2025 NMCB 14 Association Scholarship Selectees
The NMCB 14 Association has selected the following two students to receive a $1,000 scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year:
Marissa Legler
Concorde Career Institute in Tampa,
pursuing a degree in Dental Hygiene.
Jack Riley Foran
University of Florida studying Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics
As a part of the application process, each applicant was required to submit an essay on the topic: ”How Will My Education Affect the Good of Humanity?.” Our selectees’ essays are as follows.
Marissa Legler
When I chose to pursue a degree in dental hygiene, I knew I was stepping into a field that directly impacts human lives. Not just through oral care, but through health, dignity, and community support. My education is not just preparing me for a profession; it’s preparing me to be a servant-leader in healthcare, someone who can create real, lasting change in the lives of others. Oral health is deeply connected to overall health. Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even low birth weight in infants have been linked to poor oral hygiene. Yet, millions of people — especially in underserved communities, lack access to basic dental care. Through my education, I’m learning not just how to clean teeth, but how to educate patients, identify signs of systemic disease, and break cycles of neglect through preventative care. As a future registered dental hygienist, my impact will extend beyond the dental chair. I want to use my skills to reach vulnerable populations, for example children in low-income schools, elderly residents in care facilities, and families without insurance. I’ve already spent five years volunteering with Team Smile, offering free dental services to children, and I’ve seen firsthand how a healthy smile can build confidence and open doors. My goal is to work in a community-based clinic where care is centered on compassion, accessibility, and trust. Beyond clinical work, I aspire to become an advocate within professional dental organizations. I want to contribute to public policy that promotes dental care as a human right, not a privilege. I hope to help reshape how communities think about oral hygiene as an essential pillar of overall well-being. In a world where access to healthcare is still unequal, my college major allows me to be part of the solution. The education I’m receiving is my foundation—not just for a career, but for a lifetime of service. And through that service, I believe I can help bring better health, more smiles, and more dignity to humanity.
Jack Riley Foran
The unique paths individuals forge through their education are what shape them, making each person distinct. Yet, amidst this diversity, the pursuit of improving humanity stands as a powerful unifying force, breaking through divides and disagreements. So far, my commitment to the common good has been primarily cultivated through my educational journey. While in high school, I engaged in community service projects dedicated to improving our schools and community, it is through teaching that I have discovered the most profound means of positive impact. As a strong student, I've been fortunate to work with my friends and fellow students, strengthening their knowledge in subjects like SAT preparation and competitive mathematics. This experience has not only allowed me to influence the lives of those around me but has also allowed me to share knowledge and ideas, enriching everyone involved in the process. This is precisely how my education will contribute to the good of humanity. Currently, my accumulated knowledge is broad but lacks the depth necessary for my ideas to leave a lasting impact on our world. By continuing my education in mechanical engineering, I will strengthen my understanding and add crucial depth to my existing knowledge base. As a mechanical engineer, teaching will likely not be my sole responsibility; with a robust education, I will be equipped to advance technology and knowledge across numerous fields through innovation, such as improved medical devices for veterans, thereby expanding the benefits of teaching on a broader scale. However, a natural question arises: "Not all specializations within mechanical engineering directly improve humanity; some might even do the opposite." While designing and refining racecars, for instance, may not seem as directly impactful as technology for veterans, that doesn't mean improving automobiles offers no benefit to our world: improvements in efficiency and safety in racecars can be the beginning of new technology in all cars that reduces environmental impact and improves safety for everyone. Thus, all technological advancements, regardless of their immediate application, contribute to the collective knowledge of the world and pave the way for future breakthroughs. This is akin to how teaching enhances our collective good by disseminating knowledge, empowering others to use it for benevolent purposes. Even innovations with challenging beginnings, like nuclear energy, despite its destructive origins and initial tragedy, have since enriched countless lives by providing energy to millions and deepening our understanding of the universe. Therefore, while my career may not exclusively lie in humanitarian fields, my education will directly equip me with the tools and insights to solve complex problems and innovate, advancing technology and knowledge to build a better future.