NEHA 2026 AEC Wrap-Up
Awards & Scholarships
The Honoring Excellence in Environmen- tal Health event on Wednesday, August 5, brought the environmental health commu- nity together to celebrate individuals and programs whose leadership, innovation, ser- vice, and commitment have strengthened the profession. In addition to recognizing excel- lence in our profession, we shared the stories behind some of our most significant honors. This year’s recipients represented the breadth of the profession—from distin- guished careers spanning decades to inno- vation at the local level, mentorship and leadership, and outstanding service within the U.S. Public Health Service. More than an awards presentation, the event recognized the people behind the work and celebrated the impact environmental health profes- sionals make in communities, organizations, and the profession itself. Their achieve- ments demonstrate the many forms excel- lence can take and reflected the strength created when experience, innovation, men- torship, and service come together. The recipients of the following awards were honored throughout the AEC at the Student Excellence Reception, Honoring Excellence in Environmental Health, or the Member Town Hall Breakfast. Con- gratulations to all awardees and thank you to all the sponsors and organizations behind the awards. Davis Calvin Wagner Award Thomas Vyles, REHS/RS This award is the highest honor the American Academy of Sanitarians (AAS) bestows on one of its diplomates. It recog- nizes distinguished professional achieve- ment and significant contributions to the practice of environmental health. Throughout his decades-long career, Vyles has strengthened environmental health programs in areas including aquatic facility safety, retail food protection, waste- water systems, and vector control. As an educator, author, and former NEHA Region 5 vice-president, he has advanced profes- sional standards, improved regulatory prac- tices, and shared his expertise with environ- mental health practitioners nationwide. NEHA Affiliate Certificates of Merit Certificates of Merit are awarded to NEHA affiliate members and teams who made
NEHA Past President Dr. D. Gary Brown (left) presented Tim Callahan (right) with this year’s NEHA Past Presidents Award.
Waynijah Kuykendall (left) proudly displayed her NEHA/AAS Scholarship certificate with NEHA First Vice-President Michele DiMaggio (right).
exemplary contributions to the profession. Each affiliate in good standing is invited to select winners based on its own criteria for recognition. This opportunity to be hon- ored before a national audience is one of the many benefits of affiliate membership. The nominating affiliate for the following winners is indicated in parentheses. Individuals Steve Aguinaga (MI) VJ Davis (WV) Marcel Elizondo (TX) Jan Jaminal (MD) Denise Schumacher (MN) Jay Schvaneveldt (UT) James Starbard (MA) Team RCAP Solutions (MA) NEHA Past Presidents Award Tim Callahan, MPH This award recognizes an individual whose contributions demonstrate excep- tional service to environmental health and the profession. Selected by NEHA’s past presidents, the award honors profession- als whose leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact. With more than 30 years of environ- mental health experience, Callahan serves as director of the Evaluation and Support Program within the Environmental Health Section at the Georgia Department of Pub- lic Health. His career spans military ser- vice, local environmental health practice, and statewide public health leadership. He has been instrumental in advancing
Georgia’s environmental health informa- tion systems and strengthening the use of data to inform policy, resource allocation, and program effectiveness. A graduate of CDC’s Environmental Public Health Lead- ership Institute, Callahan also serves as cochair of NEHA’s Informatics Committee. NEHA Presidential Citations Presidential citations recognize individuals and organizations whose service, leader- ship, and commitment made meaningful contributions to NEHA and the environ- mental health profession during President Larry Ramdin’s term.
Leon Bethune Faye Blumberg Eric Bradley Zianna Bueno Marissa Castillo Renee Clark Gerard Cody Kelsie Dale Michele DiMaggio Justin Dwyer Mark Elliott Jaime Estes Soni Fink Elizabeth Grenier Molly Hannon Timothy Hatch Wil Hayes Scott Holmes Michelle Hunter CAPT Anna Khan
Nichole Lemin Kelsey Lyon Patrick Maloney Lindsey-Ane McNeil James Rada Lauren Ramdin Kristen Ruby-Cisneros Ashish Sharma Sadie Shervheim CDR James Speckhart ML Tanner Robert Uhrik Dr. Sharon Unkhart Dr. Matthew Weinburke Wheeler, Trigg & O’Donnell
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Volume 89 • Number 4
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