Awards
| At our annual conference, USOPHE presents several awards to recognize the efforts of health educators in the state. Nominations for these awards can be submitted at any time through the Chair of Nominations Committee.
Catherine Summerhays Distinguished Service AwardDuring the late 1970′s and into the early 1980′s Catherine Summerhays was the director of the Bureau of Health Promotion/Risk Reduction for the Utah Department of Health. Catherine was instrumental in continuing successes of many Bureau programs while sharing a strong interest in employee wellness. Under her direction and vision, the Healthy Utah program was developed and implemented. Utah became one of the first states to implement a Behavioral Risk Factor Survey under her direction as well. This award is given to a person or program which has been shown to promote the advancement of quality health education. This award may be give to any person or program regardless of their professional affiliation. Previous Award Recipients |
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
| 2022-2023 | Utah State University Extension HEART Initiative |
| 2021-2022 | USU Health Education and Promotion Master of Public Health Program |
| 2020 – 2021 | Sarah Hodson |
| 2019 – 2020 | Janae Duncan |
| 2018 – 2019 | Austin Strebel |
| 2017 – 2018 | Dr. Greg Hudnall |
| 2016 – 2017 | Dr. Joseph K. Miner |
| 2015 – 2016 | Mary Brown |
| 2014 – 2015 | Alyson Ward |
| 2013 – 2014 | Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Utah |
| 2012 – 2013 | Julie Gast |
| 2011 – 2012 | Carl Hanson |
| 2010 – 2011 | Department of Health Sciences, Brigham Young University |
| 2009 – 2010 | Department of Community and Public Health, Utah Valley University |
| 2008 – 2009 | Eric Edwards |
| 2007 – 2008 | Stephanie Fugal |
| 2006 – 2007 | Les Chatelain |
| 2005 – 2006 | Lynne Nilson |
| 2004 – 2005 | Kristy Rigby |
| 2003 – 2004 | Kevin Condra |
| 2002 – 2003 | Brad Neiger |
| 2001 – 2002 | Terri Sory |
| 2000 – 2001 | Dan Kinnersly |
| 1999 – 2000 | Heather Borski |
| 1998 – 1999 | Ivy Melton Sales |
| 1997 – 1998 | Kim Hall |
| 1996 – 1997 | Todd Barson |
| 1995 – 1996 | Mimi Morgan |
| 1994 – 1995 | Kevin Thompson |
Rookie of the Year Award
This award is given to a new Health Education Professional in recognition of their contribution to health education. A “new” Health Education Professional is defined as an individual who has been in the health education 1-2 years. Preference will be given to USOPHE members.
Previous Award Recipients
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
| 2022-2023 | Morgan Hadden |
| 2021-2022 | Maggie Plessinger |
| 2020 – 2021 | Danielle Chapman |
| 2019 – 2020 | Mercedes Maestas |
| 2018 – 2019 | Taryn Thurston |
| 2017 – 2018 | Nikki Lake |
| 2016 – 2017 | Mariah Tuttle |
| 2015 – 2016 | Natalie Rowe |
| 2014 – 2015 | Kristi Strongo |
| 2013 – 2014 | Jane Ostler |
| 2012 – 2013 | Melissa Miller |
| 2011 – 2012 | Andrea Jensen |
| 2010 – 2011 | Sarah Dahl |
| 2009 – 2010 | Rebecca Holgreen |
| 2008 – 2009 | Tatiana Burton |
| 2007 – 2008 | Dulce Diez |
| 2006 – 2007 | Andrea Deming |
| 2005 – 2006 | Amy Gooch |
| 2004 – 2005 | Libbey Mathews |
| 2003 – 2004 | Graciela Bartholomew |
| 2002 – 2003 | Lindsay Garr |
| 2001 – 2002 | Bre deBry |
| 2000 – 2001 | Jenna McAllister |
| 1999 – 2000 | Margaret Jensen |
| 1998 – 1999 | Keri Gibson |
| 1997 – 1998 | Corinna Jessen |
| 1996 – 1997 | Jeni Libin |
| 1995 – 1996 | Holly Budge |
Shelly Fuller Health Education Scholarship Fund
Shelley Fuller, former HEAU board member, died on March 10, 1996 due to complications related to cancer. During her board tenure, Shelley was instrumental in changes that influenced the vision and vitality of HEAU. She single-handedly built the health education division at FHP, a managed care organization. This required her to work tirelessly with clinicians to help them understand the value of prevention in general and the health education profession specifically. Shelley had the tenacity to translate her ideas to fruition. She was passionate about health education and ensured that all health educators at FHP were CHES certified. She believed that to be a good health educator, one must actively participate in improving the profession. Shelley had a zest for life and enjoyed the association of a host of friends. We remember her for her leadership, her spirit, her ready smile, her sense of humor, her vibrant laugh, her compassion in reaching out to others, and her courage and integrity to initiate and finish so many meaningful personal and professional endeavors. In her memory, the Shelley Fuller Health Education Scholarship Fund was created by HEAU in 1996.
A scholarship up to the amount of $500.00 may be awarded annually to a graduate or undergraduate student(s) enrolled on a full-time basis and accepted into a health education program of study at Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, or Utah Valley University. Criteria for this scholarship includes:
- GPA of 3.0 or above
- Leadership capabilities
- Community involvement
- Active in student organizations
- Current USOPHE member
Previous Award Recipients
| YEAR | RECIPIENT |
| 2022-2023 | Tabitha Edson, USU Brooklyn Richins, BYU Ricardo Noriega, BYU |
| 2021-2022 | Abbey Summers and Heather Bowcut |
| 2020 – 2021 | Taya G. Jerman |
| 2019 – 2020 | Danielle Rodriguez |
| 2018 – 2019 | Melissa Quintana |
| 2017 – 2018 | Charity Vincent |
| 2016 – 2017 | Nathan Brown |
| 2015 – 2016 | Nicole Ray |
| 2014– 2015 | Sadie May |
| 2013 – 2014 | Chalyce Carlsen |
| 2012 – 2013 | Jessica Strong |
| 2011 – 2012 | Mindy Steadman |
| 2010 – 2011 | Jakki Hansen |
| 2009 – 2010 | Andrea Jensen Marie Elegante |
| 2008 – 2009 | Lisa Christianson Rebecca Holgreen |
| 2007 – 2008 | Melinda Barber Donna Myers |
| 2006 – 2007 | Shelsie Shaw |
| 2005 – 2006 | Alison Myers |
| 2004 – 2005 | Kaylynn Shakespear |
| 2003 – 2004 | Andrea Turley |
| 2002 – 2003 | Lorilla Bushman |
| 2001 – 2002 | Kristen Prusse |
| 2000 – 2001 | Brook Stevens Amy Sands Jodie Noyce |
| 1999 – 2000 | Krisite Larson |
| 1998 – 1999 | Stephanie Fugal |
| 1997 – 1998 | Natalie Taylor Keri Gibson Kami Greenhagen |
| 1996 – 1997 | Sarah Murray |
| 1995 – 1996 | Jill Olsen |