Awards & Grants
Awards
Ruth Sarna Spirit Award
The Ruth Sarna Spirit Award was established in 2014 to honor the legacy of Ruth Sarna, RN, upon her retirement from Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to college health, reflecting the values and contributions that Ruth exemplified throughout her career.
Ruth Sarna retired in 2014 after 25 years of distinguished service as the Director of Student Health Services at Baker University. During her tenure, she was known for her visionary leadership, compassionate care, and tireless dedication to student well-being.
Beyond her campus contributions, Ruth was a respected leader in the field of college health at the regional and national levels. She served for many years on the Central College Health Association (CCHA) Board and chaired the Nurse-Directed Section of the American College Health Association (ACHA). Her leadership and advocacy helped shape the strategic direction of nursing practice in college health settings.
Ruth also served on the ACHA Board of Directors and represented ACHA in the national Consensus Process, an influential initiative aimed at developing a health education component for parents. This collaborative effort included prominent health leaders, including then U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, and emphasized the critical role of parent engagement in promoting student health.
The Ruth Sarna Spirit Award continues to honor individuals who embody her enduring spirit of service, advocacy, and excellence in the field of college health.
The award is presented at the April CCHA Annual Meeting, Regional Conference. Please submit two letters of nomination by February 1st.
Past recipients:
2025 – Heidi Garcia, University of Kansas
2024- Cheri LeBlanc, MD, Washington University
2023- Kelly Jirovec, Doane University
ACHA Affiliate New Professional Award
Presented for the first time in 2002, this ACHA award recognizes members who have provided service to the field of college health for five years or less and who have made significant contributions to their institution and/or affiliate.
Scholarships
CCHA Regional Conference Access Award
The CCHA Regional Conference Access Award provides financial support to promote professional development opportunities to the Central College Health Association (CCHA) Regional Conference and Annual Meeting in April. This award offers $500 each to two recipients from each state of Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska who demonstrate financial need due to institutional funding limitations or personal hardship.
The award is intended to reduce financial barriers and support the engagement of health professionals committed to advancing college health. Selected recipients will be expected to meet outlined participation expectations, which may include conference attendance, session participation, and post-conference review or CCHA involvement.
This award reflects CCHA’s commitment to professional growth and the advancement of college health professionals across the region.
Applications to the CCHA Regional Conference Access Award are due by February 1st. Recipients will be notified by email in March.
