The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc., (NCHEC) has announced the names of three recipients for the spring 2023 Helen P. Cleary Scholarship. This award is designed to assist full-time undergraduate or graduate students with the fees associated with the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) examination.
The recipients of this award have demonstrated both financial need and a passion for their chosen field of Health Education and Promotion during their academic careers. NCHEC sponsors this annual scholarship opportunity, with the awards selection process administered by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Awards Committee. The names of the three recipients are Afolakemi Olaniyan, Amina Chirkli, and Nancy Pena.
Afolakemi Olaniyan, MS, MPH, is a third-year PhD student in the School of Human Services at the University of Cincinnati. Afolakemi holds a Master’s in Public Health Degree from Missouri State University and has authored one and co-authored three publications in scholarly journals.
Amina Chirkli is an early career professional working as a community health worker and health advocate at Legacy Community Health educating senior citizens on stroke awareness as well as provide resources to people with social needs. Her goal is to make a positive impact in Houston, Texas.
Nancy Pena is a Health Education and Health Promotion student at Lehman College. She has made the Dean’s list twice, an accomplishment she is proud of. Her goal is to be part of a team that can serve and implement positive change to communities that lack support, guidance, and education in all areas of health for youth and children with disabilities.
The Helen P. Cleary Scholarship launched in March 2019, and continues on a bi-annual basis. The next application period for the Helen P. Scholarship will open in April 2023, for the October 2023 CHES® examination. For more information about the Helen P. Cleary Scholarship, please visit www.nchec.org/scholarships, or www.sophe.org.