We caught up with the first year recipients of the Genetic Counseling Scholarships to see how these annual awards help students with funding during their first or second year at the Graduate School.

Congratulations to the following students who received the Jacqueline T. Hecht Founding Director Scholarship, and the James T. and Nancy Beamer Willerson Scholarship, awarded to top students ranked by the program who match to The University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program (UTGCP).

Jacqueline T. Hecht Founding Director Scholarship

Receiving the Jacqueline T. Hecht Founding Director Scholarship means a great deal to me. This scholarship motivates me to continue working hard and make the most of my education.  As an out-of-state student it has also provided significant financial relief, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and clinical experiences during my time at UTGCP. — Katherine (Katie) Ledden

I am beyond thankful to have received this scholarship. It has helped me tremendously in moving to Texas from Pennsylvania and aided in offsetting tuition costs. Over the last year, I have been able to immerse myself in learning as much as I can about genetic counseling through classes, research, and clinical rotations. I am grateful to UTHealth for seeing my worth and dedication as a student, and I cannot wait to continue to build my skills for the rest of my graduate education. — Jessica Scarlett

James T. and Nancy Willerson Endowed Scholarship

Receiving the James T. and Nancy Willerson Endowed Scholarship has been a reminder of the hard work, resilience, and heart I’ve poured into my journey, and it symbolizes a vote of confidence in the genetic counselor I’m becoming. This award has eased some of the financial strain of graduate school, and more importantly, encouraged me to continue showing up fully for this career I care so deeply about. — Savannah Berger

Receiving the James T. and Nancy Willerson Endowed Scholarship has been an honor and has greatly helped me in my program. This scholarship has lowered the financial barrier for my graduate program significantly and allowed me to progress through school without worrying about school finances on top of my studies. I am truly honored and grateful to have this opportunity and assistance.

— Marissa Williams

Recognizing Resilience

Resilience is a key quality for success in graduate school and a career in genetic counseling. The following students were awarded the Resilience Scholarship, which honors incoming students who have demonstrated the ability to persevere through challenges.

The Resilience Scholarship helped make my path to genetic counseling possible and reminded me that resilience is recognized and valued. It fuels my passion to guide individuals and families through their health journeys with compassion and expertise.

— Kathryne Rojeck

Receiving this scholarship acknowledges how far I have come and the strength it took to get here, despite the challenges. It reminds me of how important it is to keep moving forward at your own pace. — Michelle Luong

Congratulations to all! It’s great to hear about the various ways our students receive monetary and other support during their unique academic journeys at the Graduate School.