Articles
HCC Dental Hygiene student wins $10K scholarship
By Andi Atkinson
Nov 10, 2023
Maren Jensen of Katy, Texas, has been named the winner of the national Dr. Alexanderia K. Lane Memorial Scholarship. The Dental Hygiene student at Houston Community College – Coleman College for Health Sciences will receive $10,000 for her education.
The scholarship is in memory of Alexanderia K. Lane, DDS, a respected Houston dentist and beloved community servant. The scholarship continues Lane’s legacy of assisting families in financial need and empowering individuals through education.
“I’m so honored to receive this scholarship,” Jensen said. “Dr. Lane wasn’t just a compassionate dentist, she was a compassionate person. I really felt I had to apply for this scholarship. It wasn’t just because I’m pursuing a dental career; it’s because I also want to help others the way she did.”
Jensen applied for the scholarship in June, and she was named the winner from a pool of 10 nationwide finalists on Nov. 1.
To enter the competition, contestants needed to write a 400-600 word essay on the topic: “Why is it important to help others?”
“It was a topic near and dear to my heart,” Jensen said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and generosity of many people.”
Jensen is in her first year of the Dental Hygiene program and will graduate in May 2025.
“I’m very grateful for this scholarship,” she said. “It will help ease the financial pressure on my family. I’m still going to keep my part-time job until I graduate from the program and begin working as a hygienist.”
On top of her schoolwork, part-time job, and family obligations, Jensen also finds time to serve.
She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) Foundation where she serves as the community service chair for HCC Coleman College. Last year, when she was a Dental Assisting student, she coordinated two community service projects benefiting Meals on Wheels and Houston Humane Society, respectively.
Locally, Jensen belongs to the HCC Coleman College Student Government Association and serves as treasurer. She further sits on the College Advisory Board for HCC Coleman College as well as the Student Fee Advisory Committee for Houston Community College System.
An academic star, Jensen is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).
With her sizable scholarship, Jensen is beginning to look even further ahead.
“I definitely plan to stick on the path of dental hygiene, but this scholarship is definitely making me look at HCC’s Healthcare Management, B.A.S. program,” Jensen said. “Earning a bachelor’s degree is important to me, and $10,000 goes very far at HCC.”