Kathy Darnell Ebener Public Health Intern Award

 

This award honors Kathy Darnell Ebener, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 1985 and a Master’s degree in Education in Science Curriculum and Instruction in 1986 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Kathy’s professional experience includes almost thirty years as a science educator and private tutor; and recently a change in career to working in the trade show industry.  As a science teacher, she taught middle and high school science and also served at an instructor at Kennesaw State University.  Her passion includes helping students achieve their goals and identifying their personal best.

Kathy has also earned the following special awards and honors: recipient of the Cash Award for Sustained Superior Performance in Department of Defense Dependent Schools, attendance at the  Academy for Teachers of Science and Mathematics representing the state of Georgia, Critical Thinking Teacher of the Month, recognition for consecutive years of excellent teaching performance in the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, District committee appointment for selection of Governor’s Honors Science Recipients, organized Sustained Superior Performance Ratings as an educator in Georgia Schools and Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year.

 

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Intern Award Recipients

• 2025
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    Emily Clark

    Emily Clark– Interned with Dr. Chenoa Allen at SWORPS in the College of Social Work. Emily worked with several different community partners throughout her APEx including the Mental Health Association of East TN and the Knoxville Community Development Corporation. Emily analyzed data and put together a report and concept map on food access and needs in the Beaumont and Western Heights neighborhoods. She also developed infographics on healthy eating, a presentation on using nurse navigators to improve vaccination rates in Tennessee, and an interview guide.

  • Katelyn Shea – Interned with Dr. Valerie Martinez at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. Katelyn developed a presentation on health disparities in California for the I have HEART Advocate program which she supported throughout her internship. She also assessed CalAIM and Population Health Initiatives for their impact on health equity looking at community supports, care management, and access to primary care. Additionally, she developed a charter plan for the Healthy San Diego Health Equity subcommittee.

    
    

• 2024
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    James Griffith tabling for the Student Health Center

    James Griffith – Interned with Carman North at the Student Health Center. James developed a vaccine attitudes survey which was distributed on campus and completed a literature review on college student health literacy. He also redesigned a Jeopardy board used for tabling events, helped to train the Student Health Ambassadors on health communication best practices, and created a project plan to convert the ambassador program to a sustainable student health advisory committee. 
    

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    Imelda Gutierrez at Beardsley Farm

    Imelda Gutierrez – Interned with Kimberly Pettigrew at United Way of Greater Knoxville. Imelda created food asset maps for the Knoxville community detailing local resources such as pantries, groceries, and after-school programs. She used this information to develop a community-friendly and accessible food resource directory. Imelda also created a food resource training that reviewed data on food insecurity in Tennessee and information on school meals programs which was presented to community stakeholders.
    

• 2023
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    Emma Dunavin Tabling for ASAFET

    Emma Dunavin – Designed a health education program for adolescents and created an advocacy toolkit that details the impact of legislation on reproductive health for Tennesseans while interning with A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee (ASAFET).

  • Ebone Colclough – Developed a guidebook for staff and volunteers to assist clients in applying for SNAP and conducted a literature review on programs for older adults for The Store in Nashville, TN.
    
• 2022
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    Jeremy Kourvelas at MHAET

    Jeremy Kourvelas – Developed a mental health service gap analysis that identified groups that experience inequities to mental health care in Knox County for the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee (MHAET).

  • Alyssa Hensley – Updated patient education materials to be more inclusive and created a fourth-trimester birthing plan for parents while interning with University of Tennessee Midwives.
    
• 2021
  • Carman North – Developed COVID-19 vaccination clinics for the campus community, and developed a holistic communication plan that promoted safe, free, and effective vaccines.
  • Zhannae Cummings – Created and led a PowerPoint presentation series on mental health and finalized a grant proposal for a mental health program for students of color at UTK.
  • Emily Wells – Developed a patient journey of care model and developed an implicit bias and cultural competence training to improve the quality of care provided to patients residing in a rural setting
• 2019
  • Sarah Walsh – created a community health needs assessment checklist template, mapped the healthcare facility distribution across Knox County, analyzed qualitative community health assessment data from six focus groups
• 2018
  • Aly Chapman – Wrote a policy brief on a novel program as a resouce for decision makers.
  • Rebecca Nowack – evaluated a local health department’s home visiting program to identify ways to keep families enrolled; analyzed 20 years of adolescent suicide deaths and recommended prevention strategies to the Child Fatality Review committee; analyzed and interpreted clinic data to guide community outreach efforts .
  • Reantha Pillay – contributed to removing barriers to birth control in East Tennessee. Developed a database of community partners; adapted and implemented Partners in Prevention program; adapted an evidence-based program for a local non-profit who serve urban, at-risk youth.

• 2017
  • Nicolette Rosa – conducted research and education to increase breastfeeding among women of color in the Bronx, New York.
  • Lisa Acuff – developed a comprehensive, culturally sensitive Facilitator Guide for Community Health Workers in Haiti to promote breastfeeding among Haitian women.

 

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Award criteria

• Must be a graduate student within the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program and enrolled within the UTK College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. Open to all students regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, or veteran status without restrictions.
• Students who demonstrate leadership in working with communities and promoting health equity will be considered for the award.
• Selection will be determined based upon student projects which significantly contribute to a program, policy, or project that seeks to improve the health among an underserved, vulnerable, or high-risk population in a culturally appropriate way and be evidenced based.
• Preceptor feedback on the intern’s performance as reported on the intern’s midpoint and final evaluation will be considered.
• Preference will be given to unpaid interns.