09/11/2024
Supporting Future PAs: OAPA Names 2024 Scholarship Winners
OAPA Scholarships celebrate the leadership and contributions of Ohio PA students while providing financial support for the next generation of PA professionals.
We are proud to announce the 5 winners of 2024 OAPA Scholarships!
The Past Presidents Leadership Scholarship, from the OAPA Past Presidents Council, is awarded to one student who possesses the characteristics of what the Council envisions in a future leader within the profession.
The 2024 scholarship winner is Grace Tefend, PA-S, Ohio Dominican University.
Grace is a second-year PA student at Ohio Dominican University and currently serves as her cohort’s SAAAPA president. Education has been her entire life, but she always tries to maintain a healthy work-life balance, whether that involves serving meals to the unhoused or honing her skills as a chocolate connoisseur in her free time. Grace has lived in Ohio her entire life and plans on working here following graduation and remaining a lifelong member of the OAPA so that she can give back to the community she has always called home.
Upon notification of winning this scholarship, Grace shared these reflections:
"I am incredibly grateful and honored to be awarded the Past President’s Leadership Scholarship. Being selected makes me feel like a valued member of the OAPA, and I’m blessed to be part of such a welcoming organization. This scholarship money helps me feel more financially stable in a time when income is nonexistent as a student, and it grants me the mental space to focus on studying."
The Diversity Scholarship, awarded by the OAPA Diversity Committee, responds to the need for diversity in healthcare, which is becoming increasingly recognized as an essential component of delivering quality, patient-centered care.
The 2024 scholarship winner Salma Soliman, PA-S, Lake Erie College.
Salma is a 24 year old from Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2022 with a Bachelor in Neuroscience and is currently attending Lake Erie College’s PA Program. In her free time, Salma enjoys taking walks, writing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends..
The General Scholarships are awarded to select students who submit applications outlining why they chose the PA profession, what their future plans are as a PA, and what interests and activities they have outside the classroom. .
The 2024 scholarship winners are:
Theresa Farnan, PA-S, Ursuline College
Theresa is from Bay Village, Ohio, and she graduated with a Biology degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. Currently enjoying her clinical year at Ursuline College, she is honored to be part of the first cohort which has given her the experience of growing with the program while learning how to become a great provider. Outside of academics, Theresa enjoys staying active, traveling, and trying new things.
Theresa's thoughts on winning were "I am very thankful to have been awarded the OAPA General Scholarship. The OAPA offers amazing opportunities for students and providers to feel connected. This scholarship allows me to feel more confident financially and will allow me to focus on my studies."
Tess Harnett, PA-S, Cedarville University
Tess is currently completing her clinical year in the Cedarville University PA program. She received her bachelor’s degree at The Ohio State University in the medical dietetics program and became a registered dietitian nutritionist. Her background in nutrition helped her learn the strong connection between nutrition and chronic disease. She was then inspired to become a physician assistant to provide more comprehensive care to patients. Tess has been involved in the PA profession as the AAPA Student Academy Representative for her cohort and has enjoyed participating in the OAPA Challenge Bowl.
On winning this scholarship, Tess replied "I am so honored to have been selected for the OAPA General Scholarship, and for the opportunities that the OAPA provides for students to grow in the PA profession! I am thankful for this award as it will help with expenses during the clinical year so I can continue my involvement in PA events at a local, state, and national level."
Allyson Whittaker, PA-S, Miami University
Allyson is a PA-S2 at Miami University. She grew up in a small town near Dayton and attended Wright State University for her Bachelor of Science in Public Health and dual minor in Studio Art and Biological Sciences. Her passion for preventative care and the holistic model drove her to the PA profession. She wanted to pursue a profession where she could study medicine, but explore the impacts of shared individual and community health and well-being. Allyson is passionate about advocating for patients and the PA profession. As Vice President of the student society of her cohort and OAPA Student Representative-Elect, she hopes to reach more students and help them get involved in OAPA.
When notified of her scholarship win, Allyson shared "I am grateful to be an OAPA General Scholarship Recipient and to be a part of an organization that values their members. Getting involved in OAPA has been the best decision as a student preparing to enter the professional world. The opportunity to network with students and professionals as well as attending events has allowed me to further my knowledge and apply it outside of the classroom."
Our congratulations to Grace, Salma, Theresa, Tess, and Allyson for their contributions to the Ohio PA student community!
These scholarship winners will be honored on stage at the 2024 OAPA Annual Conference on Saturday, September 28.
The next round of OAPA Scholarships will open for application in summer 2025, and all eligible Ohio PA students are encouraged to apply. Find out more and see the list of recent winners on the student scholarship page.