David Hosmer Outstanding First-Year Student Awards
David Hosmer Outstanding First-Year Student Awards
Shane Fitzgerald (MS, Biostatistics)
Shane Fitzgerald is a graduate student in the biostatistics master’s program from Wilbraham, Massachusetts who recently completed his first year. Coming from a background in applied science, he has enjoyed the challenge of learning a more mathematical approach to public health. In the future, he hopes to use his skills as a biostatistician to aid the public in protecting and improving their health. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, and snowboarding.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for being chosen to receive this award. It is truly an honor to be recognized for my accomplishments during my first year at UMass Amherst. My experience so far has been fulfilling. I have learned new skills that will aid me greatly as I pursue a career as a biostatistician. Receiving this scholarship motivates me to continue to work hard as I move closer to my goals. Thank you very much for your generosity and support.
Rebekah Kristal (MS, Biostatistics)
Rebekah Kristal is a first-year MS student in biostatistics in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. She earned her undergraduate degree in applied math and history from Brandeis University in Waltham. These studies gave her the analytical and social training to pursue quantitative research in public health. Years of personal experience with disability and chronic illness motivated her to explore health equity to support marginalized communities, and her research interests have formed around this goal. In her free time, she enjoys learning her family recipes and hiking around Amherst with friends. She hopes to pursue a PhD in biostatistics at UMass, and eventually become a professor.
Thank you so much for your generous gift for the David Hosmer Scholarship. I am humbled and grateful to receive this award. This award will be helpful in covering expenses in graduate school and will allow me to focus on my studies and the opportunities available to me. It is an incredible gift, and I am so thankful for your generosity in making it possible.
Kate Kyeremateng (MS, Epidemiology)
Kate Kyeremateng is a graduate student in the epidemiology program. Trained as a nurse in Ghana, Kate has been interested in opportunities to promote health through science and research. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing, she volunteered at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana and assisted in a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of a vaccine for Lassa Fever disease in Africa. This experience sparked her interest in epidemiology. Later, while serving as a nurse in rural Ghana as part of her mandatory national service, she recognized how the physical and social environment interact to shape the health of local communities. This realization inspired her to pursue research roles on an environmental health project led by Professor Raphael Arku in Accra, Ghana. The project was focused on examining the impacts of air and noise pollution on local communities and vulnerable populations. Kate then led the field team in the ongoing Accra birth cohort study designed to examine the impact of air pollution on maternal and child health in the city. At UMass Amherst, Kate continues to pursue her interest and seeks to leverage her training in epidemiology and environmental epidemiology to contribute to equitable health and policy initiatives with a focus on women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Outside of school, Kate enjoys listening to podcasts and engaging in philosophical conversations with her friends.
I am honored to receive this meritorious award, which recognizes and financially supports the academic achievements of students. With a growing disease burden in under-resourced countries like my country, Ghana, expertise in epidemiology is needed now more than ever. I will continue to persevere in the pursuit of my goals. I am deeply grateful to the donors for this prestigious award and hope to make it count.
Jenna Marando (4+1, Epidemiology)
Jenna Marando just completed her undergraduate degree in public health sciences, as well as the first year of her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UMass through the 4+1 program. She found a passion for epidemiology after taking PUBHLTH 224 with Dr. Cassandra Spracklen and has continued to find new, interesting areas of the field. She has a particular interest in how data can be used for informed decision-making to improve the health and well-being of communities. Jenna is looking forward to her internship this summer with the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and after graduation next spring, she hopes to work for a local public health organization to work closely with different communities to make a positive impact.
Thank you for making it possible for me to receive the David Hosmer Outstanding First-Year Student Award. This scholarship helps make it possible for me to continue to make the most out of my time at UMass in The School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Thank you again for your generous award and I am honored to have my efforts throughout my first year of graduate school recognized.
Rachel Taylor (MPH, Epidemiology)
Rachel Taylor is a first-year graduate student pursuing her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UMass Amherst. Rachel graduated from UMass in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Anthropology. She then worked for two years as a research fellow on the UMass New Moms Wellness Study, a randomized clinical trial investigating the effects of a high fruit and vegetable postpartum diet on breast cancer risk in lactating mothers. This research experience piqued her interest in the roles that dietary and lifestyle factors can play in modifying disease risk. She hopes to use her MPH training to further contribute to epidemiologic research in women's and children’s health. Over the summer, she will complete her practicum with the Holyoke Board of Health through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Local Health Internship Program. In her free time, Rachel loves to hike around the Pioneer Valley, read, and spend time with friends and family.
It is an honor to have been chosen for David Hosmer Outstanding First-Year Masters Student Award. It allows me to focus my attention on coursework and less on the monetary burden of living and studying in Amherst. This award gives me profound reassurance and encouragement that my efforts are worthwhile and that I am on the right path.
Rian You (MS, Biostatistics)
Rian You is a master's student in biostatistics at UMass Amherst. Concurrently working as a data analyst at Baystate Health, she is passionate about transforming data into actionable insights to promote healthcare development. She aims to leverage her data science expertise to improve the quality of care and healthcare accessibility in the community. In her leisure time, Rian enjoys swimming, culinary exploration, and embarking on road trips.
I am deeply honored to have been selected as a recipient of the David Hosmer Outstanding First-Year Student Award. Thank you for your generous support and for your confidence in my potential. This award not only recognizes my hard work as a first-year student but also motivates me to contribute meaningfully to the field of public health. I am committed to upholding the standards of excellence associated with this award and strive to make meaningful contributions to the field.