student and academic affairs, announced the recipients while Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, provided information on the scholarships as they were announced. Together, they emphasized the profound impact donor generosity continues to have on the future generation of dental professionals.

Celebration of Scholarship 2026

Recipients are as follows:

Hanan Abdelgilil

  • T. Bradford Willis, DDS, MSD Scholarship in Pediatric Dentistry
  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Ayushi Agarwal

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

Nicole Akukoro

  • Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Sophia Aleman

  • Frederick C. Elliott, Severin Knutson, Rupert Estel Hall Dental Scholarship
  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Miranda Allbee

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

Amna Ali

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • The Nhan Hien Scholarship

Tucker Anderson

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Irene Atia

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

Rebecca Arroyo

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Daniela Arredondo Reyes

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Kellie Askew

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship
  • The Craven Scholarship

Deena Awad

  • Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship

Isabella Balestrini

  • Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Scholarship

Seidy Banobrelopez

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship
  • Shirah May Hall Memorial Scholarship in Dental Hygiene

Nathaniel Blake

  • The Craven Scholarship

Gisel Bojorquez

  • Shirah May Hall Memorial Scholarship in Dental Hygiene

Hanna Bowie

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Mary Ella Burlison

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

Peyton Cain

  • Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Jackson Callaway

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Ava Chaparro

  • PACE Alumni Success Scholarship

Lance Castille

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Jed Chen

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

Waverlee Cooper

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Michelle Covarrubias

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Sydney Creath

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

Emilee Davis

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

Celeste Del Pilar

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

Anna Denkeler

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Katherine Dinh

  • Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Scholarship

Lourdes Dinh

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

Tamaya Dixon

  • The Dental Hygiene Class of 2003 Scholarship

Megan Do

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • The Nhan Hien Scholarship

Jamey Duong

  • Lawrence Warren Maher, Jr., DDS Memorial Scholarship

Julia Dwelle

  • Lawrence Warren Maher, Jr., DDS Memorial Scholarship

Fatemeh Ebrahimi

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Farh El Alfy, DMD

  • Joel J. Vela Pediatric Dentistry Scholarship

Brooke Ellis

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship
  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Rachel Farella

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Julian Fernandez

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Seth Friesenhahn

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Claire Fuchs

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Mariela Gaytan

  • Bien Air Scholarship

Joel George

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

Sydney Gibson

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Joelle Goldman

  • Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship

Alexis Gonzales

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • John D. Lee, DDS Scholarship

Daniel Gonzales

  • Dr. and Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Eliot Gottsegen

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Tanvi Gupta

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship

Pedram Hajykarim

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

Matthew Ha

  • Donald J. and Alice J. Hughes Scholarship

Emily Hang

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Madison Henderson

  • Kinnari M. Prajapati, DDS Scholarship

Armig Henriquez

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

Vuong Ho, DDS

  • The Dr. Milton Yellen and Florence Yellen Scholarship

Lauren Hoyt

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Anjelina Humphreys

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Carlene Huynh

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • The Nhan Hien Scholarship

Nhi Huynh

  • The Houston Asian American Dental Society Scholarship

Thanh Huynh

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Mia Jackson

  • The Greater Houston Dental Hygienists Association Ushma Ramaiya Memorial Scholarship

Joel Jacobs, DMD

  • Joel J. Vela Pediatric Dentistry Scholarship

Daeho Jang

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Cade Jensen

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Evan Ji

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

Tyler Johnson

  • Max Olivo Hutchins, PhD Memorial Scholarship

Hadley Jones

  • Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Ethan Kerim

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

Maryam Khalil

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

Susanna Kim

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Woojae Kim

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

Caitlyn Krebs

  • Kenneth H. Porter Operative Dentistry Scholarship
  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Natalie Lacey

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Trevor Lambson

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Michael Landavazo

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Katie Le

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

Abigail Lechtenberg

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Jiweon Lee

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

Kay Lee

  • Bien Air Scholarship

James Linscomb

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Karyn Lu

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

David Luo

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Leah Majzoubi

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Founders Scholarship

John Mansour

  • Dosch Scholarship

Allyson Martinez

  • Dr. and Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Roshan Mathew

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship

Cash Maxwell

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Steven McDaniel, DMD

  • The Dr. Milton Yellen and Florence Yellen Scholarship

Emily Mendenhall

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Julissa Mendoza

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Arianna Montes

  • Ramirez-Rathmel South Texas General Dentistry Scholarship

Madison Mosley

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

Vivek Mynam

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

Jake Neil

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Vivian Ngo

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Britney Nguyen

  • Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Dustin Nguyen

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Nhi Nguyen

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

Shawn Nguyen

  • Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship
  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Thien Nguyen

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

Alexia Nitkowski

  • James H. Wuensche Scholarship

Tiffany Saba

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

Erin Schillings

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Grace Scott

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Brooke Scroggin

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Kyler Seymore

  • Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Scholarship

McKenna Shepherd

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Mariam Siddiqui

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

Juliana Sierra

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Celee Smith

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

Colin Smith

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

Saylor Smith

  • Daniel C. Kamas, DDS Scholarship

Sergio Solis

  • Carus Dental: Dental and Dental Hygiene Scholarship

Shiyue Song

  • Gary S. Leff, DDS, MPH Scholarship
  • Schwinn Family Scholarship

Mia Soto

  • Delta Dental Scholarship (Dental and DH students)

Kylee Stoddard

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Sydney Strong

  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Katheryn Swigart

  • Kenneth H. Porter Operative Dentistry Scholarship

Scottie Taylor

  • James T. and Nancy B. Willerson Scholarship
  • Kamila M. Husain, DDS, and Nomaan K. Husain, JD Scholarship

Anna Thibodeaux

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Abigail Thomas

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Kendall Toelle

  • Women of Rotary Club Student Scholarship

Claire Tran

  • Edgar H. Boelsche Scholarship

Emily Tran

  • Donald J. and Alice J. Hughes Scholarship

Lily Tran

  • Thuc La, DDS Scholarship

Renat Trybunko

  • Ronald V. Glauser, DDS Scholarship

Arturo Vallejo

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Annette Vazquez

  • The University of Texas School of Dentistry Faculty Scholarships – Dental Hygiene

Olivia Vega

  • Alliance of the Texas Dental Association Memorial Scholarship

Amy Vo

  • Dr. and Mrs. Tan Vu Scholarship

Tyler Washington

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship

Kelsey White

  • Glenn T. Housholder Scholarship
  • Herbert E. Wyss Jr., DDS ’68 Scholarship

Emma Wolfe

  • William “Sam” Leifeste, DDS Memorial Scholarship

Jewel Wong

  • The UTSD Alumni Association Scholarship

Addie Wright

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

Adam Ybarra

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

Yuleima Zamora

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

Caroline Zhang

  • Schwinn Family Scholarship

Julia Zheng

  • Gao Family Scholarship

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