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Faculty and Students Public Health Practice Awards

Public Health “Impact” Prize Recipient Rebecca Anderson, JD, MS, CGC

Fred and Eve Simon Public Health “Impact” Prize Recipient Rebecca Anderson, JD, MS, CGC

The Fred and Eve Simon Public Health “Impact” Prize was established in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Eve Simon. This award is given to a College of Public Health faculty member whose research and/or service has significantly impacted Nebraska. The recipient of this award was Rebecca Anderson, Associate Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Health Promotion, Social, and Behavioral Health. Professor Anderson was selected for her excellent service to Nebraska residents through public health leadership, service, and outreach. She has had numerous collaborations and involvement with health departments, state officials, and public health personnel around the state and the country, and has demonstrated great breadth of public health contributions to the state of Nebraska and beyond.

Dr. Carruth J. Wagner, Faculty Prize in Public Health Recipient Dr. Brandon Grimm
Dr. Carruth J. Wagner, Faculty Prize in Public Health Recipient Dr. Brandon Grimm

The Dr. Carruth J. Wagner, Faculty Prize in Public Health is awarded to a faculty member who has shown promise in research and service, and whose work increases public health awareness and raises the level of interest in public health careers among students. Preference is given to faculty who have developed partnerships or conducted research impacting tribal communities. The recipient of the Carruth Wagner Faculty Prize in Public Health was Dr. Brandon Grimm, who was selected for his work with the Nebraska Public Health Practice Council, the Great Plains Public Health Training Center, and as a team member in developing the conference Partnering with American Indians Communities in Health Research, among many other contributions.

The Distinguished Student of Practice Award honors a College of Public Health student who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of public health practice. Public Health practice contributions can include breadth and/or depth of practice activities, innovations in delivery of services, contribution to underserved communities or populations, and/or other meritorious contributions. This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Student of Practice Award was Chessa Quenzer.

Chessa is a public health practice student and her receipt of this award can be summed up by this statement from one of her recommenders “Chessa has made a strong impact in our rural area in South Dakota with sustainable programs.  I am grateful for the work she’s done at the Family Crisis Center.  We are a better organization because of her.  UNMC should be proud to have such an influential student within their College of Public Health.  She is making a difference in our community and the surrounding areas and positively impacting the lives of many”.

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