2025 UCSC Educational Award Recipients
Each year, graduating high school seniors apply for the opportunity to be honored as exceptional recipients of the UTHealth Houston Classified Staff Council’s (UCSC) Educational Award. Since 2006, the council has distributed more than $296,000 in awards to students whose dedication and achievements reflect a high level of academic and personal excellence. The council aims to recognize students who consistently go above and beyond in their academic pursuits, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and serve as inspirations to others.
The applications are meticulously reviewed by a dedicated selection committee composed of UTHealth Houston leaders from various departments. This year, the committee included Karen Weinberg (GSBS), Ed Fink (MMS), Maria Garcia-Villareal (MMS), Steven Bennet (General Administration / Facilities), and Angela Rasheed (General Administration / HR). Their collective efforts culminated in the selection of 33 outstanding finalists.
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, UCSC held its first Educational Awards Ceremony at Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine in the Atrium. Our distinguished speakers included Dr. Love (Interim President), Karen Spillar (SVP and CHRO), Angela Rasheed Stephen (Selection Committee member), Nely Perez (Educational Awards Chair), and Nena Fairbanks (UCSC Chair). During the annual ceremony $53,000 in cash awards were awarded to 33 graduating high school seniors of UTHealth Houston classified staff. The winners for the 2025 Annual Educational Awards were announced during a ceremony to honor both students and parents.
Fiscal Year 2025 UCSC Education Awards winners:
- Sophia Ali, Texas A&M University
- Parent: Fatima Ashraf — EPIC business intelligence developer I, UT Physicians
- Omotola Allen-Taylor, Texas A&M University
- Parent: Abimbola Allen-Taylor, DNP — nurse practitioner, UT Physicians
- Ja’von Armstrong, Arizona State University
- Parent: Justin Armstrong — senior manager of EPIC clinical application support, UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC)
- Jahlia Armstrong, Clark Atlanta University
- Parent: Justin Armstrong — senior manager of EPIC clinical application support, HCPC
- Isaiah Blee, Texas Tech University
- Parent: Sibil Blee — manager of clinical education, UT Physicians
- Adelaide Brousseau, University of Mary
- Parent: Karen Lee Brousseau — EPIC application analyst III, UT Physicians
- Bailee Brown, Spelman College
- Parent: Danette E. Spencer — manager of business analysis, UTHealth Houston
- Aleena Carrizales, San Jacinto College
- Parent: Haydee Carrizales — senior coordinator of special programs, School of Dentistry
- Felix Garza, Lonestar Community College
- Parent: Jessica Sorto — professional coder II, McGovern Medical School
- Josiah Hatter, Trinity Valley Community College
- Parent: Tambra Ellison — senior financial analyst, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics
- De’Leah Henry, Lamar University
- Parent: Jasmine Henry — lead patient care services, School of Dentistry
- Herman Hernandez, Dallas College - Richland
- Parent: Amy M. Hernandez — supervisor of patient accounts and accounts receivable, UT Physicians
- Winnie Herwig, Texas State University
- Parent: Patricia Herwig — clinical case manager, UT Physicians
- Siena Hill, The University of Texas at Austin
- Parent: Christine Hill — senior physical therapist and patient care coordinator, UT Physicians
- Jailen Ivery, Prairie View A&M University
- Parent: LaCynthia Moses — manager of patient business services I, UT Physicians
- Austin Johnston, Houston Christian University
- Parent: Jennifer R. Johnston — picture archiving and communication systems coordinator, McGovern Medical School
- Brianna Lopez, University of Houston Clear Lake
- Parent: Jose Lopez — translator/interpreter, HCPC
- Emily Lucas, Stephen F. Austin University
- Parent: Alan Lucas — manager of safety, UTHealth Houston Environmental Protection Program
- Veda Manikonda, The University of Texas at Austin
- Parent: Sarath B. Manikonda — programmer analyst III, McGovern Medical School
- Naivy Martinon, John Hopkins University
- Parent: Miriam Ramirez — research assistant II, School of Public Health
- Austin Medlenka, Houston Community College
- Parent: Lorie Scott Medlenka — business development representative, UT Physicians
- Michelle Menezes, The University of Texas at Austin
- Parent: Anitha S. D’souza — preceptor, HCPC
- Arleth Miranda, Wharton County Junior College
- Parent: Eridania Carreno Portillo — senior patient access representative, UT Physicians
- Omar Paita, University of St. Thomas
- Parent: Edna Rodriguez — medical assistant III, UT Physicians
- Samantha Pena, University of St. Thomas
- Parent: Rocio Vaglienty-Pena — clinical care coordinator, UT Physicians
- Justin Pillai, University of Houston
- Parent: Smitha Pillai — senior clinician, HCPC
- Andrew Quintero, Sam Houston State University
- Parent: Sonia Aguilar — manager of financial reporting and accounting, UTHealth Houston
- Ryan Rocha, Texas A&M University
- Parent: Holly Rocha — senior manager of education outreach, McGovern Medical School
- Makenzie Silva, The University of Texas at Arlington
- Parent: Stephanie Silva — payment posting specialist I, UT Physicians
- Mikaela Skora, Stephen F. Austin State University
- Parent: Lorrie Skora — clinical case manager, UT Physicians
- Arian Tahanan, Texas A&M University
- Parent: Amirali Tahanan — biostatistician, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences
- Savannah Walker, Texas Southern University
- Parent: Ericia Bryant — benefits analyst, UTHealth Houston
- Brooklyn Wright, Stephen F. Austin State University
- Parent: Rebecca Wright — supervisor of charge capture and coding, McGovern Medical School
This year’s UCSC Educational Awards committee members were: Nely Perez, Chair; Telisha Green, Co-Chair; Andrea Cabla, Tricia Hill, Richie Ho, Jennifer Khorchani, Sandra Pickrel, Sherron Scott, Carla Square, Alainna Talton and Nena Fairbanks.