Published June 6, 2025
The School of Public Health and Health Professions recently held its Ninth Annual Student Awards Reception, which celebrates the accomplishments of hardworking students across all five departments.
Students received their awards from Dean Jean Wactawski-Wende, department chairs and program directors. Donors have made substantial contributions to allow the School of Public Health and Health Professions to provide these scholarships and awards to recipients.
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.
Graduate
Undergraduate
J. Warren Perry Scholarship
Established in 1990 by the late Dr. J. Warren Perry, first dean of the School of Health Related Professions, and his brother, the late Dr. Charles D. Perry, this scholarship is awarded to graduate students or upperclassmen pursuing a SPHHP degree who show potential for superior scholarship and will be prepared for the future.
Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Rehabilitation Science
The UB Presidential Fellowship Program
This award is aimed at enhancing UB’s competitiveness in recruiting outstanding graduate students.
Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Narjes Naghiaei
Biostatistics
Andrew Schuck
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.
Harshita Shet
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.
Fatima Makama
SPHHP was awarded funding to train the next generation of public health professionals by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). SPHHP is supporting the following students selected for a public health scholarship to complete a Graduate Public Health Certificate or a Master of Public Health (MPH) program at UB.
The Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program
The Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program is sponsored by the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Schomburg fellowships support high-achieving doctoral and professional students who contribute to diversity.
Vincent Anokye
Dr. Michael F. Noe Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship provides scholarships to students from historically underrepresented populations, including Native Americans, who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. It is intended to promote educational diversity, equity, and inclusion consistent with the values of the School of Public Health and Health Professions.
Rouge Rodriguez
Richard N. Schmidt Outstanding PhD Award
This award honors a PhD student who has demonstrated academic excellence as, reflected by their qualifying exam scores and classroom performance. This award, established by friends and family of Dr. Richard N. Schmidt, honors the vital role he played in ensuring the ongoing success of the Department of Biostatistics and its students.
Shujie Chen
Sidney Addelman Master’s Award
This award honors a student who demonstrates academic excellence, as reflected by their master’s comprehensive exam scores and classroom performance.
Zehao Wu
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.
Malaiikha McCormick-Cisse
Francis V. Hanavan Memorial Award
This award is presented to an MPH student who shows excellent potential for future contributions in public health. This award was established in 1995 by Barbara Hanavan to honor the late Dr. Francis V. Hanavan, former chair of the Department of Health Behavioral Sciences.
Jacqueline Flores
Paul T. Wietig Community Service Award
This award is presented to MPH or PhD students who exemplify accomplishment and commitment to the profession of public health and service to the community.
Srikrithi Krishnan
The Robert O’Shea Student Travel Award
In honor of Dr. Robert O’Shea’s close ties to the students while acting as the director of graduate studies, this award helps support students’ travel to meetings to present their research findings.
Saxon Graham Research Award
This award provides funds to support research activities that are being conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation. The late Saxon Graham, PhD, was chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health from 1981 to 1991 and was a leader in the field of nutritional epidemiology.
Saxon Graham Dissertation Award
This award is for excellence as a doctoral student in epidemiology and the prevention of disease.
Yihua Yue
Wactawski and Wende Family Endowment
This endowment fund helps support exemplary doctoral students.
Jessica Liu
Annette Rachman Award
In 1990, Annette Rachman graciously established an endowment fund that provides scholarships for students studying nutrition. Ms. Rachman, a dietician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City, was a Buffalo native who began her training at the University at Buffalo.
Carlton R. Meyers Award
In 1993, Carlton R. Meyers established this award to recognize an outstanding graduate student in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. Dr. Meyers was professor emeritus at the University at Buffalo where he taught in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for 28 years.
Daniel Kellogg Sweet
Alma C. Scully Award
This award assists a senior Exercise Science student who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, service, and academic excellence. The major benefactor of this award since its introduction in 2008, Alma C. Scully received a master's degree in physical education in 1964 from the School of Public Health and Health Professions and went on to work in physical education throughout her career.
Tae Kyu Kim
Glenda R. Reardon Student Assistance Fund
This student assistance fund, in honor of the life of Glenda R. Reardon, is given to deserving and hardworking UB dietetic interns. Ms. Reardon was a registered dietitian and preceptor for the University at Buffalo Dietetic Internship program. Her husband John and their family created a student assistance fund that generates awards to UB dietetic interns.
Cathy Davius Memorial Award
The honoree models the late Cathy Davius’ desire for academic and professional excellence, and passion for expanding their knowledge of nutrition. After obtaining her Registered Dietician license from the University at Buffalo, Ms. Davius worked as a dietitian at Grand Prairie School District in Grand Prairie, Tx.
Brando Chacon
Matthew J. Morris Memorial Award
The Matthew J. Morris Memorial Award was established by his friends and family to honor the late Matthew J. Morris. This award is given in to a graduate student who possesses Mr. Morris’s academic persistence and determination, as well as a willingness to help others.
Jack McGowan
Occupational Therapy Achievement Award
This award recognizes an OT student who has demonstrated consistent dedication and perseverance in the attainment of academic excellence.
Jared Thomas
Alfred T. Caffiero Award
Friends and family of prominent physical therapist Alfred T. Caffiero established this scholarship in honor of his dedication to the profession. This award honors Doctor of Physical Therapy students during their second year of study.
Susan Bennett Scholarship
Dr. Susan E. Bennett was a celebrated member of the UB Physical Therapy program faculty for 22 years. Consistent with her passion for the profession of physical therapy and her commitment to training the next generation of therapists, an endowed scholarship was established in her name.
Adham Zidan
Kathleen M. Shaffer Award
A 1987 graduate of the UB Occupational Therapy Department baccalaureate program, the late Kathleen M. Shaffer is remembered as a skilled clinical educator, OT practitioner and mentor to students at Erie County Medical Center. This award to honor her memory is given to fifth-year academic students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and excellent clinical promise.
Linda Walters Award
This award recognizes a non-traditional OT student who successfully completes the OT program while managing many other roles and responsibilities.
Jenelle Kuntz
Nancie Greenman Founder’s Award
This award recognizes an OT student who has demonstrated outstanding performance and professional promise.
Emily Triquet
Stonegraber Scholarship
This scholarship, established in memory of the late Eleanor C. and David P. Stonegraber, supports advanced standing students in OT and PT. Mrs. Stonegraber was an occupational therapist in the Buffalo and Rochester areas, and director of occupational therapy at Rochester Psychiatric Center prior to her retirement in 1959.
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE)
This society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students in professional entry-level programs.
Alpha Eta National Scholastic Honor Society for Allied Health
This society promotes and recognizes significant scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the allied health profession among students in the OT, PT, Dietetic Internship and Athletic Training programs.
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy