The Ambassador Scholars for 2011 are (left to right) Melanie Amen, Yousef Arar, Alexandra Forney, Stacy Cousins and Mallory Durst.
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Five exemplary students ― one from each of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio’s five schools ― were appointed the 2011 Ambassador Scholars. President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP, announced the scholars at a reception on April 12 in the Parman Foyer.

The students and the schools they represent include:

• Melanie Amen ― Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  
• Yousef Arar ― School of Medicine
  
• Stacy Cousins ― School of Nursing
  
• Mallory Durst ― School of Health Professions
  
• Alexandra Forney ― Dental School

“You have been selected because you are excellent student leaders, and we are confident that you will be outstanding representatives of your school and of the Health Science Center,” President Henrich said. Speaking to the audience composed of proud family members, faculty and leaders from the five schools, he added, “So often when we are dealing with the public we need someone to tell people who are not familiar with the Health Science Center what we do. These students do that for us in a superb and articulate manner. I am proud to be around them and applaud their commitment to their studies and future careers.”

As President Henrich introduced the new Ambassador Scholars, the 2010 Ambassador Scholars presented medals to the new appointees as their last official duty. Emily Wittington, the 2010 Dental School Student Ambassador, told the new ambassadors, “Among your academic duties and extracurricular activities, this new appointment will open a new avenue of opportunity to serve our Health Science Center and the opportunity to serve your school community. The year ahead of you will be exciting as you represent the university at various community events. Be ever mindful of the great missions our Health Science Center strives to achieve every day and know that you will always have played a very special part in it.”

Melanie Amen
Amen is a Ph.D. student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She is in the third year of her doctoral studies in the microbiology and immunology program. She received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Texas A&M University and worked as a research assistant at the Texas A&M Health Science Center. At the Health Science Center, she works with adjunct faculty member Anthony Griffiths, Ph.D., researching the discovery and characterization of Herpes B virus-encoded microRNAs using deep-sequencing technology. She has made 10 presentations at local and international meetings, authored eight articles and received nine awards, including five scholarships from organizations including Generations Credit Union, the Lion’s Club and General Motors.

Yousef Arar
Representing the School of Medicine is Arar, a first-year M.D./M.P.H. student. He graduated from UT Austin with a degree in biochemistry. His research experience includes volunteering in a neuroscience lab and work with the Global Clinton Initiative, where he proposed to develop an interactive text addressing diabetes education in low socioeconomic areas. He also interned as a Congressman Bill Archer Fellow at Capitol Partners Consulting Firm. At the Health Science Center, Arar was elected a Student Government Association representative. This summer he will participate in the South Texas Environmental Education and Research program and plans to shadow a pediatric surgeon.

Stacy Cousins
A first-semester undergraduate student in the School of Nursing, Cousins is president of the December 2012 nursing class and is a member of the student mentoring program Juntos Podemos. Before coming to the Health Science Center, Cousins served five years in the U.S. Air Force. She was deployed with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, working as a labor and delivery emergency medical technician and as an Air Force federal agent. She received the Leadership Award while in the military, and has volunteered recently for community health screenings and at Royal Point Christian Academy, an elementary school.

Mallory Durst
Representing the School of Health Professions is first-year physician assistant studies student Mallory Durst. She graduated from Texas A&M University where she was a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, a national health honor society for students interested in community health. While there she also coordinated a bone marrow donation drive and assisted in research projects in biological sciences and contemporary women’s health issues. Since becoming a student at the Health Science Center, Durst assisted the Bexar County PA Society student representative in speaking to pre-PA societies and has volunteered at the San Fernando Health & Safety Fair in downtown San Antonio. She received the Gregg Treibs Memorial Scholarship and the Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Designated Scholarship.

Alexandra Forney
Forney is a third-year dental student who graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, where she was president of the Pre-Dental Club, was a President’s Leadership Class Student Advisor and a David A. Burr Scholar freshman mentor. She also was the 2007 OU homecoming queen. At the Health Science Center, she is the recipient of the Stacy Windell Clap Jr. Scholarship and was the founder of “Admitted Student Day” for incoming dental students. Forney serves as a peer advisory and is president of the Dental Class of 2012.

The Student Ambassador awards are supported by the Health Science Center’s President’s Council, a group of community donors.