Five students spoke at the Annual Scholarship Luncheon held at the historic Arizona Inn in Tucson on November 2, 2012. Listen to these amazing personal stories of triumph over hardship and how they developed a passion for public health.
Cherisse Holiday
Degree: MPH/Public Health Practice
Charisse grew up on the Navajo reservation in North Eastern Arizona. She plans to return home after graduation to assist her community with issues such as diabetes program management and development and obesity prevention and management.
Christina Ore de Boehm
Degree:DrPH/Public Health Policy and Management
Christina has worked for more than sixteen years with American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and tribal organizations on a range of public health projects. Her aspiration is to continue working in support of tribal self-determination, supporting both indigenous ways of knowing and practices and western evidence based public health.
Gabrielle Price
Degree: BS in Public Health
Gabrielle was diagnosed with periodontal disease last year and had to spend her savings on treatment. Her career goal is to become a community dietitian, helping members of the Black community and individuals with eating disorders improve their health.
Yoshira Ornelas
Degree: MS/Environmental Health Sciences
Yoshira is the first person in her family to attend college. She hopes to one day earn her PhD in environmental health and make an impact in her community by focusing on infectious diseases and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Luis Valdez
Degree: MPH/Health Behavior and Health Promotion
Luis is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico and the first in his family to attend college. He intends to utilize his education to help promote health education in the Tucson community.
