Molina's scholarship supports UM-Flint students committed to community care

One helps new mothers plan for life with a newborn. The other connects rural residents with mental health care. Both are University of Michigan-Flint Master of Social Work students, and both now have $5,000 from Molina Healthcare of Michigan to put toward tuition.

Tasheikya Hunter, of Flint, and Mandi Villarreal, of Ludington, each received a $5,000 scholarship toward tuition for the 2026-27 academic year. The recipients were honored earlier this semester at a ceremony in the university's William S. White Building. Molina has provided government-funded health coverage in Michigan since 1997, including through Medicaid and Medicare. Its community partnerships promote health education, food security and access to care. The scholarships extend that support to students committed to improving mental and behavioral health care in underserved communities in Michigan.

Julia Ma, director of social work at UM-Flint's College of Health Sciences, said that the university and Molina are working toward a common goal.

"Molina Healthcare's generosity reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Michigan's behavioral health workforce and improving access to care in underserved communities," said Ma. "Tasheikya and Mandi bring valuable professional experiences, as well as a deep commitment to serving others. Molina's support will not only advance their education but also benefit the individuals, families and communities they will serve throughout their careers."

Molina's tuition support will help Hunter and Villarreal continue preparing for careers shaped by the needs they encounter in their communities.

Hunter's commitment to families predates graduate school. A first-generation college student with more than 25 years of health care experience, she has worked in medical billing, operated a child care business and supported mothers as a doula.

Her doula work often extends to helping a mother prepare for daily life with a new baby.

"Where's the baby going to sleep? How are you going to get diapers? Tell me, let's make a game plan," Hunter said.

Her practicum with Beecher Community Schools has given that practical approach a new direction. While helping students manage emotions and build confidence, she saw an opportunity to extend that support to their families.

"I began to see (at Beecher) that they needed more than a big brother and a big sister. They needed an auntie and an uncle. So I created the Aunties & Uncles Mentorship Framework under my nonprofit, Goals 4 My Life Inc.," Hunter said.

Through her nonprofit work, Hunter is developing the program to support entire families through activities such as library visits and practice with coping skills and school routines. After graduation, she plans to combine clinical social work with maternal advocacy.

Villarreal's work addresses another part of the same challenge: helping people reach the care they need. As a case manager at West Michigan Community Mental Health, she has seen how transportation barriers and limited local services affect rural residents.

That work helped bring her back to the classroom after eight years away. Co-workers encouraged her to pursue an MSW degree, pointing out how much of her job already revolved around social work. She now balances full-time employment and graduate studies, with plans to pursue additional training in substance use treatment after graduation. She is also interested in crisis response.

Her hopes for expanding local support reach beyond her current role. She can picture a former elementary school becoming a place where people could find community services.

"This needs to be turned into … another separate little community building, whether that's mental health or something else. I want to be involved in something like that, for sure," Villarreal said.