UF medical students receive distinction during 2025 Honors Convocation
32 students were recognized at the Sept. 15 event
Sept. 18, 2025 — At the University of Florida College of Medicine’s annual Honors Convocation, which took place Sept. 15 in the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building, 32 students were recognized by peers, faculty and alumni.
The second-, third- and fourth-year students received scholarships and awards based on their research, academic and clinical achievements. Their outstanding service to the UF and Gainesville community led to the acknowledgement of their notable professionalism and humanism in patient care.
Below is a list of the students who were recognized at the 2025 Honors Convocation and photos from the event:
Caroline Annette Cody, M.D., Memorial Scholarship Award
In memory of Caroline Annette Cody, M.D., this scholarship is presented to a fourth-year student who, according to nominations from peers, best exemplifies Cody’s characteristics and altruistic service to the community.
- Deja Blunt
- Xuban Palau Villarreal
Class of 2020 Kyle E. Rarey, Ph.D., Award for Excellence in the Anatomical Sciences
Named after beloved faculty member Kyle E. Rarey, Ph.D., this award is presented to a student who has excelled academically in the anatomy curriculum and expresses their gratitude toward those who donate their bodies to science.
- Abanob Hanna
- Candice Keogh
- Jordyn Pendarvis
- Julia Hoffman
Bythewood & Baker Memorial Scholarship
Established by Martha Isabel Mays in 1968, this award recognizes a medical student who excels in the education of peers and patients along with having outstanding performance on third-year clerkships.
- Austin Eason
Alumni Award for Academic Excellence
Established by the UF Alumni Association, this award is given to senior students who excel academically and professionally and serve their community or advocate for underserved populations.
- Cecilia Varga
- Ian Griffin
- Katelyn Flaherty
- Tala Sartawi
Palm Beach County Medical Society Auxiliary Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a third-year student who is an alumnus of Palm Beach County High School and demonstrates service to the medical profession by meeting the highest professional and ethical standards of the medical profession. Recipients also advocate for the interests of physicians and their patients, improving the health of those in their community through collaboration.
- Bruce Steinberg
- Karen Sem
Dr. Emma Segal Award
This award supports couples applying for residency who aim to align their path with their significant other’s.
- Anjali Patel
- Sohum Sheth
Genevra Todd & Henry E. Meleney Memorial Fund
Dr. Henry E. Meleney established this scholarship to honor his late wife, who passed away in 1969. This award is granted to students who excelled in the medical school curriculum during the first year of medical school.
- Jordyn Pendarvis
- Melanie Gonzalez
- Natalie Axelrod
- Sapna Patel
Ibn al-Nafis Exemplary Student Award
Named for Ibn Al-Nafis, an Arab surgeon (1213-1288) whose work contributed to understanding of anatomy, physiology, Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy, this award is designed to recognize a student who demonstrates academic excellence and commitment to community.
- Michaela Rechdan
- Mohammed Mumtaz
Nell C. Miller Scholarship
This award was created by Nell C. Miller, the widow of J. Hillis Miller, UF’s fourth president. The scholarship supports medical students interested in cardiovascular physiology or diseases.
- Ethan Kramer
- Sarah Murphy
- Silvija Milanovic
Sey Park, M.D., Memorial Scholarship
To honor their son, Sey Park, M.D. ’16, Hoon Park, Ph.D., and Young Park established this scholarship to award a fourth-year medical student who embodies the characteristics of altruism and collegiality demonstrated by Sey.
- Hugh Nguyen
The Rosenbaum Foundation / Array Medical Student Scholarship in Family Medicine
This award recognizes a fourth-year medical student who plans to enter a family medicine residency upon graduation and has evidence of commitment to practicing primary care family medicine and a record of academic achievement, service activities and other accomplishments during medical school.
- Nicole Diaz
Carey R. Barber, M.D., Scholarship for Suicide Prevention and Depression
This scholarship supports a medical student interested in family medicine, depression and suicide prevention.
- Matthew Jordan
George J. Caranasos Professionalism Award
Established in 2012 by the Department of Medicine, this award is given to a student selecting a career in internal medicine.
- Nadia Kabbej
Robert Cade, M.D., Memorial Award
This award is presented to an enthusiastic student of medicine and life who is in excellent academic standing.
- Andrew Nguyen
Barbara B. Bennett, M.D., Memorial Award
This award was established by the class of 2002 and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to support a student’s first three years of medical school. This student exemplifies Bennett’s honesty, integrity, clinical skill and commitment to women’s health.
- Xuban Palau Villarreal
Edward Carney, MD & W.C. Thomas, MD OB/GYN Award
This scholarship is awarded to graduating medical student seniors with the most outstanding record in obstetrics and gynecology and commitment to the service, care and advocacy of women.
- Priyanka Devaguptapu
Kenneth Kellner, M.D., Ph.D., Award
This award recognizes a fourth-year student who has excelled scholastically and demonstrated a sustained commitment to women’s health care and medical education.
- Danielle Snyder
Eugene C. Haufler Award
This award is given to a graduating student who demonstrates excellence and is planning to pursue a career in pediatrics.
- Aliya Redd
- Cecilia Varga
Curtis Crowther Memorial Award
Established in honor of Curtis Crowther by the Crowther family, the award is given to an alumnus of the Medical Honors Program who demonstrates courage in adversity, kindness, genuine concern for others and diligence in academic studies.
- Gissel Garcia