Kent State Doctoral Candidate Wins American School Health Association Scholarship

Elizabeth Fettrow, doctoral candidate in Kent State University’s Health Education and Promotion program, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the American School Health Association (ASHA). ASHA provides financial assistance for students whose goals include the health of youth. The ASHA award ceremony was held in October.

“I am humbled that my scholarship application was selected for this competitive student award,” says Fettrow. “It was an honor to be recognized in front of members of the American School Health Association and leaders in the field of school health.”

In addition to submitting an application, applicants wrote professional philosophies of their academic discipline and detailed academic and professional goals as related to ASHA’s mission.

Fettrow serves as a part-time faculty member for Kent State’s Health Education and Promotion program. She is a member of the ASHA and a member of the Eta Sigma Gamma Honor Society. She has given five different presentations at ASHA national conferences. Fettrow has been invited to share her expertise with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Cynthia Symons, D.Ed., professor of health sciences at Kent State, is Fettrow’s doctoral advisor and mentor.

“Elizabeth has invested a significant amount of time over a number of years in service to the American School Health Association,” says Symons. “Her demonstrated commitment to research alone would have made her a worthy candidate. When combined with her professional service activities to this learned society, it was clear that she distinguished herself from other nominees for this important scholarship.”

The ASHA awards three scholarships annually, one each to students in these specializations: school health education, school nursing, pediatric/adolescent medicine or dentistry.