Awards

The American School Health Association (ASHA) aspires to LEAD, EDUCATE, and ACTIVATE multidisciplinary school health professionals and other champions as they work in their communities across the country to implement our mission to transform all schools into places where every student learns and thrives.

At our core is a belief that the involvement of individuals with diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and professional lenses creates a stronger, healthier school community. As such, ASHA encourages the recognition of school health professionals and champions from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. We invite nominations in the spirit of inclusivity where all forms of diversity are seen as valuable.

ASHA Award Winners Panel Discussion 2023

 
 
Awards

Awards

William A. Howe Award
The William A. Howe Award, ASHA’s highest honor, recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions and distinguished service in school health. It was established to honor William A. Howe, MD, a founder and first president of the association. This award acknowledges the recipient’s outstanding professional contributions paralleling the aims and objectives of the Association.

Howe Award Criteria
Past Howe Award Recipients
Distinguished Service Award
Distinguished Service Award is granted to an active or retired member of the American School Health Association (ASHA) who has attained Fellow Status. The award is based on evidence of long-term service to the field of the school health as well as substantive and consistent service to ASHA.

Distinguished Service Award Criteria
Past Distinguished Service Award Recipients
School Health Professional of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has demonstrated sustained, outstanding contributions to school health education and/or research. Although the award is open to all school health professionals, anyone involved in delivering the components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model in the K-12 setting (such as classroom teachers, school counselors, bus drivers, school nurses, social workers, etc.) are especially encouraged to apply.

School Health Professional Award Criteria
Past School Health Professional of the Year Award Recipients
Dr. Robert Synovitz Emerging Professional Award
The Dr. Robert Synovitz Emerging Professional Award acknowledges new professionals as promising future leaders in the field of school health. The Emerging Professional Award shall be granted to two individuals (one individual in a school health practitioner setting and the other in an academia setting) who positively impact youth within the K-12 school setting. Award winners will be recognized at the annual ASHA conference and have the option to be admitted to ASHA’s Future Leaders Academy (FLA).

Dr. Robert Synovitz Emerging Professional Award Criteria
Past Emerging Professional Award Recipients
ASHA Fellow Award
Advancement to Fellowship Status is granted to individuals who are currently active members of ASHA and who have been an active member of the American School Health Association for at least ten years. It is based on evidence of leadership and service to the American School Health Association and to the field of school health. ASHA Fellow Award Criteria
Past ASHA Fellow Award Recipients
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Award
The purpose of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) award is to recognize a setting/organization or interest group, either in the school or community that has applied the philosophy associated with the WSCC model, specifically in the alignment, integration, and collaboration between education and health in order to improve each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. Award candidates/nominees may include: School Health Advisory Committees, DHHS, School Health/Wellness Teams, Education Agency departments in school health.

Whole Child (WSCC) Award Criteria Past WSCC Award Recipients

2019 WSCC Award Recipient Video
School Health Hero Award
Presented by ASHA’s Leadership and Recognition Committee, the School Health Hero Award recognizes an individual (e.g., professional, student, legislator, parent, researcher, etc.) or group (e.g., school health team, corporation, etc) who has demonstrated support of issues related to school health, taken an important stand on school health issues, and/or shown an act of heroism in support of student health and well-being.

Submit a nomination here.

2021 School Health Hero Award Recipient Video

Past School Health Hero Award Recipients

Past Awards

Outstanding School Health Researcher Award
*Researchers are now acknowledged through the School Health Professional of the Year Award* The purpose of Outstanding School Health Researcher Award is to recognize an ASHA member who has demonstrated sustained and outstanding contributions to school health research.

Past Outstanding School Health Researcher Award Recipients
Legislator of the Year Award
*Legislators are now acknowledged through the School Health Professional of the Year Award* Presented by ASHA’s Advocacy Committee, the Legislator of the Year Award recognized a state or federal legislator who had a record of supporting issues related to school health and/or took an important stand on school health issues during a particular legislative session.

Past Legislator Award Recipients
 

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ASHA advocates for effective school health strategies that contribute to optimal health and academic outcomes for all children and youth. Support the ASHA Mission, Vision, Goals and Core Beliefs by contributing.