PHILANTHROPY

$1000 Scholarship Winners 2024-25

             

Brandy Bowden will graduate in December 2024 with an associate degree in respiratory care. She will begin working at a local medical facility as a respiratory therapist. Her g.p.a. is 3.7. She is president of her class. Shortly after high school graduation she married her husband, a U.S. Marine and spent the next 15 years moving around the U.S. They subsequently divorced and she moved home, taking a job at a concrete company to support her two daughters. She chose the respiratory care program because many people in her family have asthma or COPD. She is now a grandmother who aspires to continue her education and get her bachelor’s degree. Although she has faced many challenges in her life, her family and faith have sustained her.

 

Marleny Carreon will graduate in December with an associate degree in respiratory care. She was working as a  Certified Nurse Assistant at St. Luke’s Hospital during COVID when she realized how important respiratory care was. She is the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. Her g.p.a. is 3.22.

 

Madison Martinez will graduate in December 2024 with her associate degree in respiratory care.  Her g.p.a. is 3.47. Her inspiration was her mother who after immigrating to the U.S. received a master’s degree in physical therapy. Although the life or death situation of caring for ill patients feels like a huge responsibility, she realized she could provide life-saving skills for many.

 

Adriana Montalvo will receive her associate degree in respiratory care December 2024. Her g.p.a. is 3.3. She has attended her program while working full time, attending college full time and being a single parent to her three children.  Her hospital clinical rotations have shown her what an important job respiratory care is for so many patients. It is life-breath!

 

Tina Parisi will receive her associate degree in respiratory care in December 2024. Her g.p.a. is 3.42. She is a divorced, single mother of four children and currently resides in Katy, from where she commutes 5 days a week. She was a stay at home mom for 15 years with just her high school education. After the divorce, she lost her car and home. They  moved in with her parents and started over. Her children are her world. She has just accepted a job at Houston Methodist in Willowbrook.

 

$2000 Scholarships

 

Hermelinda  (Linda)Key will receive her associate degree in nursing in December 2025. Her g.p.a. is 3.57. She is wife and mother to three daughters. Her husband has been her biggest supporter. Working in a hospital showed her how important it is to have compassionate, caring nurses and doctors. She plans to student for her bachelor’s degree in nursing, and eventually become a nurse PR actioner.

 

Kimberly Mejia will graduate in May 2025 with an associate degree in respiratory care. Her g.p.a. is 3.71.   She has worked as an administrative assistant in Emergency Services at Houston Methodist Hospital since 2019. She was called to the medical field after the death of her daughter. She was comforted by compassionate respiratory therapists. She realized she, too, wanted to help others.

 

Chris Ramirez-Rios will graduate with an associate degree in nursing in December 2025. Her g.p.a. is 3.57. She is the first in her family to attend school past the sixth grade. She graduated in the top ten per cent of her high school class. She has attended school fulltime while holding down two jobs. She aspires to receives both a master’s and possibly  a doctorate, open a clinic and help others.

 

Ana Rodriguez will graduate with her associate degree in dental hygiene in May 2025. Her g.p.a. is 3.6. She is co-enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Texas Women’s University in their bachelor’s degree program in dental hygiene. She has worked since 2012 in dental practices as a dental assistant. She also works as a nursery worker at her church to help make ends meet. She would like to become a dental educator one day to work with those who do not speak English and have no idea about dental care.

 

Jaden Todd will receive her associate degree in dental hygiene in May 2025. Her g.p.a.is 3.61. Jaden grew up following her father’s job around the world. She works part time and volunteers at an assisted living facility. She has extensive experience working as a dental assistant since 2020. I would like to have my patients not be fearful of dental care and treatment.

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