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George Mason University interdisciplinary teams earned gold, silver, and bronze awards at the 2025 National Case Study Competition in Health Education. The competition was held at the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Annual Conference.
The annual competition challenges undergraduate and graduate students to develop solutions to real-world public health problems. This year’s case focused on addressing rising rates of chlamydia among young adults in Long Beach, California. This was George Mason's first-ever appearance at this competition.
“This experience sharpened my skills in strategic planning, public speaking, and applied research. Participating in this competition also strengthened my confidence in pursuing leadership roles in public health,” said Sai Sankeerthana Thatini, a MS in Health Informatics student.
Thatini, and Juliet Bonnah, a Master of Public Health student earned the Gold Award for delivering a top-tier solution that demonstrated deep understanding of the issue, clearly articulated public health needs, and proposed a culturally humble, innovative, and feasible intervention grounded in best practices.
“This experience helped me bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. It reinforced my interest in applied public health practice and strengthened my ability to work on interdisciplinary teams,” said Bonnah.
Both students emphasized how the competition helped them translate academic theory into actionable public health strategies. Thatini highlighted lessons in teamwork and advocacy, while Bonnah noted the importance of tailoring interventions to specific communities and settings.
Thatini also expressed gratitude for the support they received. “I’m incredibly grateful to our faculty mentor, Dr. Michelle S. Williams, for her invaluable guidance and support, and to the NCSCHE Executive Director, Dr. Karl Larson, and SOPHE for providing such a transformative platform. This achievement reflects not just our hard work, but also the strength of George Mason’s public health education. It was also truly special to represent George Mason in our first-ever appearance and bring home the gold!”
The National Case Study Competition in Health Education is sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), in collaboration with Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) and the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). More information about the competition can be found on SOPHE’s website.Teams had three weeks to prepare a 20-minute presentation proposing a comprehensive intervention. Submissions were judged by public health experts on both written and oral components, with evaluation criteria based on the NCHEC Core Competencies for Health Education Specialists.
The full list of award winners from the college includes:
Gold Award
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Juliet Bonnah, Master of Public Health student
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Sai Sankeerthana Thatini, Master of Health Informatics student
Silver Award
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Janell Addo-Boateng, Master of Public Health student
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Jaimee Miller, Master of Social Work student
Bronze Award
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Frida Escobar, BS, Community Health student
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Thao Tran, BS, Health Administration student