Health Leadership Awards 

Rachel Stevens Scholarship for Public Health Leadership (established in 2004) is a one-year scholarship of up to $1,000. The award is available for incoming and currently enrolled graduate students in the Public Health Leadership Program in the School of Public Health who are committed to leadership in the field of public health practice. Preference is given to students who have completed approximately one-third of their degree requirements and demonstrated a commitment to continued practice and service in the field of public health practice. This award is presented in the spring. Recipients may be awarded a second year of funding.

Selection will be based on the applicant's demonstrated commitment and a minimum of five years of experience in the field of public health practice; leadership skills and academic excellence.  Financial need will also be considered. All nominees are to have the endorsement of the Director of their respective concentration (Leadership, HC&P, OHN). The recipient receives a commemorative plaque and monetary award.

The Association of North Carolina Boards of Health (ANCBH) Vaughn Upshaw Scholarship in Public Health (established in 2009) is presented annually in the Spring to an outstanding graduate student in the Public Health Leadership Program.  This award was established by ANCBH in honor of Vaughn Upshaw (MPH'85, EdD'97, DrPH'99)  who was instrumental in the development of the Public Health Leadership Program (PHLP).  She helped to focus the PHLP mission on the important needs of educating public health practitioners in local health departments and the important role of local boards of health.  The PHLP has demonstrated its focus on this mission through the growth and documented quality of its very successful Masters of Public Health degree program over the years resulting in many graduates of the Program who are employed by local public health departments throughout North Carolina.

Selection will be based on the applicant's demonstrated commitment to local public health agencies, leadership skills, academic excellence, and contributions to North Carolina.

Public Health Nursing Awards

The Margaret Blee-Ruth Warwick Hay (established in 1973) and the Imogene Pence Klingenfus (established in 1996) Awards are each presented annually in the Spring to an outstanding graduate student enrolled in the Public Health Nursing or Occupational Health Nursing Programs.  The awards reflect demonstrated leadership in nursing, commitment to the value and worth of public health/occupational health nursing, and ability to relate academic knowledge to public health/occupational health nursing practice.

Nurses who are MPH/MS candidates with at least a BSN degree, and who have not previously been awarded the scholarship, are eligible.  Nominees must have completed at least 50% of their coursework and maintained a 3.0 (P/H) average or better.   The recipients receive a commemorative plaque and monetary award.

Additional Awards and Student Funding

For the SPH scholarship description, application process and deadlines, please see the School's Student Affairs page.  To explore Fellowship opportunities, please see the UNC Graduate School website.