Elizabeth Woolrich Scholarship

James Haley

James Haley, Public Health Sciences major

James Haley is a senior public health sciences major. James decided to pursue public health after working in Medicare insurance sales and learning about the current gaps in the healthcare system. In addition to his studies, James has also served as a Summer Enrichment Coordinator for the AmeriCorps DREAM Program. Following his commencement in May 2023, James will begin his Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner Studies at the University of Vermont.

Thank you so much for awarding me the Elizabeth Woolrich scholarship. The impact this award has on me cannot be overstated. As a non-traditionally aged college student, putting life on pause to return to school and achieve my goal of earning my B.S in Public Health has required me to make a lot of sacrifices, personally and financially. This scholarship significantly alleviated the burden of this semester for myself and my family, and will allow me to forge ahead in the next steps in my education and career, as I prepare to begin doctoral study in nursing next fall. 

As I stated in my scholarship essay, I had a personal experience that greatly affected me and my view of palliative care. I realized the powerful and significant effect that compassion has on one’s end-of-life, an insight which I hope will help me to honor Elizabeth Woolrich’s memory throughout my career.

I cannot begin to express how truly humbled and grateful I am to receive this award. 

Global Health Impact Endowment

Mahfuj Alam

Mahfuj Alam, Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Mahfuj Alam is a PhD student in the epidemiology program in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. An international student from Bangladesh, Mahfuj specializes in infectious disease epidemiology. He believes that infectious diseases are on the rise even in developed countries as international travel has increased dramatically in the last couple of decades. He believes that COVID-19 is not the last pandemic, and even worse diseases may spread globally in the future. He wants to work on pandemic preparedness in the future. He is also interested in epidemiological studies of urban malaria. The WHO declared urban malaria an emergency in some African countries. Mahfuj thinks that rapid and unplanned urbanization across the world will only create a conducive environment for spreading urban malaria. He wants to contribute to controlling infectious diseases globally after completing his graduation. In his free time, he likes to travel and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.

I thank the scholarship committee for taking the time to read my works, essays and selecting me for this prestigious scholarship. I am also thankful to the donors who show great generosity by providing financial support to me and other scholarship holders. And I hope that they will continue to encourage and support us throughout the journey we take for public health. In this occasion, I really want to thank my supervisor, Dr. Andrew Lover, and other faculty members in Bio-Epi department who encourage me to work in global public health.

 

Kozma-Littleton Family Fund Scholarship

Allison Janineh

Allison Janineh, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Allison Janineh is a rising senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences who plans to attend graduate school for Occupational Therapy. She became involved with the Autistic community as a swim instructor at age 12 and has since fallen in love with helping others achieve goals in their personal endeavors using patience, creative thinking, and scientific evidence. She has work experience with varying populations in several rehabilitative settings and is excited to explore more professional opportunities throughout her remaining time in education. Outside of her professional life, Allison loves the outdoors; she served as President of the UMass Amherst Rock Climbing Team and chose to study abroad at a research base in the rainforests of Australia!

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your incredible donation towards my scholarship. Your generosity has not only lightened my financial burden but has also lifted my spirits and filled my heart with gratitude.

Thanks to your donation, I can now afford to do the internship that I feel will benefit me most career-wise and worry less about the hourly wage. Your contribution has given me the freedom to focus on my studies and dive into my passion for learning without the stress of financial constraints.

Not only did your generosity bring financial relief, but it also reaffirmed my faith in the kindness of strangers. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, your selfless act reminds me that there are still amazing people out there who genuinely care about the dreams and aspirations of others. Your belief in my potential has ignited a fire within me, and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity.

I promise to work hard, study diligently, and put every penny of your donation to good use. My goal is not only to succeed academically but also to carry your spirit of generosity forward. I want to be a beacon of hope and support for others, just as you have been for me. I am beyond grateful for your investment in my future and the flexibility you have brought into my life. 

As I embark on this exciting chapter of my education, I carry your goodwill in my heart and look forward to the day when I can pay it forward and bring smiles to others, just as you have brought one to mine.

Robert Clinton Memorial Scholarship

Elizabeth Delorme

Elizabeth Delorme, Health Promotion and Policy

Elizabeth Delorme is a PhD student in the Community Health Education program in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy.

I am thrilled to be selected as a recipient of the Robert Clinton Memorial Scholarship and am truly grateful for your generous support. Your contribution will significantly impact my academic journey and allow me to continue pursuing my passion for public health research. I am preparing to take my qualifying exams in the Fall 2023 semester. Your support will help me fulfill my goals in making a difference for those struggling with substance use disorder.

My current research is focused on resilience and stress among transitional-aged, pregnant, and parenting women with substance use disorder who are seeking or are in recovery. I am interested in how to better support young women in recovery as they face social and systematic barriers to improve their own well-being and that of their children. My goal is to focus my dissertation on the experiences and voices of this vulnerable population. In the future, I wish to continue working as a researcher and explore the impact of an intervention that builds emotional regulation skill for these young mothers. Further, I hope to examine whether these emotional regulation skills are passed down to their young children, cultivating resilience not only for the mothers but also their children. I appreciate your support and cannot express my gratitude enough. I am honored to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship.

Shirli Weiss Scholarship

Allison Janineh

Allison Janineh, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Allison Janineh is a rising senior majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences who plans to attend graduate school for Occupational Therapy. She became involved with the Autistic community as a swim instructor at age 12 and has since fallen in love with helping others achieve goals in their personal endeavors using patience, creative thinking, and scientific evidence. She has work experience with varying populations in several rehabilitative settings and is excited to explore more professional opportunities throughout her remaining time in education. Outside of her professional life, Allison loves the outdoors; she served as President of the UMass Amherst Rock Climbing Team and chose to study abroad at a research base in the rainforests of Australia!

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for your incredible donation towards my scholarship. Your generosity has not only lightened my financial burden but has also lifted my spirits and filled my heart with gratitude.

Thanks to your donation, I can now afford to do the internship that I feel will benefit me most career-wise and worry less about the hourly wage. Your contribution has given me the freedom to focus on my studies and dive into my passion for learning without the stress of financial constraints.

Not only did your generosity bring financial relief, but it also reaffirmed my faith in the kindness of strangers. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, your selfless act reminds me that there are still amazing people out there who genuinely care about the dreams and aspirations of others. Your belief in my potential has ignited a fire within me, and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity.

I promise to work hard, study diligently, and put every penny of your donation to good use. My goal is not only to succeed academically but also to carry your spirit of generosity forward. I want to be a beacon of hope and support for others, just as you have been for me. I am beyond grateful for your investment in my future and the flexibility you have brought into my life. 

As I embark on this exciting chapter of my education, I carry your goodwill in my heart and look forward to the day when I can pay it forward and bring smiles to others, just as you have brought one to mine.

Zoya Achildiyev

Zoya Achildiyev, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Zoya Achildiyev is pursuing her BS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as well as a certification in Developmental Disability Human Studies and minoring in psychology. Zoya is also a research lab member where she works to understand how speech is recognized and perceived. After graduating, she hopes to earn a masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. She has internship experience working with Down children and autistic kids, and wants to work with these populations when she is older. Zoya’s free time is spent volunteering for Helpings Hands by baking goodies to give to nursing homes near UMass. Zoya also enjoys spin workout classes, volleyball, and going hiking with friends. When alone, Zoya enjoys reading the Percy Jackson series and loves drawing her environment.

Thank you so much for your kind donation, I appreciate that you believe in me. I am a first generation college student, my parents were immigrants and did not have the luxury of going to college. College was not even an option because of the expense it brings. Through their stories and my love for school, I understand the value of obtaining a college degree. My parents never went to college, they are paying the price now by having to work over 3 jobs each just to make ends meet. I am very fearful of my life ending up like that, but donations like this allow me to focus on my education. My hope is that one day when I make it big in this world, I will be sure to give that wealth to someone who deserves it and needs it. Life is one big circle and I truly believe what goes around always comes back around. Your generosity is the reason that special needs kids will always have a safe space in my classroom. Once more, thank you so much for believing in me and choosing me. You will not be disappointed.

Adrianna Brent

Adrianna Brent, Public Health Sciences

Adrianna Brent is a rising senior at UMass Amherst, studying Public Health Sciences and Political Science. She is a proud Liberian-American woman and a first-generation college student. On campus, Adrianna serves as a peer ambassador for the Commonwealth Honors College and also works as a resident assistant, assisting first-year students. Outside of school, she loves to read, write, and travel! This summer, she is working as a Legislative Intern in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Washington, D.C. office. After graduation, Adrianna plans to go to law school in hopes of pursuing a career in healthcare law and contributing diverse expertise to identify and implement interventions to promote equality. 

I would like to introduce myself as a recipient of the Shirli Fabbri Weiss Internship Scholarship and thank you for making it possible for me to receive this award. 

My path to public health policy began with my mother, who was forced to escape her war-ridden country, Liberia, and immigrate to the United States. With few resources and income, my mother enrolled my family in many government assistance and community programs. During our time in the WIC program, we received healthy foods, nutrition education, and assistance with purchasing groceries. While it relieved some of our family's financial stress and provided the aid we needed, we encountered many obstacles. Our community, home to a large population of Liberian immigrants, had significantly poorer quality foods and less access to transportation. Our city also had low access to supermarkets, forcing us to rely on independent corner stores and local entrepreneurs for food. With no car and long travel distances to WIC-approved stores, my mother and I, along with other neighbors, discontinued the government assistance program. It was difficult not to see a link between the hardships we experienced and our low-income, ethnic community. I became aware of these inequalities at a young age. It was visible in our grocery stores, WIC clinics, and transportation systems.

As a result of this experience, I realized the significance of the government and its shortcomings. Its policies and programs, though intended to help American families, did not address the challenges that marginalized communities face. With this, I began to do my own research on how to communicate these disparities, but as a first-generation student, I lacked the resources and platform to make any progress. However, I did not give up because of the immigrant experience of my community and mother. It is what drives my perseverance. 

However, UMass has provided me with numerous opportunities to explore the connection between public health policy and marginalized communities and make a significant impact on my community as a leader. On campus, I serve as a peer ambassador for the Commonwealth Honors College and also work as a resident assistant, assisting first-year students. In my local community, I dedicated the past year to volunteering at the Massachusetts Trial Court, providing aid to low-income litigants. Additionally, I worked as a COVID-19 testing technician, administering tests to local residents. Thanks to this scholarship, I will have the privilege of working as a legislative intern in Senator Warren's Washington, D.C. office, where I will concentrate on health policy at the federal level.

This scholarship is not just financial aid; it is an invaluable opportunity that will spark my passion to pursue my educational goals and professional aspirations through an extraordinary internship experience. As a young Liberian-American woman responsible not only for my personal needs but also for supporting my beloved family and siblings back home, the weight of financial stress and burden has been immense. However, with the gracious support of this scholarship, it will alleviate the financial stress and burden that I currently face.

With a heart filled with gratitude, I will embrace this scholarship as a catalyst for my growth, a stepping stone towards excellence, and a testament to the unwavering power of perseverance. I am ready to embark on this remarkable journey, armed with the financial support that will help me make a positive impact in my community and beyond. My family and I thank you for your generosity. We are beyond grateful for this scholarship.

The Yablonski Fellowship Fund

Rachel Teumim

Rachel Teumim, Health Promotion and Policy

Rachel Teumim is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student in Community Health Education program in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy. She returned to school after much time in the working world, leading programs for youth in a variety of settings, bookkeeping for a local restaurant and even leading adventures folks on zipline tours. While at UMass, Rachel has been examining the connections between youth justice, the school to prison pipeline, racism, and health outcomes. She will be doing her practicum in this area and hopes to continue work in a related field after graduation. In her free time she enjoys dancing whenever possible, making upcycled clothing, spending time outside no matter the weather, and has a strong network of friends, family, and felines that make everything better. She is looking forward to completing her final year and putting her degree to use in the service of improving the health of the larger community.

I am so honored and grateful to have been selected for the Yablonski fellowship. I am an older student who has returned to school to pursue a masters in public health after many years away. I am working to support myself as I go, and this fellowship will go a long way toward relieving financial pressure so I can focus more attention on my classes and upcoming internship. 

Thus far I have completed two years of school part-time, and I hope to be able to finish the degree in one more year. I have learned so much in these first two years, and I'm really looking forward to my practicum experience over the summer. I have begun to focus my research on the connection between youth criminal justice involvement, racism and health outcomes. I have spent many years leading programs with young people in various settings so it feels like a natural extension of that work. I have been fortunate to be invited to intern with Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CfJJ) out of Boston, MA for the summer. They are doing important work to reform the juvenile justice system in Massachusetts and to help keep kids out of it as much as possible.

CfJJ worked hard to help get legislation passed in 2018 which raised the age at which a child can be arrested, from 7 to 12 years old. (I was shocked to learn that until then a 7-year-old could be handcuffed and arrested!) The organization was specifically looking for someone in public health to contribute their knowledge and perspective on the issue. I will be interviewing providers from health care, social service, and law enforcement, gathering data, and creating a report detailing the impact this change has had for youth, families and the community. 

This feels like meaningful work and I am happy to be on a path to do more to contribute to improving health outcomes for everyone. My parents have both dedicated themselves to serving the community, my mother as a teacher, and my father working for the state. I am so pleased to be able to follow their lead and I can't thank you enough for helping to make it possible.

William A. Darity Sr. Graduate Scholarship

Jazmine Chan

Jazmine Chan, Health Promotion and Policy

Jazmine Chan is a rising third year PhD student in the Community Health Education program in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy. Jazmine is interested in refugee health, looking particularly at how PTSD and trauma affect the management of chronic diseases. Her research interests stem from her role as a caregiver to her Khmer Rouge refugee parents. She hopes that through her work health care systems will be more aware of how to address the needs of refugees. Jazmine aims to do community-based participatory research so that the voices of the community are being prioritized.

I want to introduce myself as the recipient of The William A. Darity Sr. Graduate Scholarship and thank you for making this scholarship possible for me. I have just completed my second year of the PhD program in Community Health Education and will be moving onto my comprehensive exams in the Fall. My research interests include looking at PTSD, trauma, and the management of chronic diseases in refugees. I am particularly interested in looking at Southeast Asian refugees. My passion for public health and healthy equity works stems from me being a caregiver to my parents at a young age. They are both Khmer Rouge refugees who had me at the age of 44, so I learned very quickly how it was like for them to navigate the health system, their past trauma and health conditions in an environment that did not support it. I was raised in a tight knit Khmer community, and this led me to naturally want to do my best to support the health and well-being of my community.

UMass Amherst has been my home for a long time. I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees here. I am grateful for the support I have received from a few of my professors, advisors, and mentors here who took the time to help me mold into the person I am today. Their support and encouragement allowed me to feel like I belonged and was deserving to be in this program. During my time here, I have been able to work as a research assistant for the Center for Community Health Equity Research and on a project looking at adolescent sexual and reproductive health inequities in MA with my advisor. I have done internships with the Lowell Community Health Center working on a diabetes self-management program for Khmer refugees and on a practice transformation team to improve quality measures for Medicaid patients at community health centers. I am excited to see what other adventures I will take on during my time here at UMass.

With your thoughtful support, I can continue in this program and not stress the financial burden as much. It has made my goal more achievable and has taken off some lingering stress around money. I received the news about being the recipient of the scholarship during my dad’s final days of life and I am so honored that my dad was able to hear of the great news before his untimely passing. He was overjoyed and it made me feel good to let him know I am continuing with my purpose with the support from you. I really cannot express how grateful and meaningful this scholarship is to me. Thank you for your generosity to students like me.