From Doubt to Determination: Stockton Student Earns Prestigious Dental Scholarship
Anjelica Hurtado never imagined that opening an email could change the course of her future. The mother and student in UEI College’s Dental Assistant (DA) program in Stockton saw an email announcing a special scholarship, so she decided to apply. Then, during a Zoom interview with the scholarship committee, she was thrilled to learn that she had been selected as a recipient of the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship, awarded by the Pacific Dental Services Foundation (PDSF).
Before enrolling at UEI, Anjelica spent two and a half years as a stay-at-home mom. Though grateful for the time with her son, she felt a growing need to build a future career.
“I felt like I was stuck in my life for a while, and I knew I didn’t always want to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “I didn’t just want a job to pay the bills—I wanted a career that I could build on, something to be proud of.”
Anjelica toured several schools before deciding on UEI. “When I visited UEI, it just felt right. It was clean, organized, and the staff genuinely wanted me there. It wasn’t just a script—they made me feel welcome.”
Her choice of dentistry came from a very personal place. Partially hearing impaired in one ear, Anjelica often relied on reading lips to communicate while growing up. In the process, she developed a keen eye for mouths, teeth, and smiles.
“I was always noticing things—if someone had something in their teeth, or if something looked off,” she said. “Eventually I thought, why not turn this curiosity into a career? I wanted to be the person who could help educate others and make them feel good about their smiles.”
Anjelica thrived in UEI’s program, finding encouragement in her instructors and classmates. “My instructor made learning fun and understood the students in the area. It felt like she really wanted to be there. And when I doubted myself, people at UEI pushed me to keep going. Coming from a tough background, that support meant everything to me,” Anjelica said.
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A Scholarship That Felt Too Good to Be True
When Anjelica first saw the scholarship email announcement during her early days at UEI, she admits she was skeptical.
“I honestly thought it was a scam,” she said. “I ignored it the first time. But the second time around, classmates encouraged me to apply. I thought, well, what’s the worst that could happen?”
After advancing through a round interviews with the scholarship selection committee, she was floored to hear she had been selected.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Not a lot of good things have happened to me, so when they told me I got it, I was really surprised. But they took a chance on me, and now I feel like I have to give my absolute best moving forward.”
The Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship, created by PDSF, provides need-based financial aid, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development to dental assistant students nationwide. Named in honor of Dr. Carolyn Ghazal’s commitment to service and mentorship, the program has awarded over $1.9 million in scholarships to more than 360 dental assistant students.
“When we invest in students like Anjelica, we are more than funding education, we’re unlocking futures filled with purpose, resilience, and possibility,” said Michael Le, Executive Director of the Pacific Dental Services Foundation.
For Anjelica, the scholarship is more than financial support—it’s validation.
“Thank you for believing in me,” she said. “You see thousands of applicants, and to know you chose me—it makes me want to push harder and succeed. This scholarship lifts such a huge burden and reminds me that I’m capable of more than I ever thought.”
Her instructors agree that Anjelica has earned every bit of her recognition.
“Anjelica showed up every day with determination and grit,” said Vantharie Chhoyeng, Dental Assistant Instructor at UEI College Stockton. “She turned challenges into motivation and never let obstacles stop her. This scholarship is a testament to her perseverance, and I know she will thrive as she begins her externship and future career.”
Anjelica recently completed her final class and is preparing to begin her externship at a local dental office, and she feels ready to step into the dental field with confidence.
“When I told my family I was going back to school, some of them didn’t think I could do it,” she said. “But here I am, finishing with perfect grades, a scholarship, and a new future. I want my son to be proud of me—and now, I feel proud of myself too.”
