Hear from former scholarship recipients about their experience:
"The scholarship has been essential in helping me pursue my educational goals and make significant progress in my academic journey. As a first-generation, Spanish-speaking, former foster youth, financial instability has always been a hurdle for me. By alleviating some of the financial burdens, the scholarship has allowed me to focus more on my research and academic pursuits. For instance, it has given me the freedom to dedicate my time and energy to studying the mental health effects of deportation in Latinx/e youth communities, a topic deeply personal to me. With the scholarship's assistance, I have been able to conduct research, give presentations, and in the future, attend conferences to share my insights and raise awareness for this important issue."
—Joel Rubio, MPH Candidate, University of California, Berkeley
"The APHA Kaiser Permanente Community Health Scholarship has been instrumental in supporting my educational journey. The scholarship has provided financial support for my tuition, textbooks, supplies, and living expenses, which has given me more time to focus on the coursework and other responsibilities beyond being a student. It has opened doors to networking and professional development, which has provided me insights in the field of public health, such as the webinar series, mentor match, and connecting with other APHA members. I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities the APHA Kaiser Permanente Community Health Scholarship has provided."
—Ma Vida Amor Echaluse, MPH Candidate, Portland State University
"The APHA Kaiser Permanente Community Health Scholarship has helped me to achieve my educational goals by allowing me to solely focus on my academics and prioritize excellence in all of my coursework. I have been able to navigate my plan of study with ease and dedication. I have completed the first year of my Doctor of Public Health program with a 3.9 GPA. I have also been able to solidify and build relationships with multiple mentors, write a mock dissertation proposal during my first year, lead two research projects and papers, as well as engage in professional development opportunities within APHA, such as the 2022 APHA Annual Meeting and the 2023 NVDRS Conference. I am extremely grateful for this scholarship opportunity that has provided me with the necessary support to maintain academic excellence, focus on building relationships and professional development, and make exceptional progress toward my dissertation. As a first-generation doctoral student, this scholarship has meant the world to me and I am looking forward to the research journey ahead."
—Makala Carrington, DrPH Candidate in Community & Behavioral Health, University of Colorado Anschutz