Local Foundation Names Four Rising Healthcare Leaders in 2025 Scholarship Round

Foundation announces 2025 healthcare scholars at midwinter ceremony

For A Bright Future Foundation on Wednesday named four students as its 2025 healthcare scholarship recipients. The announcement was made at a small ceremony at the foundation’s offices in the city, attended by board members, family and friends. The awards honor students preparing to work in medicine, nursing and public health, and the foundation said the grants are meant to reduce financial strain as the recipients move into demanding professional programs.

What the scholarships cover and how recipients were chosen

The foundation said it chose four winners this year. It did not publish standard award amounts in the announcement; instead, it described the scholarships as flexible grants intended to cover tuition shortfalls, books and living expenses tied to study. Eligibility focused on students who demonstrate both academic promise and a clear commitment to serving under-resourced communities.

Selection combined academic records, letters of recommendation and short essays describing each applicant’s community work and career goals. The foundation emphasized a preference for candidates who have shown hands-on service — unpaid clinical volunteering, public-health outreach or local health education — rather than coursework alone.

Meet the recipients: their focus, background and goals

Emmanuel Eziakor is entering clinical training toward a medical degree. He has volunteered in neighborhood clinics and framed his career aim around bringing primary care to communities with limited access. Emmanuel described his work with local health fairs as the turning point that pushed him to medicine.

Rishi Dhanasekaram is training for a nursing career with a focus on acute care. He comes from a family of first-generation college attendees and has balanced part-time work with coursework while supporting younger relatives. Rishi says he wants to shorten wait times and improve bedside communication in hospital settings.

Ryanne Teng is studying public health, with special interest in preventive programs for youth. Her background includes organizing school-based wellness workshops and a summer internship at a county health department. Ryanne hopes to design community programs that reduce preventable hospital visits.

Sammar Iqbal is preparing for a role in healthcare management and policy. Sammar has experience in grassroots health advocacy and has worked on projects to expand language access in clinics. He plans to use management training to help clinics run more efficiently and serve more patients.

About For A Bright Future Foundation and its work so far

The For A Bright Future Foundation was founded with the stated aim of expanding education access for students pursuing careers that serve local needs. Over several years the group has run scholarship rounds, mentorship programs and small community grants for clinics and schools. The foundation says past scholarship cohorts have gone on to staff neighborhood health centers, teach in local schools and launch public-health campaigns — outcomes the board cites as evidence of growing community impact.

Voices from the ceremony

Louis Hernandez Jr., the foundation’s spokesperson, said the awards reflect a belief that small investments in students can multiply into stronger local care: “We invest in people who plan to come back and serve where help is hardest to find.”

Recipients spoke briefly about the practical value of the awards. One said the grant would mean fewer evening shifts while studying; another described it as an affirmation that community-focused work is worth supporting. The overall tone was gratitude mixed with a clear sense of responsibility.

How readers can learn more and next steps for applicants

The foundation said it plans to repeat the scholarship program next year and will publish application details and timelines on its public channels later in the year. Interested readers should look for official announcements from the foundation or contact the foundation’s communications office for media or partnership inquiries. The organization encourages applicants who can show both academic progress and community service to apply when the next round opens.

Photo: Ron Lach / Pexels

Sources

• prnewswire.com