School of Aging Studies announces student and community awards

The School of Aging Studies hosted its annual Preceptors and Awards Reception on April 23. Each year, the school honors its scholarship recipients, along with the donors, instructors and community partners who provide vital support to its programs.

The School of Aging Studies awarded several scholarships to students in the undergraduate health care administration program.  Logan Lutz and Dwysha Holgate each received the Wiley P. Mangum Scholarship in Gerontology, and Brisa Perales received the Tollette Family Endowed Scholarship in Gerontology.

Grace Walters and Kira Josephs, both of whom will begin roles as nursing home administrators in training in the fall, were awarded the Victor Molinari, PhD, Aging Studies Scholarship, which was established last year with a generous donation from Dr. Molinari and his wife, Cindy Mason. Lauren Gentry, a student in the health care administration program, received the Kymberly Jane Harris Endowed Scholarship in Long-term Care Administration, established in memory of Harris, the beloved administrator of Presbyterian Homes, and Dayris Royer Reyes was named the recipient of the Dick Rotsell Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Long-term Care Administration.

Several graduate students also received awards. Ethan Hassler, a master's student in aging studies, was presented the Kenneth E. and Peggy Sponagle Endowed Scholarship, and doctoral student Girish Hemrajani received the Harold L. Sheppard Endowed Memorial Scholarship. The Wolowec Scholarship, one of the school's newer awards, was presented to doctoral student Anna Robison and master's student Julianna Coura de Moura.

Natalia Babenko and Layla Santana received the H. Edward Greely and Mildred Greely Endowed Fellowship, established by the Greelys to promote research and doctoral education in aging. They were chosen for their strong performance in the doctoral program.

Sierra Wickline received the Kathryn Hyer Endowed Scholarship in Public Policy and Aging.

Kendra Ferraro, PhD, an adjunct instructor who was recognized for bringing "an unparalleled depth of real-world knowledge to the health care administration classes she teaches," was presented the Sue V. Saxon Outstanding Teaching Award in the Field of Gerontology.

Debra Dobbs, PhD, professor and director of the School of Aging Studies, and Rosa Diaz, fiscal and business analyst, received the Wiley P. Mangum Outstanding Service Award in the Field of Gerontology, which recognizes faculty or staff members who have provided outstanding service to the school and the profession of gerontology.

The School of Aging Studies also honors leaders in the community who provide students with professional experience in the field. More than 40 people and organizations partner with the School of Aging Studies to provide students with important experience in the field to help them build their careers in health care administration. We are grateful to each of them!

Nasreen Sadeq, PhD, was named Outstanding Alumni of the Year. Sadeq is a graduate of the doctoral program in aging studies, who has become a key member of the faculty, serving as an instructor and undergraduate and graduate program administrator. She also played a critical role in developing the new Health Care Administration program.

Two organizations were recognized with the school's Community Partner of the Year Award: Empath Health and the Florida Health Care Association. Both have helped to provide research opportunities and quality internship settings for students.

The Kathryn Hyer Professional Mentorship Award, which recognizes professionals who help prepare students for careers in aging, was presented to two nursing home administrators who served as preceptors to students training to become nursing home administrators: Brian McCoy and Tara Freibert.

Dobbs and Peterson were recognized at the Southern Gerontological Society meeting April 3-6. Dobbs received the Applied Gerontologist Award and Peterson accepted the Gordon Streib Academic Gerontologist Award.