The Travis County Medical Alliance, in partnership with the Harris County Medical Society Alliance Philanthropic Fund, has awarded the prestigious Bayardo Hispanic Nursing Scholarships to four students at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. These scholarships, part of the Dr. Roberto J. and Agniela (Annie) M. Bayardo Hispanic Nursing Scholarship Trust Fund, are designed to support Hispanic students pursuing careers in nursing.
The 2024 recipients from the UT Austin School of Nursing are:
Arleen Gomez is a senior from Mission, Texas, and is completing her pediatrics clinical rotation. She completed her perinatal clinical rotation last semester, which she said solidified her desire to become a Labor and Delivery nurse. Gomez is passionate about empowering, caring for and comforting women during significant moments, especially Spanish-speaking women. In addition to her studies, she works as a student assistant at the Simulation and Skills Center, where she helps set up simulations, familiarizes herself with medical supplies and ensures that the classrooms and simulation bays are always in top condition.
Alizia Gonzales is a native of Bay City, Texas, where she graduated from Bay City High School. Now a freshman at UT Austin, she said she looks forward to engaging in campus organizations. She said her long-term goal is to become an ICU nurse, and she deeply desires to serve those in need through mission trips.
Clarissa Martinez is a first-generation college student and sophomore from Eagle Pass, Texas, where she graduated cum laude from CC Winn High School and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College. She said she is excited to continue serving her community through her studies at UT Austin.
Michelle Noriega is a junior from Houston, Texas, who has already made her mark at UT Austin by being selected for the University’s Honors Day, commemorating the accomplishments of students who have earned the designation College Scholar or Distinguished College Scholar. She said she is eager to begin her clinical rotations this year, which will give her hands-on experience in different nursing specialties. Noriega said she hopes to continue her studies beyond her bachelor’s degree, with plans to become a nurse practitioner.
The Bayardo Hispanic Nursing Scholarship Trust Fund provides annual scholarships to nursing students in both Harris and Travis counties. It is administered by the Travis County Medical Alliance Foundation and the Harris County Medical Society Alliance Philanthropic Fund.