ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is proud to announce that Monalisa Akwuruoha, Asma Awan and Luis Corderowill be awarded the Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarships during the 2026 SOPHE Annual Conference in Portland, April 22-24.  

“I am truly overjoyed,” Akwuruoha said. “Receiving this award affirmed that my decision to pivot into public health had purpose. It reminded me that the work I’ve invested in education, outreach, and research truly made an impact beyond the classroom.”

The scholarships provide support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in their pursuit of educational and professional development in health education.  

Akwuruoha, Awan and Cordero exemplify the values of the Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the public’s health through a career in health education.  

“As a first-generation graduate student, this award strengthens the academic and financial footing I need to share new ideas and build partnerships for the future we hope to see,” Cordero said. “These opportunities allow us to network with leaders and turn lived experiences into systemic change. I am eager to continue this work within the SOPHE community, ensuring that our collective future is one where every generation, regardless of age, is seen, heard, and valued.”

Akwuruoha is currently a senior at Texas State University majoring in Public Health and minoring in Health Informatics. She serves as the President of the Eta Sigma Gamma Delta Chi Chapter and as an Undergraduate Student Member on the 2026 TSOPHE Executive Board, where she contributes to student leadership and public health advocacy efforts. She plans to pursue graduate studies in Biomedical Informatics, with interests focused on health equity, community-centered interventions, and the integration of data systems to improve clinical decision-making and health outcomes

Awan is a public health professional and physician with a medical degree from Karachi University, Pakistan. She holds a master’s in public health, another master’s in health informatics, and a doctorate in Epidemiology from Capella University, USA. She has been in health behavior research for about five years and a strong background in public health for 15 years. Currently she is pursuing her second doctorate – a PhD in Social and Behavioral Health at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and working as the Program Manager in the Administrative Faculty at the same institution.

Cordero is a Master of Public Health candidate at the Rutgers School of Public Health, concentrating in Population Aging with a certificate in Clinical Epidemiology. His dedication to gerontology and health education is deeply personal, rooted in his experiences as a caregiver for his late mother and grandmother. These formative experiences taught Luis that caregiving is one of the truest acts of humanity, a space where the power of presence transcends words and forms the foundation of dignified care.

SOPHE will present all awards and scholarships to public health professionals, health education researchers, faculty, programs, and practitioners at the 2026 SOPHE Annual Conference. These awards and scholarships recognize significant advancements in the profession of health education and health promotion and outstanding contributions of veterans and rising stars to improving the public’s health. 

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About SOPHE  The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education, and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state, and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org.