2026 Medical Alliance Academic Scholarships Awarded 

 

Each year, the St. Johns County Medical Alliance (SJCMA), in conjunction with the St. Johns County Medical Society, offer academic scholarships to graduating St. Johns County high school seniors pursuing an education in pre-medicine, nursing, or allied health. Scholarship applicants are evaluated on academic ability, school involvement, community service and an interview. The 2026 new scholarships have been awarded to four St. Johns County high school graduates of Ponte Vedra High School and Tocoi Creek High School. This year’s scholars also include six continuing students, one with goals to become a physician assistant, one a nurse practitioner, two on early medical school entry through BS/MD programs and two on pre-med tracks.

 

This year’s scholars include:

 Mackenzie Lovely graduated from Tocoi Creek High School and will study Neuroscience at Florida Atlantic University as she pursues her goal to be a physician.

 Minh Nguyen, a zealous mathematician from Ponte Vedra High School, will attend the University of Florida, while studying Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics. He plans to attend medical school and contribute to fundamental research in order to render meaningful medical solutions.

 Julia Preston is heading to the University of Florida. She is a graduate of Ponte Vedra High School and will begin a pre-med track in college. Inspired through shadowing deep brain stimulation, she is eager to continue study toward her goal of becoming a neurologist.

 Matthew Ritchie will attend New York University with a pre-med focus on global public health. A Tocoi Creek High School graduate, he has shadowed in the emergency department and been a peer counselor leading to his pursuit of a career as a physician.

 The SJCMA represents spouses of St. Johns County physicians with a purpose to promote health education, recognize physicians on Doctors Day, fund science fair awards in Medicine and Health categories, help support community health needs, and provide college scholarships to St. Johns County students. Former scholars, who are continuing studies in medical fields and keep in touch with the Alliance, may apply for continuing awards.  For more information, go to www.sjcma.blogspot.com or on Facebook @SJCMA .

 2026 Continuing Scholars

Elyse Bernthal, UF (2024 recipient) has been accepted to UF nursing school, starting this fall. She added a minor in Early Childhood Studies, and she is currently a pre-nursing major with the goal of being a nurse practitioner in the pediatric outpatient realm. She is Marine Rescue Certified and helps patrol our beaches as a summer job.

 Aishani Chatterjee (2025 recipient) maintains a 4.0 GPA and is on the Dean’s List at Johns Hopkins University. She is a researcher, mentors high school students, counsels patients in the emergency room and shadows pediatric physicians. She is Vice-president of the Inter-Asian Council. She wants to practice medicine and public health while preventing disease within underserved communities and continue to contribute to research and public health policy.

 Jay Dalvi, IU, Indianapolis (2024 recipient) enters his third year in the B/MD Pathway to Medicine program at Indiana University. He is involved in student organizations and extracurricular activities and volunteers. If not volunteering or shadowing in a pediatric hospital, he is active as the Director of Student Activities Programming and sits on the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board for generative AI in academics. He is studying for the MCAT and continues summer research at Mayo Hospital in Jacksonville.

 Benjamin Dolce UF (2025 recipient), studies Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida through a pre-med track to become a physician assistant. Through the Chemistry Club, he helps provide hands-on science labs for elementary schools. He shadows through Medi-Gators and works with a mobile outreach clinic.

Joe Palsha, UM, Miami (2024 recipient) is on the Dean’s List and Provost’s Honor Roll. Now a junior majoring in biology and psychology with a minor in chemistry, he plans to graduate in 2028. His goal remains neurosurgery and a cure for paralysis.

 Nicholas Storm, FIU, Miami (2025 recipient) On the Dean’s List and part of the FIU Honors College, Nicholas is on the BS/MD track studying biological sciences. He has added chemistry and business minors. He plans to enter an MD/MBA degree program while in medical school. He spends community service time at Mayo Clinic. He has been accepted into the FIU President’s Council Mentorship program. He is a peer leader for biology students and competes in state and regional biotech competitions- first place! Next year- MCATS.