SPHHP 2020 Student Awards Honor Accomplished Scholars

By Julia Alonzo '22

Published March 20, 2020

The School of Public Health and Health Professions recently held its Fifth Annual Student Awards Reception. The reception celebrates and recognizes the admirable accomplishments of hardworking students across all five departments.

“These students have shown astonishing success in their education along with improving the health of others,” said Dean Jean Wactawski-Wende, PhD. The continuous support and dedication of donors who have contributed to award funds have allowed The School of Public Health and Health Professions to provide the scholarships and awards to recipients. The full list of award recipients follows:

Delta Omega, Honorary Society for Public Health

Gamma Lambda chapter inductees

Membership reflects the dedication of an individual to quality in the field of public health and to the protection and advancement of the health of all people.

Biostatistics 
Yuxin Ding, Rachael Tylock, Fengwei Yang

BS in Public Health (PH) 
Claire Fusani, Kennedy George, Emma Jones, Jennifer Seidman

Community Health and Health Behavior (CHHB) 
Jen Gilbert, Jim Harris, Danielle Smith

Epidemiology and Environmental Health (EEH) 
Daniel Culpepper, Zeinab Farhat, Kelly Gleason

Dean's Office Awards

J. Warren Perry Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to graduate students or upperclassmen pursuing an SPHHP degree who show potential for superior scholarship and will be prepared for the future.

Rehabilitation Science
Tiffany Cao (DPT), Sarah Kostek (OT), Karen Martinez (OT), Halle Sauer (DPT/MPH)

Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (ENS)
Hayden Hess (PhD/ENS), Keiona Nance (BS/MS/AT), Victoria Parr (BS/ES), Morgan Worley (PhD/ENS)

Art Goshin Global Health Field Work Awards

This award provides support for students wanting to implement public health initiatives or to conduct research in a resource-poor setting.

Daniel Culpepper (EEH), Michael Richbart (Biostatistics)

Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program

This program offers support to doctorate and master’s students who demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body.

Autum Carter (PH), Sarah Quinones (EEH)

Hamilton Wilson Award

This award is given to a master’s student who is a member of a traditionally underrepresented population.

Colleen Lewis (PH)

The UB Presidential Fellowship Program

This award is aimed at enhancing UB’s competitiveness in recruiting outstanding graduate students.

Jacob Bleasdale (CHHB)

Undergraduate Public Health Program Awards

BSPH Outstanding Junior Award

This award assists a junior bachelor of science in public health major who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Rachel Wenner

BSPH Outstanding Senior Award

This award assists a senior bachelor of science in public health major who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Maria Catharina Andrade de Freitas Lantyer

Department of Biostatistics Awards

Richard N. Schmidt Outstanding PhD Award

This award honors a PhD student who has demonstrated academic excellence in statistical research.

Haiyang Sheng

Sidney Addelman Master’s Award

This award honors a student who demonstrates academic excellence, as reflected by Master’s Comprehensive Exam scores and classroom performance.

Adam Cunningham

Department of Community Health and Health Behavior Awards

CHHB Outstanding Doctoral Achievement Award

This award is given to a PhD student who shows excellent potential for future research and/or practices contributions to the field of public health.

Danielle Smith

Paul T. Wietig Community Service Award

This award is presented to MPH, MS, or PhD students who exemplify accomplishment and commitment to the profession of public health and service to the community.

Joshua Lembke

Visionary Award

This award supports Public Health program graduate students in implementing their vision for essential improvements in different areas.

Steven Gabriel

Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Awards

The Robert O’Shea Student Travel Award

This award helps support students’ travel to meetings to present their research findings.

Christina Crabtree-Ide, Gauri Desai, Lindsey Mattick, Zhongzheng (Jason) Niu

Saxon Graham Dissertation Award

This award is for excellence as a doctoral student in epidemiology and the prevention of disease.

Gauri Desai

Julie Baker Award

This award is given to outstanding first-year masters students.

Jennifer Rowan, Alora Rumfola

Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Awards

Annette Rachman Award

This award provides a scholarship for students studying nutrition. 

Adrianna Calabro, Divya Choudhary, Adrianne DiBrog, Emily Galbraith, Arturo Gregory, Annie Gross, Lori Hatzinger, Hayden Hess, Megan McCann, Matthew Metz, Summer Neu, Nicole Presti, Tyler Re, Kelsey Schaffstall, Brenna Sleggs, Heidi Smith, Morgan Worley

Carlton R. Meyers Award

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate student.

Kara Haboian

Denise Howland Award

This award supports a deserving dietician who is continuing their education in graduate studies at UB and reflects Denise’s resilient pursuit of academic excellence.

Adrianne DiBrog

Exercise Science Outstanding Senior Award

This award assists a senior exercise science student who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, service, and academic excellence.

Leonard Pietrafesa

Glenda R. Reardon Student Assistance Fund

This student assistance fund is given to deserving and hardworking UB dietetic interns.

Emily Galbraith, Christina Patterson

Matthew J. Morris Memorial Award

This award is given to a graduate student who possessed academic persistence and determination, as well as a willingness to help others.

Divya Choudhary

Department of Rehabilitation Science Awards

Achievement Award

This award recognizes an OT student who has demonstrated consistent dedication and perseverance in the attainment of academic excellence.

Siobhan McKenna

Alfred T. Caffiero Award

This award honors Doctor of Physical Therapy students during their second year of study.

Samantha Curtis, Erica Fischer, Robert Schwarztrauber, Molly Tupta   

Dr. Brady Russell Gaulke Memorial Award for Physical Therapy

This award supports DPT students in their third year of professional study at UB.

David Brunette, Tiffany Cao, Joseph Couche, Katherine Hall, Michelle Hutchison

Kathleen M. Shaffer Award

This award is given to fifth-year academic students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and excellent clinical promise.

Gillian Hopkins, Danielle O’Connell

Linda Walters Award

This award recognizes a non-traditional OT student who successfully completes the OT program while managing many other roles and responsibilities.

Colleen Hannon

Nancie Greenman Founder’s Award

This award recognizes an OT student who has demonstrated outstanding performance and professional promise.

Brittany Zouzias

Stonegraber Scholarship

This scholarship supports advanced standing students in OT and PT.

OT: Gillian Hopkins, Paige Lanio, Jenna Schunke
PT: Katherine Hall, Mark Reynolds, Steve Starczewski, Sarah Zimmerman

Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE)

This society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students in professional entry-level programs.

Amy Augesen, Jessie Celebi, Brandy Clarke, Dana Cowley, Leah Dennison, Richard Engel, Kate Grosche, Allison Laquidara, Rebecca Lawrence, Anna Olejniczak, Paige Sarnataro, Kristen Saskowski, Abigail Silverman-Hrubes, Morgan Weber, Bridget Whalen