Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Maxine Williams Scholarship:
Tequila Fugua graduated in June 2022 from Apollo Career Center in Lima, Ohio. Fugua’s passion for helping people and being a committed mother fueled her career in medical assisting. Her enthusiasm for the field stems from its versatility and the many opportunities it has brought her, making her a more well-rounded person. “Medical [assisting] is not just a career for me; it’s a goal that I will achieve with much pride and honor.”
As a student, Fugua is described by her professors as a strong leader with good attendance and grades. “[Fugua] has been a [State Tested Nurse Aide] for many years, caring for the elderly, as well as a licensed childcare provider,” notes an educator. “[Fugua] enjoys the interaction that comes with caring for others.”
Hannah Haskett plans to graduate in December 2022 from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Haskett’s dream of becoming a medical assistant comes from a desire to provide high-quality health care to her community. She hopes that, once she graduates, she finds coworkers who share her goal of helping those in need. “I see myself bettering my community by taking what I have learned in my program to help individuals receive quality health care,” she says.
As a student, Haskett receives high praise for being organized, attentive, and driven. She is known for her upbeat attitude and tremendous work ethic. One of her professors emphasizes their confidence in Haskett’s career, saying, “I am not surprised that she has chosen a profession where she can serve and help others and make a difference in their lives. I know that whatever she does, she will be successful.”
Natalia Merukeb intends to graduate in May 2023 from SUNY Erie Community College in Williamsville, New York. Her inspiration for pursuing medical assisting derives from her eventual goal of becoming a nurse. She plans on taking advantage of various opportunities through the AAMA and hopes that when she enters nursing school, she can “maintain involvement with the AAMA and potentially secure a leadership position.”
Merukeb’s educators praise her as a kind, highly involved, and skillful student. A professor notes, “I am confident that her combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, [and] her cheerful disposition make her a viable candidate for the Maxine Williams Scholarship and a valuable asset to the medical assisting profession.”
Su Po Po graduated in May 2022 from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. Her career goals include translating for other Karen speakers in the health care setting. (The Karen languages are spoken primarily in the coastal areas of Thailand and Burma.) She is confident that she can help others through her skillset. “I am bilingual, and I feel this is a special gift I can give to my community where I can do the most good.”
During her academic career, Po Po overcame obstacles to achieve academic success. She stays on top of assignments and assists other students. Her professor notes, “I have absolute faith that Su Po Po can and will do whatever it takes to get her education and use it to better the world.”