The 2012 Ambassador Scholars are (left to right) John Byrne, (School of Medicine), Kimberly Ray (Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences), Jennifer Cude (School of Nursing), Emily Noll (School of Health Professions) and Elise Woody (Dental School). (Click on image for larger view)
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By Tina Luther

The UT Health Science Center San Antonio’s 2012 Presidential Student Ambassador Scholars were announced April 5 by President William L. Henrich, M.D., MACP. One scholar representing each of the Health Science Center’s five schools was selected.

The new student ambassador scholars include:

• Elise Woody, a third-year student representing the Dental School;
  
• Emily Noll, a first-year physical therapy student from the School of Health Professions;
  
• Jennifer Cude, a first-year student from the School of Nursing;
  
• Kimberly Ray, a second-year doctoral student from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; and
  
• John Byrne, a third-year student in the School of Medicine.

“Ambassador Scholars, I congratulate each one of you,” President Henrich said. “This recognition is a well-deserved honor. It is apparent that your efforts have been recognized by the deans who have chosen you for this significant award. 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.”

Each student received a medal and a scholarship from community donors.

Elise Woody
Woody graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2009. She served as the public relations officer for the Medical Dental Preparatory Association, tutored students in organic chemistry and was a four-year champion in both women’s and co-ed intramural basketball. As a third-year dental student, Woody has been a member of the American Student Dental Association for three years and serves now as president of the San Antonio chapter.

Emily Noll
Noll graduated cum laude from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and made the dean’s list each year. Later, she was accepted into the London Metropolitan University in England where she completed a master’s degree in business psychology. Noll also worked at Endeca Technologies in Cambridge, Mass., where she managed the company’s leadership development program. As a student in the physical therapy program, Noll serves as social chair for her class and participates as a volunteer with SAMMinistries, outpatient physical therapy clinics and the pediatric unit at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She also is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Texas Physical Therapy Association.

Jennifer Cude
Cude completed her baccalaureate degree in chemical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to attending the School of Nursing, she was a math teacher and analyzed water from the Edwards Aquifer as a special projects manager for an engineering firm. Cude serves as president of her class and the Nursing Student Council. She also participates in the peer adviser program and is a Juntos Podemos teaching scholar. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels as well as the Cesar Chavez blood Drive, and actively participates at her church by playing the piano and teaching children’s Bible classes.

Kimberly Ray
Ray graduated magna cum laude from Texas Lutheran University with a degree in physics. She was in the honors program, took pictures for the student newspaper and served as president of the Society of Physics Students. She is a second-year doctoral student in the radiological sciences program with a research focus on neuroscience imaging. She has co-authored four papers and is currently preparing a manuscript as the lead author. Ray received the Malcolm Jones Graduate Stipend Award and the Julio C. Palmaz Academic Award.

John Byrne
Byrne graduated from high school in Laredo and attended Baylor University where he received a bachelor’s degree in health science studies. He then completed a master’s degree in public health from the UT Health Science Center in Houston and concurrently spent three years at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio as a gross anatomy teaching assistant. The third-year medical student serves as president of the Class of 2013. He is co-chair of the Liaison Committee of the Medical Education Student Self-Study Subcommittee and is a student member of the Clinical Education Reform Task Force. He has served as the student representative and the student newsletter chair on the American Public Health Association Publications Board. He also is committed to physical fitness, having completed an Ironman Triathlon recently in Tempe, Ariz.