The 2020-2021 school year has been a tumultuous time for students with the
COVID-19 pandemic, but amidst of all the turmoil and disruptions COPH student leaders and organizations excelled. During the year-end award ceremonies, COPH students were notably present and honored for their hard-earned efforts.

On April 20, during the USF Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement’s (CLCE) Celebration of Leadership Awards, two USF College of Public Health students Sharonda Lovett, president of the USF Maternal and Child Health Student Organization (MCHSO), and Vishal Panchigar, president of the the USF Healthcare Management Student Association (HMSA), were recognized. 

The annual celebration recognizes outstanding student leaders, student organization advisors, student organizations, campus partners and community partners for their exemplary work during the academic year. Award winners represent the mission and values of their organizations and USF in their daily action and work to create positive change for the community.

Then, on May 4, USF Health Shared Student Services celebrated their annual USF Health Student Awards Ceremony virtually. Students, staff and faculty were recognized for their outstanding commitment to USF Health in the areas of leadership, service, interprofessionalism and school spirit.

During the event, COPH students Rachel Boone, Haley Maxwell, Rolando Trejos, Narayan Kulkarni, Vishal Panchigar on behalf of HMSA, Kailey McCain and COPH staff member Ellen Kent were presented with their awards.

Check out the award winners below:

Haley Maxwell, MPH 

USF Health Student Award – Student Leader of the Year

During the 2020-2021 school year, graduate student Haley Maxwell served as president of the Public Health Student Association. Additionally, she was a Maternal and Child Health Scholar, a highly competitive Title V training program for students interested in maternal and child health. She also remained a dedicated student throughout her MPH program, receiving the 2020 USF Academic Excellence Award.

“Earning this award means that all of the hard work that I accomplished was worth it. I wanted to push myself and step outside of my comfort zone during my MPH program and I believe I did just that. It is rewarding to be acknowledged as a leader,” Maxwell said. “I didn’t think anyone noticed the work I was doing, so it felt great to know that USF Health Shared Student Services recognized my hard work. I am excited to use my leadership experience in my professional career.”

Rolando Trejos, MPH 

USF Health Student Award – Excellence in Service Award

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Rolando Trejos participated in three different virtual health professions panel discussions alongside other students from USF. Trejos spoke with middle and high school students, motivating them to consider health-related careers. Additionally, he participated in virtual discussions representing the COPH Activist Lab. He was also a mentor for 12 weeks to a Latin American middle school student. Trejos advised the student on career exploration, college access, life and social skills, cultural and recreational events, service-learning projects, time management and academic goal setting.

“As an international student, I understand firsthand the impact that mentorship and representativity have on youth, especially among those who experience systemic abuse and discrimination,” Trejos said. “I want to offer this award to all the students who felt like their efforts went unnoticed: I see all of you, and I recognize your bright future. This award reflects the fact that our words and actions matter. They can impact someone’s life in ways we cannot predict. Kindness and empathy should be our approach to others and ourselves.”

Narayan Kulkarni, MBA, MHA 

USF Health Student Award – Excellence in Interprofessionalism

All four members of the 2021 USF Health CLARION Team Prisca Alilio, Kennedy Mohs, Alana White, and Narayan Kulkarni received this award. The qualifications they fulfilled were selection through a competitive application process among all USF Health Students for the USF Health CLARION Competition, developing innovative deliverables through this highly collaborative interprofessional experience.

“The award is a reminder of the amazing relationships built with teammates across USF Health and the foundational interprofessional experience that we shared. It is a reminder that I was blessed to partake in a foundational experience that encouraged critical thinking, resourcefulness and collaboration to solve an important problem,” Kulkarni said. “I felt grateful that USF Health Shared Student Services recognized our individual efforts to this team. I also felt especially grateful for the many stakeholders I’ve been able to connect with across USF Health because their guidance, mentorship, teaching and support enhanced the quality of the experience.”

Vishal Panchigar/HMSA 

USF Health Student Award – Program of the Year Award

USF CLCE Celebration of Leadership Awards – Outstanding Graduate Student Organization

Vishal Panchigar was president of HMSA during the 2020-2021 academic year. This year, HMSA was the recipient of two awards: The Outstanding Graduate Student Organization Award from the CLCE and the USF Health Program of the Year Award for the HMSA Speaker Series Event featuring former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke.

The Outstanding Graduate Student Organization award recognizes a graduate student organization that demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance. 

The Program of the Year Award recognizes an organization, office, committee, group or individual who demonstrated excellence in planning and implementing a comprehensive, continuous or one-time program for the USF Health community. The program should align with the USF Health Mission, “Making Life Better,” and focus on one or more topics of wellness, engagement, leadership, professional development, interprofessional education, diversity or service.

“The pandemic motivated us as a team to continue and strengthen student engagement in a dynamic, virtual environment. It was heartwarming and gratifying for me to have been able to serve as the HMSA president and oversee the planning of over 20 events and the annual career fair in an entirely new format, as well as maintain and establish new partnerships. Furthermore, it was even more heartwarming and gratifying to see record engagement from students of all backgrounds across the university with HMSA,” Panchigar said. “As we transition to normalcy, these accomplishments set an example for future student leaders to bring a hybrid experience to maximizing engagement in student events and activities. I look forward to seeing how future student leaders will innovate in ways we previously could not imagine during our time in college.”

Ellen Kent, MPH, USF Health Student Service Corps coordinator

USF Health Student Award – Outstanding Shared Student Services Member

The Outstanding Shared Student Services Member Award is presented to a member of the shared student services team who has, over the course of the academic year, consistently exceeded expectations in their position by going above and beyond to serve students, support fellow colleagues and truly embody the missions of USF Health and Shared Student Services.

Ellen Kent has been able to successfully transition our USF Health Service Corps events and projects from an in-person format to a virtual one during the past year. She worked closely with university and community partners to offer meaningful, safe and fun virtual service opportunities to USF Health students.

“I am honored and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the USF Health Service Corps! Of course, this is truly a team effort and I am so appreciative of the many students from the different USF Health academic programs who have enthusiastically participated in these events; the USF Health faculty and staff who have encouraged their students to volunteer virtually; and our wonderful community partners who have graciously welcomed our USF volunteers,” Kent said. “I look forward to volunteering and collaborating with everyone in the next year!”

Other COPH awards winners included students Rachel Boone earning the USF Health Student Spirit Award, Kailey McCain earning the USF Health Student Trailblazer Award and Sharonda Lovett earning the USF CLCE Celebration of Leadership Outstanding Student Organization Leader Award for her great leadership overseeing the MCHSO.

Story by Caitlin Keough, USF College of Public Health