2026 SOPHE Awardees
Distinguished Fellow Award
Recognizes a National SOPHE member who has made significant and lasting contributions to SOPHE and the profession of health education or public health demonstrated through exemplary scholarship and community service.
Amy Thompson, PhD, CHES®, FESG, Oakland University
Honorary Fellow Award
Recognizes a non-SOPHE member who has made significant and lasting contributions to health education and the public’s health.
Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, MA, de Beaumont Foundation
Dorothy Nyswander Health Equity Award
Recognizes an individual or group who embodies and promotes health equity through research, practice, and/or teaching.
Elizabeth England-Kennedy, PhD, MPH, CHES®, New Mexico State University
Clarence E. Pearson Program Excellence Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions by a program (not an agency) to the practice of health education.
The Region 7 Minority Diabetes Prevention Program, Granville Vance Public Health
Health Education Technology Innovation Award
Recognizes individuals or groups who have distinguished themselves by applying innovative, non-commercial technology in health education.
Johnson County Health Lotería, Johnson County (KS) Department of Health and Environment
Karen Denard Goldman Health Education Mentor Award
Recognizes a National SOPHE member in an academic or practice setting who has made a significant contribution to the preparation and/or performance of health educators and who has successfully forged the link between practice and research.
Angela Carman, DrPH, University of Kentucky
M. Elaine Auld Horizon Award
Recognizes early-career health educators who have distinguished themselves through leadership, creativity, involvement in the profession, and health education practice.
Megan Williams, PhD, CHES®, Texas A&M University
Most Valuable Partner
Given by SOPHE staff to recognize excellence in collaboration and partnership with SOPHE to improve the profession and the public’s health.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
SOPHE Chapter Award of Excellence
Recognizes a SOPHE Chapter that has demonstrated creative and effective methods in the delivery of one or more core member services. Chapters are recognized for innovative approaches to membership, fiscal management, leadership, communications and continuing education.
SOPHE Presidential Citations
Recognize dedicated service and contributions to SOPHE.
To Be Announced at SOPHE 2026 Annual Conference
SOPHE Trophy Award
Acknowledges a member’s tireless contributions to SOPHE; often referred to as the “Unsung SOPHE Hero Award.”
To Be Announced at SOPHE 2026 Annual Conference
21st Century Health Education Practice Scholarships
Provide financial support to SOPHE members (National/chapter) who are health education specialists and practitioners to attend SOPHE’s Annual Conference or Advocacy Summit.
Chasity Riddick, DrPH, CHES®, Temple University
21st Century Student Scholarships
Provide financial support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students to attend SOPHE’s Annual Conference or Advocacy Summit.
Libby Washburn, Truman State University
Sarah Frerker, Truman State University
Graduate Student Research Paper
This award fosters quality graduate student research and provides a mechanism by which to recognize outstanding graduate students for creative and innovative research.
Jamesha Barrett, University of New Haven
Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarships
Provide support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of educational and professional development in health education.
Monalisa Akwuruoha, Texas State University
Asma Awan, PhD(c), DrPH, MSHI, MPH. MBBS, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Luis Cordero, BS, MPH(c), Rutgers School of Public Health
SOPHE Journals
Health Education & Behavior’s Lawrence W. Green Paper of the Year
The Impact of Social Norms on Diffusion Dynamics: A Simulation of E-Cigarette Use Behavior. Health Education & Behavior. 2025;52(4):428-438. doi: 10.1177/10901981251327189
Sarah E. Piombo, PhD, MPH, George G. Vega Yon, PhD, MS and Thomas W. Valente, PhD
Health Promotion Practice’s Sarah Mazelis Paper of the Year
Public Enemy #1: How Many More? Health Promotion Practice. 2025;26(1):29-35. doi:10.1177/15248399241291864
Carrie Rosario, DrPH, MPH
Pedagogy in Health Promotion Paper of the Year
Development and Implementation of an Antiracist, Equity, and Inclusion Focused Syllabus Rubric in Graduate Public Health: A Foundational Framework. Pedagogy in Health Promotion. 2025;11(3):209-216. doi: 10.1177/23733799241311580
Elizabeth Greenwell, ScD, Heather Kennedy, PhD, MPH, Mary K. Dinger, PhD, Danielle R. Brittain, PhD and Lori A. Crane, PhD, MPH