Christianah Alli (2025)
Christianah was born and raised in the Bronx (New York City). She attended the University of Hartford, earning a BS in health sciences, followed by a master’s degree in biomedical science at Drexel University. She has been involved in many extracurricular and community organizations during her undergrad and postgrad years, including the nonprofit Mentoring in Medicine, Inc. (MIM). As a future physician, Christianah plans to work in medically underserved communities, providing quality health care, improving her patients’ health and inspiring change in their lives. Christianah’s Woman One Scholarship is sponsored by the Philadelphia Foundation.*

Michelle Ehiriodo (2025)
Michelle was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She attended the University of Maryland – College Park, earning a BS in biochemistry on a pre-medical track and a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Rutgers University. As a student, Michelle participated in many volunteer community outreach, research and clinical activities, including a medical mission trip to Nigeria that solidified her dream of becoming a doctor. As a future physician, Michelle’s goal is to improve the health of vulnerable and marginalized communities by increasing health literacy, minimizing economic and social barriers, and providing needed representation. Michelle’s Woman One Scholarship is sponsored by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust.*

Lauryn Bender (2026)
Lauryn was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania, when she was 4 years old. She attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in neuroscience and a minor in chemistry. Lauryn worked throughout college and volunteered with several organizations including Girls on the Run, which provided an opportunity for her to mentor girls ages 8-12. Along with work and volunteer experiences, Lauryn engaged in research with University of Pittsburgh faculty.

Lauryn has great interest in promoting health equity, and she plans to pursue a path in medicine to bring quality health care to underserved communities.

Lauryn Bender's Woman One scholarship is sponsored by the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust.

Bernice Kear (2026)
Bernice was born in Monrovia, Liberia, moved to the U.S. as a child and was raised in northern Virginia. She graduated with a BS in biochemistry from the University of Mary Washington, followed by a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. She later earned a master’s degree in physiology from Georgetown University and continued in research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. During her college years, Bernice served as a medic in the United States Army Reserve.

The first year of Bernice Kear's Woman One scholarship is sponsored by Patricia H. Imbesi.