On Friday, April 25, the Department of Public Health held its spring awards banquet. The ceremony honors undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members for their dedication to public health efforts within the Mizzou community and beyond.  

Congratulations to the award recipients:  

Public Health Rising Star Award: McKenna Mozingo 

The Public Health Rising Star Award, which recognizes an undergraduate public health major with great potential to make a positive impact, was presented to McKenna Mozingo.  

McKenna Mozingo is a dedicated public health major who demonstrates leadership, service and a commitment to community well-being. As an intern at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, she educates children on environmental stewardship while managing administrative operations. She is also the founder and president of the Mizzou chapter of End Overdose, organizing naloxone training events to equip students with lifesaving skills. Additionally, Mozingo contributes to public health research as an assistant at the Mizzou School of Medicine. 

Public Health Student of the Year Award: Nina Guarisco 

The Public Health Student of the Year Award, which recognizes an undergraduate public health major who has excelled in the classroom and engaged in public health efforts, was presented to Nina Guarisco.  

Nina Guarisco’s research and community engagement focus on improving vaccination rates and addressing health disparities. She played a key role in implementing a health promotion program to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, working to assess public concerns and share effective communication strategies. Currently, Guarisco is contributing to research on the decline in vaccination rates among school-aged children in Missouri. After earning her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend physician assistant school and work to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Health Equity Champion Award: Maya Strong 

The Health Equity Champion Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates exceptional commitment and leadership in promoting health equity, was presented to Maya Strong.  

Maya Strong is a passionate advocate for health equity, dedicating her efforts to addressing food insecurity, mental health and policy-driven public health solutions. While volunteering at Tiger Pantry, she ensured students had access to nutritious food and professional attire. As a research assistant at the Institute of Public Policy, she contributed to studies on kinship caregiving and teen pregnancy prevention, analyzing data to assess effectiveness and inform policy improvements. Her commitment extended to her internship at the Elizabeth Packard Mental Health Center, where she worked to enhance service delivery and patient care. 

MPH Health Promotion and Policy Online Student of the Year Award: Audrey Proctor  

The MPH Health Promotion and Policy Online Student of the Year award, which recognizes a student who has excelled in their coursework and engaged in public health efforts, was presented to Audrey Proctor.  

Audrey Proctor is a dedicated MPH student whose work in health promotion and advocacy demonstrates a strong commitment to community education and policy reform. She played a key role in planning a hospital-based public education initiative on the appropriate use of urgent care and emergency rooms, collaborating with the marketing department to develop materials to distribute throughout the community. Proctor evaluated the program’s impact by collecting patient feedback and identifying barriers to urgent care access. Proctor aspires to build a career that advances equitable health care solutions and public policy improvements. 

MPH Health Promotion and Policy On-Campus Student of the Year Award: Kaye Vadendaele 

The MPH Health Promotion and Policy On-Campus Student of the Year award, which recognizes a student who has excelled in the classroom and engaged in public health efforts, was presented to Kaye Vadendaele.  

Kaye Vadendaele is a dedicated MPH student whose work in mental health education and food system policy reflects a strong commitment to community well-being. She is actively implementing the Teen Connection Project, a social support curriculum for teens in Columbia Public Schools. At Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, Vadendaele has played a key role in developing a toolkit for the ongoing Community Food System Assessment, researching interventions to improve food sovereignty, production and sustainability. Her advocacy efforts are instrumental in ensuring that both projects are responsive to community needs. 

MPH Veterinary Public Health Student of the Year Award: Dr. Janet McGinn

The MPH Veterinary Public Health Student of the Year Award, which recognizes a Veterinary Public Health student in the Master of Public Health program who has excelled in the classroom and engaged in public health efforts, was presented to Dr. Janet McGinn.

Dr. Janet McGinn has been an excellent student, providing exemplary and detailed work on all her assignments. The expertise and experience she has gained in food safety roles at the federal level have served as an additional educational source for fellow students. Dr. McGinn is truly passionate about public health and food safety. 

Faculty Award: Lynelle Phillips

The Faculty Award was presented to Lynelle Phillips, an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Public Health. Phillips teaches epidemiology, ethics and environmental health courses for the undergraduate and graduate Public Health programs. She also coordinates the MPH Internship Program and has served as a dedicated mentor to many students.