OU Public Health | Fall 2018 21 well-being can be achieved, especially by underserved populations. “It is a great honor and blessing to receive this scholarship which honors Dan Macer’s legacy. I hope to be able to accomplish even a fraction of what he did in his life and ca- reer,” Camp said. Lance Ford Lance Ford is a first- year doctoral student in biostatistics. During his time at the OU Health Sciences Center, Ford has worked in the Research Design and Analysis Center, contributing to research projects in the departments of Neurology, Rehabili- tation Sciences and Geriatric Medicine, as well as at the Stephenson Cancer Center. He also has helped co-author three manu- scripts over the past year that have been ac- cepted for publication. “I am very grateful for this scholarship, for the College and its faculty for all of the sup- port they have given to me,” Ford said. Johnson Truong Johnson Truong is a na- tive of Tulsa and a sec- ond-year master’s degree student in the Depart- ment of Health Admin- istration and Policy. In addition to his studies, Truong serves as the patient resources and volunteer coordinator for the Stephenson Cancer Center. In his role at the Cancer Center, he has the opportunity to impact and engage with patients and volunteers daily. In the near future, Truong hopes to work in a project or quality manage- ment role. “I am honored and grateful for this scholar- ship. As human beings, we are here to sup- port one another and without the support of the donors, as well as family and friends, I would not be here today,” Truong said. OU Giving Day Scholarship Valarie Carter Valarie Carter is a trained chef, culinary educator and food writer, as well as a stylist, wife, mom, sister and daughter of a farm family. Carter chose to pursue a degree in public health after joining the Culinary Medicine Project at OU Tulsa. The project aims to teach healthcare students and community members culinary skills and about the es- sential links between food and health. Cur- rently, Carter serves as Vice President of the Tulsa Farmers’ Market. “I would like to thank the College and all of the donors who made it possible to contin- ue to pursue my goals. Thank you especially for allowing me to re-enter the world of higher education as a very non-traditional student,” Carter said. Diane E. Riggert Scholarship Ashton Glover Gatewood Ashton Gatewood is in her third year as a Mas- ter of Public Health stu- dent in the Department of Health Administration and Policy. Before work- ing toward her public health goals, Gate- wood achieved a bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and a bachelor’s degree in Span- ish from Oklahoma City University. With the help of the OU Health Sciences Center and the Native American Research Centers, she launched a career in healthcare that now spans a decade. While working toward her master’s degree, Gatewood also currently serves as the Director of Public Health and Interim-Director of Health Promotion Disease Prevention with the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic. “I would especially like to thank my sup- port system and the University of Okla- homa for its investment in students,” Gate- wood said. J.C. Watts Family Health and Wellness Scholarship Azka Khawaja Azka Khawaja is a sec- ond-year Master of Pub- lic Health student in the Department of Health Administration and Pol- icy. Khawaja has a strong international background that allows her to bring a unique perspec- tive to the hospital administration world. Striving to empower communities to re- duce inequalities, she volunteered in Hon- duras for three consecutive years with a public health brigade. In Honduras, she assisted in changing lives with clean water and in-home sanitation projects as well as to increase access to healthcare through her work with a free clinic there. Current- ly, Khawaja is interning at the Stephenson Cancer Center and spearheading projects to improve efficiency and quality within clinics. After graduation, she plans to be- gin a postgraduate fellowship to broaden and enhance her training through an array of administrative rotations and leadership empowerment opportunities. “J.C. Watts’ accomplishments are incred- ible. I hope that I can do half of what he has done for vulnerable populations,” Kha- waja said. Build a Legacy To learn more about how to become a part of the OU Hudson College of Public Health’s scholarship program, contact Kyndall Wahkinney, our director of Alumni Affairs and Development at kyndall-wahkinney@ouhsc.edu