“When I was nominated for the scholarship, I was surprised. It reminded me that I belong here.”
Henriette Balinda
For Balinda, a student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a research assistant at the Mays Cancer Center, the $5,000 Presidential Ambassador Scholar award offered more than financial relief. It gave her the opportunity to make a meaningful impact and help shape the future of public health.
“It’s been very helpful in paying my fees for a full year,” she said. “And it’s given me the opportunity to represent the school and connect with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
The Presidential Ambassador Scholar program has recognized student leaders across UT Health San Antonio since 1988. Supported by members of the President’s Council, the program honors students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to service. Balinda is a 2025 recipient representing the School of Public Health, but her journey into public health began long before her academic training.
Turning loss into impact
Born in Rwanda, Balinda lived through the 1994 genocide. Her family fled the country, but her mother later passed away in a refugee camp from a preventable infection. That loss continues to fuel her passion for accessible, preventive health care.
She believes health care should be a right, not a privilege, emphasizing that preventive care is more affordable than treatment and can save lives by identifying health issues early on.
Before calling the health science center home, Balinda earned a Master of Science in Medicine in cell biology from the University of Cape Town and a doctorate in biological sciences from the University of Notre Dame. When the UT Health San Antonio School of Public Health opened in 2023, she saw it as the opportunity she had been waiting for — a place to focus on preventing cancer before it starts, especially in underserved communities where treatment is often out of reach.
Outside of academics, she mentors youth at her local church and leads wellness events that focus on nutrition, physical activity and mental health. These gatherings connect health care professionals and community members in efforts to create safe spaces and promote healthy lifestyles. For Balinda, public health is built on collaboration, working with the community to better understand its needs and develop meaningful solutions.
She also sees her role as a presidential ambassador as an opportunity to inspire others, especially young women. By encouraging girls to believe in their potential, she hopes her story shows that hard work, passion and purpose can open new doors.
“We all have something that drives us,” she said. “For me, losing my mom to something that could have been prevented is what keeps me going.”
Thanks to the Presidential Ambassador scholarship and the generosity of donors, Balinda is creating a future focused on healthier communities and brighter lives.
