Rutgers School of Public Health Hosts Inaugural Student Showcase and Year-End Awards Ceremony
On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Rutgers School of Public Health held its inaugural Student Showcase and End-of-Year Awards Ceremony in Piscataway, NJ.
Led by the school’s Office for Student Experiences and Alumni Affairs (SEAA), this exciting new tradition brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests to celebrate an outstanding academic year and recognize the incredible accomplishments across the community.
The day began with poster presentations, where students shared their culminating experiences—ranging from capstone projects to innovative research—offering insight into the breadth and impact of their public health work.
The community also gathered for a series of recognition ceremonies. The program honored excellence in academics, service and leadership through the presentation of students, faculty, staff and alumni awards.
Héc Maldonado-Reis, AM, MPH (SPH ’16), served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. In their address, Héc reflected on their journey from MPH student to public health leader, emphasizing the power of reinvention, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of embracing both success and failure as part of a meaningful career. They urged graduates to be bold in their pursuit of systems change, to bring public health into emerging spaces, and to trust in their ability to lead the profession’s future evolution.
The ceremony concluded with the induction of new members into Delta Omega, Alpha Eta Chapter—the honorary society for public health—and the acknowledgment of SEAA student leaders who helped shape the school’s vibrant and inclusive culture.
As the school marks the conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year, the event served as both a reflection on the achievements of its students and a celebration of their future as public health professionals. The showcase underscored the school’s commitment to fostering leadership, scholarship and community impact across all degree programs and concentrations.
