8 Aggies awarded TAMU Medical & Dental Society Scholarships

On October 30^th, at the TAMU Medical & Dental Society's annual tailgate, seven deserving Aggies were awarded scholarships to attend medical or dental school in the fall of 2012. One scholarship was awarded to a student who will attend physician assistant school. This society is a Former Student organization comprised of Aggie physicians and dentists whose mission is to be able to help Aggies who are on track to matriculate to professional schools for careers in medicine or dentistry. This marks the 10^th year that the Society has been able to award scholarships.

The Walter S. McGregor Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Sarah Severson '11 a Biomedical Sciences major with a minor in Creative Studies. Sarah is from Round Rock, Texas, and is on track to become a future Aggie dentist. Sarah is currently serving as Treasurer of the Pre-Dental Society and is a member of CARPOOL.

Patrick Tran '11 was awarded the TAMU Medical & Dental Society Scholarship for his future career in dentistry. Patrick hails from Corpus Christi, Texas, and is a member of the Pre-Dental Society, where he earned Gold Member Status in the spring of 2010.

The Mary & Joseph '54 Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Joaquin Villegas '11, a Biology major and a member of the Corps of Cadets, to pursue his future career as a physician. Joaquin is from Pharr, Texas. For the Corps, he has served as Operations Office and has also served the Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity as President. He has also held leadership position in the Hispanic Presidents' Council and the American Medical Student Association.

Vivian Hui '11, a Biomedical Engineering major, was awarded the James J. & Norma R. Rosborough Endowed Scholarship to help her pursue a career in medicine. Vivian hails from Grand Prairie, Texas. She has served as Vice President of the Hong Kong Students Association, and has served in leadership positions for the Asian Presidents' Council and the Society of Women Engineers.

Two students were awarded scholarships from the Robert Walker Best Memorial Endowed Scholarship. Heather Jones '11, a Biology major, hails from Longview, Texas. She is currently director of emergency room scribes at a local hospital where she also works as a scribe. Heather has served as a Muster Host and as Public Relations Chair for the TAMU Pre-Medical Society. Anand Ganapathy '11, a Biomedical Engineering major, hails from Bay City, Texas. He has been involved with the TAMU Pre-Medical Society, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Texas Aggie Swing Cats, a dance organization. Anand has served as webmaster for the TAMU Emergency Care Team and the Lambda Sigma Honors Society.

Pilar McKay '11, a Nutrition major, was awarded the Susan Luehr '84, M.D. Scholarship. She hails from Houston, Texas, and has served in three leadership positions for the American Medical Students Association. For her sorority, Kappa Theta Beta, she has served as Bible Study Leader and as Initiation Chair. Pilar has competed in national championships as a Scottish Highland Dancer.

One additional scholarship, the Plum Family Professional Medical Careers Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Georgia Standke '11, a Biomedical Sciences major, who is expecting to matriculate to a Physician Assistant school. Georgia is a native of Louisiana and serves her fraternity, Chi Omega, as the Xi Kappa Chapter President. She is a member of the Future Aggie Physician Assistant Organization and the WorldMed Association.