Undergraduate Program (BSPH) Awards were handed out first. Melanie Studer, clinical instructor and director of the bachelor of science in public health, presented Justin Sodoma and Lydia Stewart with the AUPHA/McGaw Undergraduate Scholarship award. This award is funded by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and is awarded to members of the junior class. A brand new award this year, the Gerald D. Studer award was presented to Burcu Bozkurt and Victor Leclere to recognize undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional motivation, work ethic, resourcefulness and personal sacrifice in pursuit of his/her goals. Andrew Breithaupt was presented the James P. Dixon Award for Excellence in Education. Jim Dixon was an HPM faculty member from 1976-1995 who brought many years of experience in innovation to higher education.  This award recognizes his distinguished career as well as his approach to education. Next Karl Umble, adjunct assistant professor, awarded the HPM Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research to four seniors who demonstrated excellence in research throughout their undergraduate career.  Award winners were Rachel Baum, Robert Jungerwirth, Peter Lyu and Bianka Reese. 

 

Bruce Fried, associate professor and director of the residential masters programs, presented the next four awards. Winners of the AUPHA/McGaw Master's Scholar this year went to Elizabeth Betts and Ann Somers Wilton. This award is given to an outstanding first-year student who was nominated by instructors from the first-year core courses. Ryan O'Quinn received the Benjamin Rodin Scholarship, which is given to a graduate student with an interest in health services administration. The Margaret Dardess and T.E. Smith Scholarship went to Eddie Alcorn. This scholarship is given to a promising first-year or entering dual degree student with the most promising future in health policy and management. The final residential master's award was presented to Huyen T. Vu, who received the Mary Thompson Award for Outstanding Achievement.

 

The Jean G. Yates Health Policy Award was presented by John Paul, clinical associate professor, to Aditi Krishna and Alexander Paxton.  The Jean G. Yates Award is given to graduate students in health policy and management "who show the greatest promise and interest in health policy issues."

 

Jim Porto, clinical associate professor and director of the executive master's programs, presented Karen Bentley with the Deniese May Chaney Fellowship.  This fellowship is given to a high academic caliber graduate student who is pursuing health administration as a career goal. 

 

Paul Throne received the first Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership award.  John Paul presented Throne with the Arthur B. Holzworth Endowed Scholarship in Health Leadership award.  This scholarship is provided to support the teaching, training and leadership development of an outstanding DrPH student. The Charles A. Veatch Endowed Scholarship in Health Leadership went to Philip Downs.  Mollie Williams was the recipient of the Jacob Koomen Public Health Practice Award. This award is given to an executive student who exemplifies Dr. Koomen's commitment to public health.The last DrPH award, the Sandra B. Greene Scholarship in Health Leadership, went to Sarthak Das, for exemplifying leadership and passion for improving health.  

 

Morris Weinberger, distinguished professor and director of doctoral programs, awarded Dio Kavalieratos with the Jean G. Yates Outstanding Doctoral Student Award. This award is to recognize scholarship in health services research and contributions to the discipline. Liz Blodgett and Jeff Federspiel received the Harry T. Phillips Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student. Harry Phillips was a faculty member from 1969-1983 and this award recognizes a doctoral student for initiative and excellence in classroom teaching.

 

The Delta Omega, the Honorary Public Health Society, awards were presented by Andrea Biddle, associate professor.  Bianka Reese won the Delta Omega Undergraduate Recognition Award for her outstanding performance, evidence of leadership and demonstrated promise for future contributions to public health. Carmel Hannah was given the Theta Chapter Service award for her demonstrated leadership in the School and the community through service contributions. The Recognition of Academic Excellence award went to Daniel Belsky. 

 

The last award of the ceremony, the alumni leadership award, was presented by George Pink, Humana distinguished professor, to Rebecca Slifkin.  Dr. Rebecca Slifkin has dedicated her career to improving the health and welfare of people and communities, particularly those in rural America. She is a proven leader in a large federal agency, a superb researcher, and an influential and long-standing voice for health policy.