Shades of Divinity
Fall 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Valeria Lopez
I am a first-generation Mexican American, and my experiences growing up in an underrepresented community have shaped my dedication to pursuing a career in public health and nursing. Throughout my life, I have seen the barriers that people of color, immigrants, and low-income families face when trying to access quality healthcare. Witnessing these inequalities has motivated me to work toward a future where every community receives the care and dignity they deserve.
As a second-year undergraduate student at Gonzaga University, I am driven by a deep commitment to health equity and community care. Navigating higher education as a first-generation student has come with challenges, but it has also strengthened my determination to open doors for others who share similar backgrounds. My passion lies in advocating for culturally competent, inclusive, and accessible care—especially for Hispanic and marginalized communities who are often overlooked within the healthcare system.
I plan to use my education to support both hands-on patient care and broader public health efforts that address systemic disparities. Whether through community engagement, health education, or future policy work, I hope to uplift the voices of those who have long been silenced and contribute to meaningful change in the healthcare field.
I am deeply grateful to Shades of Divinity for supporting students of color and uplifting our dreams. This scholarship not only helps me continue my education but also inspires me to keep advocating for a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system for all.
Thank you again for your support—I truly appreciate it.
Congratulations!!
Malcolm Clay
Malcolm Clay is a native of Tacoma, WA. He currently has his bachelor’s degree in community health from Tacoma Community College. He was also a CDC Morehouse Imhotep Scholar. He is currently working towards his maters of public health with a concentration in maternal and child health policy and leadership from the University of Alabama Birmingham. In addition, he received his certificate for postpartum doula care from the Center for Indigenous Midwifery. He currently works as a care navigator connecting medically vulnerable patients to healthcare, insurance, and social services. He has a keen interest in addressing perinatal and postpartum mental health outcomes, and engaging men in the importance of perinatal and postpartum care while also educating them on the community health workforce. After graduation, Malcolm would like to work in health policy and leadership roles creating programs to increase men’s access to CHW and birth worker certifications and help destigmatize roles men play in these spaces.
Congratulations!!
Cierra Chappelle
Cierra Chappelle, BSN, RN is a dedicated nurse and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student committed to advancing equitable, compassionate, and culturally responsive healthcare. With a strong clinical background in med-surg and a growing focus in wound care, she brings a patient-centered and justice-driven lens to her work.
Cierra’s nursing practice is deeply informed by her lived experience and her passion for advocating for marginalized communities, particularly Black patients who often face disparities in pain management, chronic disease outcomes, and access to specialty care. Her DNP project centers on reducing racial bias in pain assessment and management for Black patients through implicit bias education—reflecting her commitment to structural change within healthcare systems.
As a mother, scholar, and clinician, Cierra balances academic rigor with real-world experience, continuously striving to improve care for vulnerable populations. Her long-term goal is to become a leader in wound care and open a practice that blends advanced clinical expertise with culturally informed care.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!
