Celebrating the 2024 Graduates of St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program

Dear Colleagues, Supporters, and our Central Texas Community,

We recently invited our Neal Kocurek Scholars, who earned a degree this spring, and their families to celebrate the milestone achievement of their recent graduation.

This graduating class is a diverse group of students who are pursuing careers in a broad range of health professions—from nursing and public health to neuroscience and occupational therapy—whose varied paths will each play a critical role in advancing our state’s health network.

Throughout these difficult years of study, these students have leaned on one another and the scholarship program for support and guidance through challenges both academic and personal.

“I got very ill at one point, and I had to take a semester off school to recover,” said Kosi Otutu, one of our recent graduates. “But thanks to God, my family, and St. David’s Foundation, I was still able to graduate on time and receive my bachelor’s of biology from the University of Texas at Dallas.” She hopes to pursue a career in both medical research and practice after completing her next degree.

These young adults embody the values of the Neal Kocurek Scholarship program, exhibiting strength, curiosity, perseverance, creativity, and integrity. The promise of the collective impact they will have on Texas and the world is enormous.

Looking ahead to the next generation of Neal Kocurek Scholars, we will open our call for applications in early November 2024 and are eager to welcome a new class of students on this journey to improve health throughout our community.

I invite Central Texas rising high school seniors from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who have a passion for a career connected with healthcare and are considering a Texas college or university to consider applying to our program.

To our graduates: As I shared with you at your graduation celebration, I am profoundly proud of each one of you for your achievements and am excited to learn of the next chapter of your scholarly or professional life. We are all cheering for your continued success.

Edward Burger, Ph.D.

President and CEO, St. David’s Foundation

Class of 2024 Neal Kocurek Graduating Scholars:

Danica Amirtham

Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Texas A&M University

Thomas Bates

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Trinity University

Nicolas Bish-Lehr

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin

Sarah Bohac

Doctor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Mandy Chan

Bachelor’of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University

Megan Christensen

Master of Occupational Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Cristen Cost

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Brooke de la Sota

Doctor of Pharmacy Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy

Hiruni Dissanayake

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience Honors, the University of Texas at Austin

Samuel Eichner

Master of Science in Respiratory Care, the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Janssen Fang

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biochemistry Honors, the University of Texas at Austin

Myles Forgey

Master of Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pampeu Fabra

Sreya Gandra

Bachelor of Science, Public Health Honors and Bachelors of Arts, Plan II Honors, the University of Texas at Austin

Christy Goldberg

Doctor of Nursing Practice-Anesthesia (DNP-A), Texas Christian University

Layla Ismail

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin

Eirene Jo

Bachelor of Science and Art in Biochemistry, the University of Texas at Austin

Nathan Jones

Master of Healthcare Administration, Trinity University

Sruthi Keerpathi

Bachelor of Science in Plan II Honors, the University of Texas at Austin

Sana Khan

Bachelor of Science in Biology, the University of Texas Dallas

Hafsah Khwaja

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biochemistry, the University of Texas at Austin

Esther Ko

Bachelor of Science in Biology, the University of Texas at Austin

Margaret Kykta

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, UT Health Houston-Austin Campus

Thomas Le

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Ryan Leung

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Human Development and Family Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin

Miranda Lim

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies, the University of Texas at Dallas

Shelby Long

Master of Science in Nursing, Texas Women’s University

Anh Ly

PhD in Epidemiology, UT Health Science Center at Houston

Evan Mayhew

Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Leadership Studies Minor, Master of Accountancy, Baylor University

Sezim Minbaeva

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biology with a certificate in Pre-Health Professions, the University of Texas at Austin

Kelsey Mumford

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School & LBJ School of Public Affairs    

Taylor Musselman

Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis, St. Edward’s University

Chelsea Nguyen

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health, UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine

Joanne Nguyen

Master of Science in Physician Studies, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Kendall Oh

Bachelor of Science in Biology, the University of Texas at Austin

Kosi Otutu

Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Texas at Dallas

Natalie Parks

Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas at Houston- McGovern Medical School

Lexie Parrish

Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Riya Patel

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, the University of Texas at Austin

Emily Peng

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the University of Texas at Austin

Jacqueline Pham

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin

Faiza Quadri

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Neuroscience Honor and Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems, the University of Texas at Austin

Sania Razzak

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine

Veronica Remmart

Doctor of Medicine and Master of Arts in Health-Focused Design, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin

Briana Sanders

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Texas State University

Madelene Shi

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Texas State University

Rachel Simonds

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing

Shadt Skawratananond

Bachelor of General Studies, Texas Tech University

Clayton Smith

Bachelor of Science in Public Health, the University of Texas at Austin

Megan Somerville

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Texas State University

Kathleen Strybos

Doctor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Shea Sturdevant

Bachelor of Science and Art in Human Development and Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin

Nicholas Tan

Doctor of Medicine, Texas A&M University School of Medicine

Lizeth Tapia Plancarte

Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Texas A&M University- Commerce

Alice Timugura

Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biology, the University of Texas at Austin

Ashley Tonn

Bachelor of Social Work, the University of Texas at Austin

Gabriella Toral

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, the University of Texas at Austin

Kaylee Turner

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Texas Tech University

Joyce Zhuang

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Bachelor of Science and Arts in Plan II Honors, the University of Texas at Austin