New scholarship to recognize excellence

A desire to help Texas A&M College of Dentistry attract the best students motivated Dr. Phuong Nguyen ’01 of Austin, Texas, to establish a scholarship for incoming dental students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement.

The Phuong N. Nguyen, D.D.S. and Cameron Ton Scholarship will be awarded after the $25,000 endowment level is fully funded. This generous gift is part of Texas A&M University’s “Lead by Example” comprehensive campaign to support the College of Dentistry.

At the start of Nguyen’s dental journey two decades ago, she was accepted to all three Texas dental schools. A scholarship offer cemented her decision to accept admission to the Dallas school, and she wanted to provide the same opportunity for future students.

“I love the college,” declares Nguyen, who credits multiple professors with her positive dental school experience. “I still remember my group leader, Dr. Ashworth. He was very nice, and I learned a lot.

“I just wanted to give back to the school. I’d like to help attract the best students in case they get accepted to more than one dental school.”

Austin, site of Nguyen’s practice at Lamar Dental Center, has been her home base since middle school; her family still lives there. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin. The scholarship gift from Nguyen and her husband builds on years of generous financial support to the dental school’s Alumni Association.