McWilliams awarded grant to support students in Laredo Community

The D.D. Hachar Charitable Trust recently awarded McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics a $10,000 grant. Through a generous match commitment from UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, the grant amount was doubled to $20,000. The funds, which will be distributed fall 2024 and spring 2025, will be used to support new and existing students enrolled in the school’s biomedical informatics programs in Laredo, Texas.

This initiative will support academic achievement and foster educational opportunities for students in Laredo, while also alleviating financial burdens. Students in Laredo who are eligible for the scholarships include Accelerated Master's (4 + 1) students from Texas A&M International University, Graduate Certificate students, Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics students, and Doctoral students (DHI or PhD) studying at McWilliams.

“We truly appreciate the generous gift from the D.D. Hachar Charitable Trust,” stated Laredo Regional Campus Director Erika Cavazos-Juarez, MS ’19. “Their dedication to assisting Laredo students pursuing graduate education in biomedical informatics not only empowers our students but also contributes to the development of our local workforce.”

McWilliams student enrollment numbers in Laredo have increased steadily since 2016. In 2021, the school established a regional office within The University of Texas Education and Research Center (UTREC) at Laredo to support the needs of the growing, local student population and increase the school’s community partnerships.

The scholarships awarded from the D.D. Hachar grant will positively impact the recipients – relieving their financial burden so the inability to pay is never a limitation to academic participation.