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Inaugural Hero Scholars
ROSEMAN UNIVERSITY
Recognizes Its First Hero Scholars
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By Jason Roth
What does it mean to be a hero? Is it the superhuman abilities that are portrayed in movies, like that of our favorite Marvel characters? Sure, they’re heroic as they battle equally superhuman villains. Their extraordinary physical abilities and powers are always awe-inspiring and spark imagination.
In the real world, our heroes are more unassuming. What they lack in superhuman abilities, they make up for in character – courage, passion, integrity, honesty, confidence, patience, selflessness, caring, humility, and support. A hero is anyone who uses these character traits to rise up and make a positive impact on others. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, in part it was the people who possess these characteristics – our frontline healthcare workers – that inspired the creation of Roseman’s Hero Scholars program.
At a Hero Scholars awards luncheon held concurrently at the Roseman’s Henderson and South Jordan campuses on September 21, Vice President for Strategic Implementation and Engagement and Designer of the Hero Scholars program Vanessa Maniago shared that the program was developed to identify and reward future frontline healthcare professionals who have selflessly provided care to communities in need.
“When we began to talk about the notion of heroism – and what our Hero Scholar should represent – we saw your heroism as multidimensional – after all, heroes are rarely simple,” said Maniago. “First, Academic Promise. We looked for candidates with a strong academic record that would thrive in our accelerated programs. Second, Community Volunteerism. We looked for candidates who at their core were dedicated to service and giving back. Third, we looked for candidates with demonstrable leadership skills. Leaders lead but they also encourage and lift others around them to lead. Finally, financial need. These four criteria were used to evaluate the numerous candidates who applied for this scholarship.”
Last spring students applying for admission into Roseman’s Colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing had the opportunity to apply to the Hero Scholars program, which awards $10,000 scholarships supported by donors. More than 100 applications were received and evaluated by a committee of Roseman administrators, faculty and staff.
“Our candidates provided video submissions as well, which helped tell their individual and moving life stories,” said Maniago. “I can say that many tears were shed in hearing the journeys of our candidates.”
Thanks to the generous support of the Valley Health System, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, The Estate of Robert Stolman, and Roseman University Trustees Annette Logan-Parker, Carlene Walker and Mary Grear, six students were selected as Roseman’s inaugural Hero Scholars. Manzanillo’s Pharmacy Hero scholarship was supported by the Estate of Robert Stolman in memory of his brother who was an esteemed community pharmacist. Manzanillo thanked Stolman, saying “My family and I are deeply grateful for the investment the late Mr. Stolman and his family are making in me as I pursue a career as a pharmacist. I am truly blessed and honored to be called a Hero Scholar, but I firmly believe that the best recognition that someone earns is to do selfless acts and having that heroic vision in helping shape humanity.”
REBECCA HOWARD
DWAYNE KARLO MANZANILLO
Dwayne Karlo Manzanillo, Las Vegas, Nevada - Born in the Philippines, Dwayne Manzanillo immigrated to Hawaii and eventually made his way to Las Vegas. For the past four years, he has been a high school biology teacher and performing arts advisor. He has dedicated his life to healthcare volunteer service, helping with homeless outreach and medical education, serving as a counselor at a muscular dystrophy summer camp and more. Manzanillo earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Philippine Language and Literature from University of Hawaii at Manoa, as well as a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Johns Hopkins University. He is now earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Roseman’s Henderson, Nevada campus. “With this scholarship, the financial burden to fund my education would be alleviated, allowing me to focus more on being a successful pharmacy student,” said Manzanillo. “But, the HERO scholarship is not about me at all; rather, it is about the journey of how one gives back to the community that supported them since day one.”
Rebecca Howard, South Jordan, Utah - From a very young age, Rebecca Howard dedicated herself to the service of others, donating time and money to youth causes, and serving as an organizer of various fundraising and educational initiatives as president of the Pre-Pharmacy club at Salt Lake Community College, including organizing an on-campus flu shot clinic and raising money for Intermountain Specialized Abuse Treatment Center and Primary Children’s Hospital. Howard earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas and an Associate of Science in Pre-Medical from Salt Lake Community College. Previously a Pharmacy Technician and currently a Pharmacy Intern, Howard is now enrolled in Roseman’s Doctor of Pharmacy program at the university’s South Jordan, Utah campus.
In accepting her Pharmacy Hero scholarship supported by Roseman Trustees Carlene Walker and Mary Grear, Howard said, “This scholarship is an acknowledgement of the role that pharmacists play in our healthcare community, and that those in healthcare have ministering to the larger community. I am committing to pharmacy as a career, not just as an investment in my own future, but also as an investment in my community. More personally, the Hero Scholarship means financial freedom for me to explore this new pathway, really throwing myself into opportunities to stretch and grow.” RAVEN-JOIE REYES
MEHRI DOLATI
Mehri Dolati, Las Vegas, Nevada - Originally from Orange County, California, Mehri Dolati relocated to Las Vegas in 2020 where she works as a veterinary assistant. She has worked in veterinary medicine for the past eight years and aspires to become a leading veterinary pharmacist to help expand pharmacy services and patient counseling to a field of medicine where the profession is under-represented and under-utilized. Dolati is a graduate of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa where she earned an Associate of Science in Chemistry and University of California, Irvine where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science. She is now earning her Doctor of Pharmacy at Roseman’s Henderson, Nevada campus.
Dolati, whose Pharmacy Hero scholarship was supported by The Estate of Robert Stolman said, “I am aspiring to be a Veterinary Pharmacist. I envision becoming one of the leading veterinary pharmacists and bringing light to a field that I feel has been somewhat neglected in the past. I believe it is imperative to educate pet owners on their dog's or cat's medications. I hope to be an advocate and leader in bringing this manner of thinking to many animal hospitals that need it.”
She added that the Hero Scholarship means that she can finally pursue higher education without an overbearing financial burden to hold her back. She will be able to work fewer hours and focus on studying.
Raven-Joie Reyes, Las Vegas, Nevada - Raven-Joie Reyes has been an active volunteer in Las Vegas for more than a decade, serving Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, Three Square, American Cancer Society, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, and many more organizations. Volunteering in community clinics taught her that there was a large population of people in her community and across the US who are underserved and without healthcare because their families earn a low income or have a language barrier. As a result, she has dedicated her time to learning and practicing the Spanish language. Reyes earned a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Biology from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is currently pursuing an associate degree in Foreign Language - Spanish from Community College of Rhode Island. She is enrolled in Roseman’s Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Henderson, Nevada campus.
“The Hero Scholarship provided me with an extra support group in my time of need and reminded me that there are people who believe in me to succeed. This scholarship also allows me to feel less financial burden while I focus on the most important thing of all: my education,” said Reyes. “The Hero Scholarship highlights the time and effort that I have put into community volunteerism and leadership–my actions, my professionalism and my voice matter to the community. All of this gives me confidence to be successful in reaching my goals.”
Reyes’s Pharmacy Hero scholarship was supported by the Valley Health System.
Shabnum Hamidi, Hayward, California - Shabnum Hamidi’s experience with the Global Medical Brigades in Honduras contributed to her goal to become a pediatric nurse. While in Honduras, she provided health services such as taking vitals, triaging patients, and shadowed medical professionals serving a remote community. In addition to helping treat hundreds of patients, Hamidi and other volunteers spent a lot of time with the community’s children, hosting workshops about basic hygiene and diet. Upon her return home, she continued volunteering at Stanford Children’s Hospital and set out on her pursuit to become a nurse. Hamidi received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz and is now enrolled in Roseman’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the South Jordan, Utah campus.
In thanking Trustee Annette Logan-Parker who supported her Nursing Hero scholarship, Hamidi said, “I can’t even begin to express my gratitude towards being chosen for the Hero Scholarship. This scholarship not only means so much to me, but it also means a lot to my
SHABNUM HAMIDI
family. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies and be more involved with the Roseman nursing community which has only grown my passion for nursing day by day.”
Hamidi also shared that coming from a low income, single parent household she hopes to give back to her community and other communities to help those adversely affected by health care disparities. She said, “This current pandemic has deterred many from the nursing profession, but it has only motivated me even more to be on the frontline and help those that need nurses the most right now.” Je’na Givens, Las Vegas, Nevada - Je’na Givens of Las Vegas worked as an educator in the Clark County School District and Las Vegas area private schools for five years before becoming a nutritionist with Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada WIC. Previously, Givens worked as an intern at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Immunology Research Laboratory, working closely with principal researchers to finalize clinical studies for a pharmaceutical drug that targets treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases. She also served as a research assistant at Tuskegee University’s Nutrition Department where she helped facilitate a college campus project that recruited Tuskegee University students to volunteer and attend free nutrition health screenings. Givens earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Food Nutrition Science from Tuskegee University. She is now enrolled in Roseman’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Henderson, Nevada campus.
“I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of the esteemed Cure 4 The Kids Foundation Nursing Hero Scholarship,” said Givens. “This award has truly made a difference in my efforts towards becoming a nurse.”
Givens shared that the Hero Scholars program was critical to her ability to pursue her nursing degree. She said, "I have made several personal sacrifices that I know will pay off overtime. At the beginning of the program, I was devastated and struggled with thoughts of uncertainty regarding maintaining a livelihood to raise and support my son. I planned to put off my acceptance because I didn’t have enough financial aid to cover the cost of attendance; I was close to meeting the federal aggregate loan amount from my two previous undergraduate degrees in both biology and food nutrition science.”
At the Hero Scholars luncheon, Henderson campus Chancellor Dr. Eucharia Nnadi said, “We are very proud of each and every one of these students who were selected as our first Hero Scholars based on their academic promise, financial need, community volunteerism, and leadership skills.”
South Jordan campus Chancellor Jeremy Wells added, “We’re very proud of each of you and we’re also excited for what you bring to the University and our academic programs.”
JE'NA GIVENS
REBECCA HOWARD & CARLENE WALKER
