Founder's Award

The Eta Sigma Gamma Founder’s Award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth and development of the honorary, through exemplary participation and commitment to ESG. The award is named in honor of the vision and efforts that the three founders, Drs. Schaller, Synovitz, and Bock put forth in creating and guiding ESG. This award recognizes an undergraduate student who has displayed academic excellence, has actively participated in ESG, and has demonstrated the ability to advance the health education profession. This recipient receives a $750 scholarship and presented a certificate at the Annual Meeting.

Loren B. Bensley Jr. Gamman of the Year Award

The Eta Sigma Gamma Loren B. Bensley Jr. Gamman of the Year Award is named after the efforts of Dr. Bensley, the founding Eta chapter advisor at Central Michigan University, in relation to championing ESG as a professional home for all students pursuing health education careers. This award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students with a proven track record of excellence in leadership, teaching, service, education and research in ESG and has demonstrated the ability to advance the health education profession. One member from each chapter is eligible to apply, and is to be nominated by the chapter advisor. This recipient receives a $750 scholarship and presented a certificate at the Annual Meeting.

John P. McGovern, M.D. National Scholarship Award

The John P. McGovern, M.D. National Scholarship Award is named after Dr. McGovern, the noted allergist and philanthropist who significantly contributed to the growth of the health education profession, including being a previous president of the American School Health Association. This award recognizes a graduate student who has displayed academic excellence, has actively participated in ESG and has demonstrated the ability to advance the health education profession. This recipient receives a $750 scholarship and presented a certificate at the Annual Meeting.

ESG & NCHEC Outstanding Undergraduate & Graduate Major of the Year Award 

This award will be presented by ESG and National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) to one undergraduate and one graduate student from each institution offering a degree in Health Education. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding students majoring in health education from colleges or universities that have professional preparation programs. Recognition will be in the form of a certificate which will be presented during an awards ceremony at the ESG Annual Meeting held at the SOPHE national conference. In the event the student is unable to attend the conference the certificate will be emailed to the student.

This award may be presented to any deserving undergraduate and graduate student; it is not a requirement to be a member of ESG. 

Pictured: Award Recipients attending the 2026 ESG Annual Meeting in Portland, OR

The 2027 Founder's Award application will open in Fall 2026.

2026 Founder's Award: Karina Desmond, Epsilon Nu, University of North Carolina Wilmington

The 2027 Gamman of the Year Award application will open in Fall 2026.

2026 Gamman of the Year: Monalisa Akwuruoha Delta Chi, Texas State University

The 2027 McGovern Award application will open in Fall 2026.

2026 McGovern Award: Erin Mraz Alpha Omicron, Temple University

The 2027 ESG & NCHEC Major of the Year Award nomination will open in Fall 2026.

2026 Undergraduate Major of the Year Recipients: 

• Maddie Jo Baumann, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• Tsion Begashaw, University of Cincinnati
• Adriana Bifolco, SUNY Cortland
• Isabella Bryant, Illinois State University
• Zahlia Butler, University of North Florida
• Angela Cirelli, Temple University
• Sofia Cotten, The University of Scranton
• Alexis Davis, Salisbury University
• Courtney Eustache, Kennesaw State University
• Alexa Farriss, University of Florida

• Amaya Green, University of Maryland, College Park
• Hooda Hersi, Otterbein University
• Gracie Houser, University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Cait Jacobson, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Julia Komarnicki, Liberty University
• Madeline Madsen, Central Michigan University
• Abigail O'Neil, Western Michigan University
• Ashton Sloan, University of Tampa
• Shearyl Smith, Prairie View A&M University
• Safiya Waqhar, Eastern Michigan University

2026 Graduate Major of the Year Recipients: 

• Marisol Alvarez Builla, University of Florida
• Ellie Arthurs, Liberty University
• Kyle Artura, SUNY Cortland
• Ijeoma Ruth Chukwuemeka, Prairie View A&M University
• Jason Joseph, Texas A&M University
• Ashley Mezzano, University of North Florida

• Erin Mraz, Temple University
• Tayla Porter, University of Maryland
• Chelsea Slagle, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• Katelyn Tenuto, Illinois State University
• Kegan Tulloch, Eastern Michigan University