2023 Fall WPG Scholarship Recipients
La’Dereka Christian - University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work
La’Dereka is a student at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. She is pursuing a master’s in social work and aspires to contribute to public service through policy and advocacy.
At the University of Houston Center for Student Involvement, La’Dereka works as a Student Program Board (SPB) Instructional Assistant. She co-advises the SPB through guidance and feedback, assists with the implementation and coordination of events/programs, assists with fiscal/budgetary management, and reviews/submits university-approved contracts and agreements.
La’Dereka’s organization involvement includes:
· Girl’s Inc. of Houston – Intern
· Texas Legislative Study Group – Policy Analyst
· Center for Civic & Public Policy – Intern
One of her cherished quotes comes from Shirley Chisholm: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
Ishmam Alam - University of Houston
Ishmam is a Senior Biology major at the University of Houston. Her interest in healthcare has always been informed by the surrounding sociopolitical context. She is very passionate about the social factors of healthcare, particularly among disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
After obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, her plans involve medical school and work as a physician while supporting healthcare policy.
Her professional organization involvement includes the Texas Public Health Association (Student Section Chair), and American Chemistry Society, UH Chapter (Academic Chair).
Ishmam’s honors include Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, and UH Deans Distinguished Scholars List.
For 10 hours per week, she supports the UH Organic Chemistry 1 lecture of over 600 students. Ishmam hosts supplementary office hours review sessions and provides administrative assistance.
2020-2021 WPG Scholarship Recipients
Nicole Pepito
Keilly O'Reilly
Keilly O'Reilly
Congratulations to Nicole Pepito!
She is a recipient of the
2020 WPG Scholarship.
Nicole Pepito is currently attending the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program. Nicole graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Prairie View A&M University with honors.
For the past 5 years, she has worked as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. Nicole has developed a sincere passion for nursing and providing high quality patient care. This has led to her advancing her education to reach her dreams of becoming a FNP. As a future FNP, Nicole aspires to promote healthy lifestyle and provide compassionate community service through caring for her patients and their families.
She graduates in May 2021 and plans to work in an underserved community clinic within Houston. Along with her dedication to the nursing field, she also enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and volunteering at her local church and various nursing organizations.
Keilly O'Reilly
Keilly O'Reilly
Keilly O'Reilly
Congratulations to Keilly O'Reilly!
She is a recipient of the
2020 WPG Scholarship.
Keilly O’Reilly is a third-year undergraduate student in the Honors College at the University of Houston attaining her degrees in Political Science and Economics, as well as minoring in Phronesis (the study of politics and ethics) and Finance. Keilly is interested in international relations and local government.
Keilly enjoys learning about legislative research and the legislative process in her current internship with the Harris County Intergovernmental and Global Affairs Office. She also has experience in local political campaigns. With the University of Houston, Keilly participates in the Model G20 and the Model Arab League, cultivating her skills in leadership, diplomacy, and debate.
Personally, Keilly enjoys reading and spending as much time as she can outside. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, rock climbing, and hiking are some of her favorite activities.
Cassidy Lee
Keilly O'Reilly
Cassidy Lee
Congratulations to Cassidy Lee! She is a recipient of the
2021 WPG Scholarship.
Cassidy Lee is a student at the University of Houston where she’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish. She’s an active member on campus, serving as a student employee and mentor in the Honors College Program, aiding first-year students with their transition to college life. In this role, she keeps incoming students informed on a number of critical resources, from counseling services and equal opportunity services to boundaries and identity positioning. She also creates content for the Model Arab League, which follows the United Nations model, in advance of competitions.
Beyond campus, Cassidy works at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and volunteers at the Houston Food Bank. Cassidy previously interned for a State Representative’s District Office. She’s an aspiring lawyer who wants to do her part to lift women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Spring 2022 WPG Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations to Hannah Gill!
University of Houston
$1,500 WPG Spring Scholarship Winner
Hannah Gill is a graduate student at the University of Houston, where she is pursuing a Master of Social Work. She received a Bachelor of Social Work from Kansas State University in 2019. Hannah solidified her passion for social work and advocating for the most vulnerable in our community while completing extensive fieldwork at Saint Francis Ministries, a non-profit dedicated to the needs of children and youth through a broad range of programs and services. While there, she visited with dozens of children monthly, attended court hearings and experienced the entire adoption process. Her first-hand experience with the child welfare system underscored the limited number of resources and the need for dedicated social workers.
Hannah believes that obtaining a Master of Social Work is a crucial step to helping those in unjust circumstances. She aspires to create positive change in the lives of children through public policy.
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Fall 2021 WPG Scholarship Recipients
Nabeela Siddeeque
Congratulations to
Nabeela Siddeeque!
She is a recipient of the
$1,500 WPG Fall Scholarship.
Nabeela Siddeeque, Senior at the University of Houston
Major: Biochemistry, Minor: Medicine and Society
Nabeela Siddeeque is an Honors College student at the University of Houston, where she majors in biochemistry. She plans on pursuing a joint MD/MBA degree program for emerging leaders in the healthcare industry at Tulane University. Nabeela is an active member of the University of Houston campus community. She is passionate about criminal justice reform and healthcare accessibility, especially among our most vulnerable communities. For her, patients should feel heard and empowered through trust.
For the past few years, Nabeela has researched societal barriers faced by incarcerated people, using her experience to develop a creative arts program at a local re-entry house for formerly incarcerated women. She has served as a tutor and mentor to many refugees and students with special needs to help them navigate high school coursework and the college application process.
With her medical degree, Nabeela hopes to establish a series of low-cost and free clinic services for underserved populations to bridge the gap in healthcare. Beyond school, Nabeela has a love for filmmaking and scrapbooking. She also collects nontraditional items and loves to crochet and paint.
Kala Pham
Congratulations to Kala Pham!
She is a recipient of the
$1,000 WPG Fall Scholarship.
Kala Pham, Junior at the University of Houston
Major: Biology, Minor: Medicine and Society, Global Engagement and Research
Kala Pham is a B.S./M.D. candidate at the University of Houston (UH) Honors College. After completing her bachelor’s degree in biology, she will pursue her M.D. at the Baylor College of Medicine. She is an Albert Schweitzer Fellow and has organized and hosted educational sessions on women’s healthcare and wellness at New Hope Housing, a leader in providing affordable housing with support services for recently homeless women and families. She feels strongly about the disparities in healthcare, especially the range of issues that uniquely affect women. Her work stems from her research at the UH College of Medicine, which has received support from the Pharis Fellowship and Action in Communities Grant. As an active member of the UH Community, Kala has served on the Health Center Policy Board and Women Gender Resource Board of the Student Government Association.
She is a research assistant for the MD Anderson Ovarian Cancer Moon Shots Program and Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. Kala is also an intern at the Houston Health Department, where she works to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention First Line COVID-19 Initiative. She is passionate about public health interventions implemented at the state level to help women from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
Sofia Sanchez
Sofia Sanchez
Congratulations to Sofia Sanchez! She is a recipient of the
$500 WPG Fall Scholarship.
Sofia Sanchez, Junior at the University of St. Thomas
Major: International Studies and Communication, Minor: Philosophy
Sofia Sanchez is an Honors Program student at the University of St. Thomas, where she is majoring in International Studies and Communication and minoring in Philosophy.
For her, public service is about learning from one another and building meaningful relationships. She is passionate about professional development, leadership, and diversity and inclusion. In 2020, she championed a university-wide leadership conference on campus that allowed students to attend free workshops and hear from alumni from various backgrounds and fields. And in her role as Vice President of Campus Community, she works to bring together the entire campus through diversity initiatives that celebrate different cultures and provide a space where people feel comfortable being themselves. She also works in Academic Advising at the University of St. Thomas.